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Work & skilled workersAnnouncementCritical impactVerified

U.S. Plans to Revoke B-1 and B-2 Visas for Certain Asylum Seekers

🇺🇸 United StatesEntry Rules1 recorded versionLast change 25 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The U.S. government is preparing to revoke B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas for foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. This action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

Overview

The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. This action, coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, targets individuals who initially entered the U.S. as short-term visitors but then filed for asylum. The revocations are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and will apply to visas issued between 2016 and 2026.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Foreigners holding B-1 and B-2 visas who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before this announcement, foreigners with B1 business visas and B2 tourism visas could apply for asylum while in the United States. Their nonimmigrant visas were not automatically revoked. Their status would usually change to 'asylum seeker' once they applied.

After

The U.S. government will revoke B1 business visas and B2 tourism visas for foreigners. These people have applied for asylum, or are currently seeking asylum status, in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department will work together on this action.

This change in policy means that people with B1 business or B2 tourism visas who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the U.S. will have their visas revoked. This means their legal right to be in the U.S. under those visitor visa types will end. Their status will then be only that of an asylum applicant. This will not lead to immediate deportation. But it removes the dual status they had before. This could affect their options for travel and their perceived legal position. The change fundamentally alters the rules for nonimmigrant visa holders who want to apply for asylum without their visa being revoked at the same time.

Explained simply

Imagine you got a special pass to visit a theme park for a few days, but then you decide you want to live there permanently and apply to be a resident. The park management is now saying that if you do that, they will take away your visitor pass because it wasn't meant for you to stay forever. This is what the U.S. government is doing for people who came here on visitor passes (B1 or B2 visas) but then asked for asylum, wanting to stay longer. They're going to cancel those visitor passes for many people, meaning those passes are no longer valid, even if the person's request to stay is still being reviewed.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v7Issued 24 Aug 2026AnnouncementCritical impact
    U.S. Plans to Revoke B-1 and B-2 Visas for Certain Asylum Seekers

    The U.S. government will revoke a large number of visas. It will revoke B1 business visas and B2 tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreigners. These people have applied for asylum, or are currently seeking asylum status, in the United States. The Department of State, working with the Department of Homeland Security, plans to announce this soon. Revoking these visas will not mean people are deported straight away. However, affected people will no longer be classed as short-term visitors.

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