The US administration is preparing to cancel approximately 200,000 B1 and B2 visas issued for business or tourism purposes. According to US State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press (AP) and information from two officials, the measure targets foreigners who applied for asylum in the US after obtaining a visa.

The review covers visas issued between 2016 and 2026. Officials stated that visa cancellation would not mean automatic deportation. Many individuals whose asylum applications are under review are expected to have their immigration status reclassified.

B1 and B2 visas under scrutiny

In the US, B1 visas are primarily issued for short-term business trips, while B2 visas are granted for purposes such as tourism, family visits, and medical treatment.

According to documents reported by AP, the State Department began reviewing current B1 and B2 visa holders after receiving information regarding asylum applications from US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott did not specify the exact number of visas to be canceled in a statement to AP. Pigott noted that the department is working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and cancel non-immigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US as short-term visitors and then applied for asylum with the intent to stay permanently.

Pigott also stated that the process is ongoing, and therefore the number of cancellations may change, and that the procedures will be carried out gradually.

Asylum application does not mean automatic deportation

In the planned implementation, the legal status related to a visa and an asylum process are separated. Officials stated that the cancellation of a B1 or B2 visa would not terminate an asylum application or lead to immediate deportation.

However, the individuals concerned will lose their visa status that allowed them to travel to the US for business or tourism. Their asylum processes will need to be evaluated separately under immigration law.

Approximately 175,000 visas canceled in the last 18 months

According to AP, the US State Department canceled approximately 175,000 visas in the last 18 months. These cancellations included visas belonging to individuals convicted or accused of crimes such as drunk driving, robbery, and rape.

The report also states that visas of some foreigners who made public statements against US policy, particularly in the Middle East, were also canceled.

The new review, which could affect approximately 200,000 people, is based not on direct criminal charges, but rather on individuals having applied for asylum after initially entering the country on non-immigrant B1 or B2 visas. Image: © AI-generated image