The United States government is reportedly preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied or intend to apply for asylum in the country.
If implemented, the move could become the largest mass visa revocation exercise in US history.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press and two US officials, the measure would target holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who entered the US as temporary visitors but later submitted asylum applications.
The US State Department is expected to begin notifying affected visa holders in the coming weeks, working alongside the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the planned action, although he said the number of people affected could change.
Pigott said the government was working with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US claiming they intended to visit temporarily but later sought asylum to remain in the country permanently.
He added that the number of revocations remained subject to change and that the process would be carried out gradually.
Revocation will not mean immediate deportation
US officials said the visa cancellations would not automatically result in immediate deportation.
Foreign nationals with pending asylum applications would instead lose their B1 or B2 visitor status while their asylum cases continue to be considered.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the planned policy, arguing that visitor visas were not intended to provide a route into the US asylum system.
He said asylum should not be used as a means of bypassing US immigration laws.
B1 visas are generally issued for business-related travel, while B2 visas cover purposes such as tourism, visiting relatives and medical treatment.
Applicants for both categories are normally required to demonstrate that they intend to return to their home countries.
Possible impact on Nigerians
The proposed policy could also affect Nigerians, although the US government has not disclosed how many Nigerians may be included in the estimated 200,000 affected foreigners.
Nigerians have historically accounted for a notable number of asylum applications in the United States.
Figures previously reported by The PUNCH, citing UNHCR data, showed that 2,827 Nigerians applied for asylum in the US in 2024.
Between 2022 and 2024, US immigration courts granted asylum to 1,372 Nigerians, while 1,534 applications were rejected.
For Nigerians currently holding B1 or B2 visas who have also applied for asylum, the proposed measure could mean losing their visitor status while their cases remain under consideration.
It could also result in increased scrutiny of their immigration applications and signal a tougher US immigration environment for foreigners seeking to use short-term visitor visas as a pathway to permanent stay.
