The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 visitor visas of foreign nationals who entered the United States for business or tourism before later applying for asylum, US officials and documents have revealed.
The proposed move could affect up to 200,000 people, although the US Department of State said the figure is not final and could change as the process continues.
B1 visas are issued mainly for temporary business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and other short-term visits.
The proposed revocations would reportedly target visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who later filed asylum applications or currently have pending claims.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the department was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the visas.
The proposed cancellations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation.
However, officials said some affected individuals with pending asylum applications could have their immigration status reassessed after their visitor visas are revoked.
The Trump administration argues that some foreign nationals have used visitor visas to enter the US legally before filing asylum claims that allow them to remain in the country for extended periods.
The plan is part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which includes stricter visa screening, scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity and visa-bond requirements for nationals of certain countries.
Nigeria is among the countries subject to the US visa-bond requirement, which took effect on January 21, 2026.
The proposed visa revocations could face legal challenges, particularly because asylum applications are handled separately from temporary visitor visas. Questions are also likely to arise over how the revocations would affect people whose asylum cases are still pending.
The State Department has not yet announced a final number of affected visa holders or a definitive timetable, saying the revocations would be carried out on a rolling basis.
