The United States State Department is preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the country.
The move, which would be the largest mass visa revocation in US history, targets business and tourism visas issued between 2016 and 2026.
The State Department said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke visas of foreigners who entered the US as short-term visitors but later sought asylum to remain in the country permanently.
Although the revocations would not automatically lead to deportation, affected visa holders would lose their status as business or tourism travellers, while their asylum cases could continue.
The State Department said the revocation process would be carried out on a rolling basis, with the number of affected visas remaining dynamic.
B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical care.
The development comes after the State Department disclosed earlier this year that more than 100,000 visas had been revoked since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
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