- The Trump administration is preparing up to 200,000 visa cancellations for B1 and B2 holders who sought asylum.
- About 70,000 Indians are reportedly included in the proposed review, the largest South Asian share.
- The State Department and DHS plan a rolling review of visas issued from 2016 through 2026.
The Trump administration is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourism visas held by foreigners who applied for or are seeking asylum in the United States. About 70,000 Indians are among those facing the proposed 2 lakh review, according to the reported figures.
If carried out, the action would become the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history. The planned visa cancellations would focus on people who entered on short-term visitor documents before filing asylum claims.
India accounts for the largest reported share among South Asians. The figure places Indian nationals at the center of a policy expected to affect people from several countries.
The State Department is coordinating the effort with the Department of Homeland Security. Officials expect to announce the policy within weeks.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesman, defended the plan as an enforcement measure under President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, we are making clear that a visa is a privilege — not a right”
Visitor visa holders could lose status while asylum cases continue
The proposal targets people who entered on short-term visitor visas and later filed for asylum. The review could therefore include applicants whose asylum proceedings remain pending.
Officials said revocation would not automatically trigger immediate deportations. Many asylum applicants would instead be recategorized while their cases continue.
The policy was being prepared in late August 2026. It would cover B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, including business and tourist travel documents.
The State Department and DHS would review the cases together. The agencies expect the announcement in the coming weeks, followed by an ongoing process rather than one completed on a single date.
Pigott says asylum filings can justify revocation
Pigott said officials were identifying foreigners who entered while claiming they were short-term visitors, then sought to remain permanently through asylum.
“Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation. This is an ongoing process as we uphold the integrity of our visa and asylum laws”
He also described the people under review as foreigners “who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently”.
The administration has framed the policy as an effort to enforce visa and asylum rules. Pigott said the review count would remain “dynamic” and “will be done on a rolling basis.”
The review spans visitor visas issued from 2016 through 2026
The reported scope breaks down as follows:
| Category | Proposed scope |
|---|---|
| Visa types | B1 business and B2 tourism visas |
| Issuance period | 2016-2026 |
| Potential total | Up to 200,000 people |
| Reported Indian share | About 70,000 people |
| Implementation | Rolling basis |
The decade-long review would examine visas issued between 2016 and 2026. The total is a ceiling, while the Indian figure is the largest reported national share within the South Asian group.
India accounts for the largest reported South Asian share
India issued the largest share of U.S. non-immigrant visas among South Asian countries in 2025, according to the research cited about the plan. That distribution helps explain the reported exposure of more than 70,000 Indian nationals.
Indian travelers use these visitor visas for business travel, family visits and other short-term trips. A large number have also pursued asylum claims after entering the United States.
The proposed action would affect people whose later asylum filings brought their visitor visas into the review. The available figures identify the Indian total but do not provide separate estimates for other South Asian nationalities.
The plan forms part of broader immigration controls pursued by the Trump administration. Those measures include a global training initiative for consular officers and other visa-policy changes in 2026.
The plan follows more than 175,000 visa revocations since Trump took office
The State Department has already revoked more than 175,000 visas for various reasons since President Donald Trump took office. The proposed review would add a separate category involving visitor visa holders who applied for asylum.
The number could change as officials examine cases. Pigott said the process would proceed on a rolling basis.
An administration source described the timing in similar terms: the effort “won’t happen in one fell swoop.” The policy was still being prepared in late August 2026, with the agencies’ announcement expected within weeks.
Asylum proceedings for many affected people would continue during the review. That leaves the cancellation process running alongside cases that have not yet reached a final outcome.
