The US may cancel up to 200,000 tourist and business visas: who will this affect?

The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing for a possible large-scale review of tourist and business visas for foreigners. Up to 200 thousand B1 and B2 visas may be subject to cancellation, whose holders applied for asylum after entering the United States. At the same time, the cancellation of the visa will not mean automatic deportation.

The Associated Press reports on the preparation of such a decision, citing American officials.

Who can cancel visas

These are foreigners who received tourist or business B1/B2 visas, arrived in the United States on them, and later applied for asylum.

According to the AP, the review may cover visas issued during 2016-2026.

American agencies are currently identifying people who entered the country as temporary visitors, but then applied to immigration authorities with applications for asylum.

Potentially, up to 200,000 visas are being revoked, although the final number of documents that may be revoked has not yet been determined.

Decisions may be announced in the coming weeks

It is expected that the US State Department may announce the appropriate step in the coming weeks.

At the same time, the revocation, according to available information, will be gradual. Therefore, the actual number of visas revoked may differ from previous estimates.

A final decision on the scope of such a review has not yet been made.

Will the revocation of a visa mean deportation

The revocation of a tourist or business visa in itself will not automatically mean the removal of a person from the United States.

If a foreigner’s asylum application continues to be considered, his further stay in the country will depend on the relevant immigration procedures and status.

At the same time, after the revocation of a B1/B2, such a person will no longer be considered to be in the United States on the basis of a tourist or business visa.

Thus, the potential decision will primarily concern visa status, and not an automatic termination of the asylum application process or immediate deportation.

The scope of the review may still change

Currently, US authorities continue to analyze data on the holders of the relevant visas. The Associated Press received information about the preparation of the decision from officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Therefore, the final rules, the number of canceled visas and the terms of their cancellation will become known after the official decision of the US State Department.