The Donald Trump administration is preparing to potentially revoke up to 200,000 B1/B2 tourist and business visas held by foreign nationals who, after entering the US, have applied or are applying for asylum. The review will cover documents issued between 2016 and 2026 and, based on general criteria, could affect Ukrainian nationals, the Associated Press reported, citing State Department documents and two officials.
Briefly about the main points
- The check may cover up to 200,000 tourist and business visas.
- Criterion — an application for asylum made after entering the country as a temporary visitor.
- Ukrainians are not singled out, but they may fall under the general rule.
- The cancellation of the document does not automatically bring the asylum procedure to an end.
- The campaign is expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
The State Department is preparing an inspection in conjunction with the DHS
The US State Department, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, is preparing to identify holders of non-immigrant B1 and B2 visas who arrived as short-term visitors and subsequently applied for asylum in order to remain in the country.
Spokesperson for the State Department Tommy Pigott confirmed the work carried out by the authorities. According to him, the number of documents that have been cancelled will change as the investigation progresses, so the authorities are not yet giving a final figure.
Which Ukrainians might be affected by the checks?
Ukrainian citizens who have been granted a B1/B2 visa, entered the US as temporary visitors and have subsequently applied for asylum or are in the process of doing so may be eligible.
The documents do not provide for a separate campaign against Ukrainians: This approach should apply to foreign nationals of various nationalities. The notices relate to asylum seekers, not just those who have already been granted asylum.
The revocation of a visa does not mean immediate deportation
The revocation of a B1/B2 visa does not in itself mean immediate removal from the US. For people whose asylum claims are still being considered, their future immigration status will be determined by the asylum procedure.
An American visa allows a foreign national to apply for admission at the border. Its revocation may affect the ability to leave the US and re-enter on the same document, but does not automatically close a pending asylum application. The consequences for an individual depend on their status and the stage of their case.
The administration is tightening controls on the use of B1/B2 visas
A B1 visa is usually used for short-term business trips, whilst a B2 visa is used for tourism, visiting relatives or medical treatment. When applying for these visas, the applicant must state the temporary purpose of their trip and their intention to leave the country at the end of their authorised period of stay.
Administration Trump considers that the appeal regarding shelter Following such an entry, in certain cases this may indicate that the visa was used for a purpose other than that stated. Over a period of approximately one and a half years The State Department has already cancelled more than 175,000 visas due to criminal cases, breaches of residence regulations and security threats.
The campaign is expected to be launched gradually
According to the AP, the formal launch is expected in the coming weeks, provided the plan is not revised or blocked. The process is intended to take place gradually, rather than as a one-off cancellation of an equal number of documents.
Legal challenges are also possible: other immigration decisions by the Trump administration have already been the subject of lawsuits in federal courts. For Ukrainians, the decisive factors will be the specific programme or basis for their stay in the US and the status of their immigration case.
