US Starts Revoking B1/B2 Visas of Asylum Seekers
The United States has started revoking the business and tourist visas of foreigners who entered the country on B1/B2 visas and later applied for asylum, just days after the Trump administration announced the measure, Business Day Africa has established.
Dozens of affected people have received notifications from US embassies abroad informing them that their visas have been revoked and can no longer be used to travel to the United States.
One email seen by Business Day Africa told an affected visa holder:
“… this is to let you know that your visa has been revoked… and you cannot use it to travel to the US. You would have to apply for another visa.”
The move follows an announcement last week that the US government was working to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas held by foreigners who entered the United States as visitors before applying for asylum.
The administration has said the measure could affect up to 200,000 people, making it one of the largest visa revocation exercises undertaken by the United States.
The targeted visas include B1 visas, which are issued mainly for business travel, and B2 visas, which cover tourism, family visits and other temporary stays.
The administration argues that some foreigners have misused temporary visitor visas by entering the United States and subsequently seeking asylum in an attempt to remain in the country permanently.
The revocation campaign is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls and reduce what his administration describes as abuse of the U.S. immigration system.
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued a tougher immigration agenda covering both illegal and legal migration. His administration has increased scrutiny of visa applicants and holders, expanded grounds for visa cancellations and taken steps to make it harder for foreigners to remain in the United States.
The latest action is particularly significant for Africans, many of whom rely on B1/B2 visas for short-term travel to the United States for business, tourism, family visits and conferences.
Visa revocation, however, does not automatically mean that an affected person will be deported. Those who have already applied for asylum can remain subject to separate immigration proceedings, depending on their individual circumstances.
But the cancellation immediately removes the validity of the visitor visa. Anyone whose visa has been revoked and who later wants to travel to the United States would have to submit a new visa application and undergo the required screening.
The speed with which the revocations have begun, following last week’s announcement, suggests the administration is moving quickly to implement the policy rather than waiting for a broader immigration overhaul.
For affected travellers, the notifications have come as a surprise, with some learning that their visas had been cancelled only after receiving emails from U.S. diplomatic missions.
The move is likely to further raise concerns among prospective African travellers about the increasingly restrictive US visa environment under the Trump administration.