US Visa Shock: All immigrant applications halted as Trump tightens rules

The initiative was launched at US embassies and consulates in early August, according to a State Department official cited by The Guardian. Visa appointments were adjusted to accommodate “in-depth training” for consular officers.

The State Department has been developing updated guidance and training since early this year to ensure that consular officers are equipped to assess visa applicants “comprehensively and consistently”, the official said.

According to the administration, the enhanced scrutiny is intended to ensure that visa applicants are financially capable of supporting themselves and are unlikely to become dependent on US public benefits.

Up to 200,000 visitor visas could be revoked

Separately, the Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum or are currently pursuing asylum in the United States, according to US officials and government documents.

If implemented, the measure could represent the largest single mass revocation of US visas in history and is likely to face legal challenges.

The State Department is expected to announce the measure in the coming weeks.

Under the proposed policy, B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be revoked if their holders have filed asylum claims or are currently seeking asylum in the US.

The State Department is coordinating the process with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to documents obtained by The Associated Press and two US officials familiar with the matter.

State Department confirms coordination with DHS

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that the administration is working with DHS to identify visa holders who entered the US as short-term visitors before subsequently seeking asylum.

“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” Pigott said.

However, he did not provide an estimate of how many visas could ultimately be cancelled.

“As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis,” Pigott said.

The exact number of affected visa holders therefore remains uncertain, and officials stressed that the proposed revocations have not yet been finalised.

Visa cancellation would not automatically mean deportation

The planned visa revocations would not necessarily result in the immediate deportation of everyone affected, according to officials familiar with the process.

Most people with asylum applications already pending would be placed under a different immigration status, while losing the status associated with their B1 or B2 visitor visas, the officials said.

The distinction is significant because visa revocation and deportation are separate immigration actions.

Nevertheless, the proposed policy could create considerable uncertainty for a large number of foreign nationals who entered the US legally before seeking protection through the asylum system.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the planned visa revocations have not yet been formally announced.

B1 and B2 visa holders face increased scrutiny

B1 visas are generally issued to people travelling to the US for business purposes, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.

The proposed action would focus on people who entered the country under these temporary visitor categories but subsequently applied for asylum.

It remains unclear how many B1 and B2 visa holders have filed asylum applications or how many could ultimately be affected.

Applicants for B1 and B2 visas are generally required to demonstrate that they intend to return to their home countries and are not seeking to use the visa as a pathway to permanent residence.

The proposed revocations would therefore target cases in which authorities determine that an applicant's original purpose or stated intention was inconsistent with a subsequent asylum claim.

Trump administration expands visa restrictions

The latest proposal comes as the Trump administration has significantly expanded scrutiny of foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States during the president's second term.

The administration has introduced additional requirements and screening measures for visa applicants, including increased scrutiny of social media activity and financial circumstances for certain categories of applicants.

It has also imposed visa restrictions and travel bans affecting citizens of selected countries.

The administration has increasingly linked its immigration policies to efforts to prevent what it considers abuse of US immigration and visa pathways, while critics are expected to challenge some of the measures on legal and procedural grounds.