US May Revoke Visas of Up to 2 Lakh Foreigners, Including Indians

Article by Kumar Published on: 9:36 am, 25 August 2026

US President Donald Trump and his administration are all set to shock foreigners, including several Indians. This time the focus is who came into the country on business or tourist visit and sought asylum.

The Trump administration is preparing a major visa crackdown that could affect up to 2 Lakh foreigners who entered the United States on business or tourist visas and later applied for asylum. If implemented, this could become the largest single mass visa revocation in the US history. However, the move is expected to face legal challenges though.

The move is crucial for Indians and Indian-origin families in the US because thousands of Indians travel to United States every year on B1/B2 visas for business, tourism and family visits.

Any large-scale review of these visas could therefore have an impact on Indian travellers and visitors who have entered the US under these categories. The Trump administration has already tightened US visa rules since President Donald Trump began his second term.

The US State Department is expected to announce the action in the coming weeks. According to State Department documents and two US officials, B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be revoked if their holders have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the US.

The action will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The State Department said it is working with DHS to identify people who entered the US claiming to be short-term visitors but later filed asylum applications to remain in the country permanently.

The proposed move could create uncertainty for foreign nationals who previously travelled to the US on B1/B2 visas and subsequently applied for asylum.

For Indian nationals and the wider Indian-American community, the key issue will be how widely the policy is applied and whether any exemptions or legal protections are introduced. The final decision is still subject to change or legal challenges before the planned action is implemented.