According to reporting by the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of State is preparing to revoke the visitor visas of as many as 200,000 people. The plan, described in State Department documents and confirmed by U.S. officials, targets B-1 business visas and B-2 tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 that were held by people who have applied for asylum, or who are currently seeking asylum, in the United States. If carried out, this would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in American history. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, and legal challenges are widely anticipated.
Headlines like this cause real fear, especially in communities that have already lived through years of uncertainty. Our office has heard from many worried families since the news broke. So before anything else, we want to explain clearly what this plan does, what it does not do, and what you can do right now to protect yourself and your case.
What This Plan Does Not Mean
First, and most importantly: a visa revocation is not a deportation order. Officials cited in the reporting have stated that revocation would not, by itself, result in immediate removal from the United States.
- Your asylum case continues. The right to apply for asylum exists under U.S. law independently of any visa. If you entered on a B-1 or B-2 visa and later filed for asylum, your asylum application is a separate legal process. Losing the visitor visa does not close your asylum case, and it does not erase the protections that apply while that case is pending.
- Most people would be recategorized, not removed. The reporting indicates that most individuals with pending asylum cases would lose their status as business or tourist visitors but would remain in their asylum process rather than face immediate deportation.
- The plan is not final. As of today, no formal announcement has been made, and the policy is expected to face court challenges that could delay, narrow, or block it.
Who May Be Affected
The plan focuses on people who entered the United States on a B-1 or B-2 visa issued at any point from 2016 through 2026 and who then filed an asylum application, whether with USCIS or in immigration court. It does not, based on current reporting, target people who entered on other visa types, although the administration has been reviewing visa holders broadly over the past year. If you are unsure which category you fall into, review your entry documents or ask your attorney to check your record.
Seven Steps to Take Right Now
- Stay calm and rely on trusted sources. Rumors spread quickly on social media and in group chats. Verify anything you hear with a licensed attorney or an accredited representative before acting on it.
- Do not travel outside the United States. If your visitor visa is revoked while you are abroad, you may not be able to return, and departure can be treated as abandoning a pending asylum application. Speak with an attorney before making any travel plans, even for emergencies.
- Keep your asylum case active and in good standing. Attend every hearing, biometrics appointment, and interview. Respond to every notice by its deadline. A strong, active case is your best protection.
- Keep your address current. File Form AR-11 with USCIS, and Form EOIR-33 if you are in immigration court, every time you move. Missed notices lead to missed hearings, and missed hearings can lead to removal orders.
- Organize your documents. Keep copies of your passport, visa, Form I-94, asylum receipt notices, work permit, and all correspondence in one safe place, with backup copies stored separately.
- Be cautious with new applications. Before filing anything new, or renewing a document, have an attorney review how the filing interacts with your asylum case and with any change in your visa status.
- Avoid notario fraud. Only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives may give legal advice. Times of fear attract people who take money and make problems worse. If an offer sounds too easy, it is.
A Word to Our Community
Many of our clients, including many Afghan families who came to the United States after 2021, filed asylum applications after entering on visitor visas because it was the only lawful path available to them at the time. Seeking asylum is not a loophole. It is a right written into American law, and it remains available to people with genuine claims. Policies may change, but your case deserves to be judged on its merits, and we will continue to stand with you through every stage of that process.
How We Can Help
The Anwari Law Firm, PC has more than eighteen years of experience in asylum, family-based immigration, Special Immigrant Visa matters, and federal court litigation. We serve clients in English and Dari. If you entered on a visitor visa and have a pending asylum case, or if you receive any notice about your visa status, contact our office before you respond. We can review your record, explain your options, and help you protect your future in the United States.
Call us at 703-348-8448, email danwari@businessandimmigrationlaw.com, or visit www.businessandimmigrationlaw.com to schedule a consultation.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration policy is changing rapidly; please consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation. Based on Associated Press reporting dated August 24, 2026.
Posted in: Immigration
posted on: August 31, 2026