On August 25 (Washington time), according to Xinhua news agency, the US State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas for foreigners applying for asylum in the US.
US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Washington is coordinating with the DHS to identify cases of entry into the US as short-term residents but then applying for asylum to stay for a long time.
According to Mr. Pigott, these types of visas are issued on the condition that the owner intends to return home after a stay. He believes that applying for visas with the aim of seeking asylum status can be considered fraud and a basis for visa revocation.
Mr. Pigott's statement was made after many US media outlets reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke travel and work visas for a maximum of 200,000 foreigners who have applied or are in the process of applying for asylum in the US.
According to sources, this move may apply to people granted B1 and B2 visas in the period from 2016 to 2026, but who have subsequently applied for or are applying for asylum in the US.
The new move comes as the US administration continues to strengthen immigration control since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The US government has stepped up measures to deal with undocumented immigrants and strengthened checks on people holding US visas.
On August 10, the US State Department said it had revoked more than 175,000 visas since January 2025, when Mr. Trump began his second presidential term.
In another move, DHS on August 24 proposed a fee of $103,265 for H-1B visa applications that are limited in quantity. This is a new step to tighten the visa program for foreign workers.
The above proposal was made after previous efforts by the US government to apply a fee of $100,000 for this type of visa were rejected by the courts.
The visa review for asylum seekers is part of a series of policies that the Trump administration is implementing to strengthen control over the US immigration and visa system.
