Aug 25, Kathmandu - The US government is preparing to cancel tourist and business visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals in a bid to close legal loopholes in the immigration system. The move is targeting people who have applied for asylum or are applying for asylum after entering the US for a short period of time.

The US State Department has started the process of canceling the visas of B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have applied for asylum after entering the US. If the plan is implemented, it will be the largest number of visa cancellations in US history.

Tourist and business visa holders are the main targets

B-1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B-2 visas are for tourism, family visits and medical treatment. According to US officials, allowing people who enter the US for a short period of time with these visas to later apply for asylum and stay permanently is incompatible with the original purpose of the visa.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said that the government is seriously considering the situation of foreigners who have come for a short period of time and later apply for asylum and stay permanently.

Visa cancellation does not mean immediate deportation

Visa cancellation and immediate deportation are not the same process. Most people with pending asylum cases will not be immediately removed from the United States. However, their business or tourist visa status will end and their legal status will then depend on other immigration processes.

The State Department has not yet released the exact number of people affected. Officials have said that the number could change as the process will proceed in stages.

Trump administration tightens immigration

The United States has been steadily tightening immigration and visa regulations during President Donald Trump's second term. Steps such as checking social media details on visa applications, imposing high deposits, and banning entry and visas for citizens of certain countries have been taken.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has made it clear that the asylum system should not be used as a means to circumvent immigration laws.

More than 175,000 visas canceled in 18 months

The US State Department has said that it has canceled about 175,000 visas in the last 18 months. Previously, visa cancellations were mainly for criminal activity, legal violations, or national security reasons.

Now, the US immigration policy is set to be further tightened, with the target now also including people who entered the US on short-term tourist or business visas and later applied for asylum.

The government has described the move as an effort to prevent abuse of the immigration system, and the number of people affected and details of the implementation are expected to become clear in the coming weeks.