US Tightens Short-Term Visas, Recalling B1/B2 Holders Who Sought Asylum

The State Department will revoke B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016–2026 for travelers who have sought asylum or are seeking asylum, as part of a broader push for stricter visa enforcement. In 2024, most B1/B2 visas went to Brazil, China, India and Pakistan, with about 32,300 issued to people from the UK. Earlier this month the department revoked more than 175,000 visas for various violations or security concerns and instructed embassies to reschedule interviews to train staff on the tighter policy. These revocations come after courts struck down the Trump-era 75-country visa ban and blocked efforts to halt processing of immigration applications from 39 countries, signaling ongoing legal challenges to related restrictions.