US plans to revoke up to 200k visas of asylum seekers, affecting Nigerians
US authorities are preparing to cancel up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for foreigners who have applied for asylum after entering the United States, according to State Department documents seen by the Associated Press. The move, coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security, could be announced in the coming weeks and would be the largest mass visa revocation in US history. Visitors would lose their tourist or business status while their asylum claims continue under a different immigration classification, rather than face immediate deportation.
For Nigerians currently in the US on visitor visas who have filed or are considering asylum applications, this policy could strip their legal right to remain as visitors, complicating their stay and potentially affecting access to work, study, or medical benefits tied to visa status. Those with pending asylum cases would need to adjust to a new immigration category, and anyone planning to travel on a B1/B2 visa should expect stricter screening.
Applicants should keep copies of all immigration documents, seek advice from qualified immigration lawyers, and monitor official updates from the US Embassy in Abuja or Lagos. The policy adds to earlier efforts to curb birth tourism and restrict birthright citizenship, which courts have blocked.