The United States may revoke the tourist and business visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum after entering the country.

The Trump administration is considering the move as part of its wider immigration crackdown. The Associated Press reported the plan after reviewing State Department documents and speaking with two U.S. officials.

If the administration proceeds, the action could become the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history. The State Department could start notifying affected visa holders in the coming weeks.

Who could lose their visas?

The proposed policy focuses on people who hold B1 or B2 visas and later applied for asylum in the United States.

B1 visas generally cover business travel. B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.

The proposed review would cover B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016 through 2026. U.S. authorities are working to identify visa holders who entered the country as temporary visitors and later filed asylum applications.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. He did not give a final figure for the number of visas that officials could revoke.

Pigott said officials would handle the reviews on a rolling basis. As a result, the final number could change.

Visa cancellation may not mean immediate deportation

Losing a B1 or B2 visa would not automatically lead to immediate deportation.

U.S. officials told the Associated Press that some people could continue their pending asylum cases under another immigration status. They would, however, lose their classification as business or tourist visitors.

The proposal has also drawn criticism from asylum advocates and could face legal challenges if the administration implements it.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticised people who enter the United States on temporary visas and later seek asylum. He has argued that people should not use asylum claims to avoid normal immigration rules.

Part of wider immigration enforcement

The visa proposal follows a broader increase in U.S. immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.

The State Department says it has revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months. Those cases involved people convicted or accused of offences such as drunken driving, rape and robbery.

Officials have also cancelled some visas after holders publicly criticised U.S. policies.

The administration has separately pursued restrictions on birth tourism. It has also sought to end birthright citizenship. Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have blocked those efforts.

Possible impact on Nigerians

The policy could attract attention in Nigeria because many Nigerians travel to the United States for business, tourism, family visits and investment.

Visa changes can also affect people involved in cross-border business. This includes real estate investors, property developers and professionals who work between Nigeria and the United States.

For Nigeria’s housing sector, international mobility can support diaspora investment and business partnerships. Changes to U.S. immigration rules could therefore matter to Nigerians planning property purchases, investments or other commercial activities in the United States.

The issue also highlights the importance of understanding the conditions attached to temporary visas. Visitors who enter the United States must comply with the terms of their immigration status.

US continues to tighten immigration rules

The State Department documents show that the latest review began after immigration authorities shared information about asylum applications filed by current B1 and B2 visa holders.

The administration has also increased efforts to remove migrants to countries other than their countries of origin. A February 2026 report cited by Nairametrics said Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee estimated that the U.S. government had spent more than $40 million to deport about 300 migrants to third countries.

Those transfers involved countries such as Rwanda, Palau, Eswatini, El Salvador and Equatorial Guinea. The report said Rwanda received seven deportees at a cost of about $1.1 million per person.

The proposed visa revocations remain under review. The U.S. government has not confirmed that it will cancel exactly 200,000 visas.

For international travellers, the development signals a stricter approach to visa enforcement. Nigerians and other foreign nationals who plan to travel, invest or conduct business in the United States will need to pay close attention to changes in U.S. immigration rules.

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The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy requiring foreigners temporarily residing in the country, including Nigerians, to return to their home countries before applying for Green Cards.

The directive was issued through a policy memo supervised by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration processing rules.

The policy is part of broader efforts to tighten immigration procedures under the current administration.

According to DHS, immigration officers will handle applications for exceptional relief on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances, evidence, and humanitarian considerations.

“An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply,” the Department of Homeland Security stated.

The agency explained that the change is intended to ensure compliance with existing immigration laws and reduce perceived exploitation of procedural loopholes.

It added that the reform will also allow USCIS to better manage its workload and improve efficiency in processing other immigration applications.

The new directive reverses earlier practices that allowed eligible applicants already in the United States to adjust their immigration status without leaving the country.

Humanitarian organisations have criticised the policy, warning that it could place vulnerable groups such as trafficking survivors and abused children at risk by forcing them to return to their countries of origin during the application process.

The policy comes amid wider immigration tightening measures, including stricter visa rules and increased scrutiny of applicants.

U.S. authorities have also intensified enforcement actions in recent months, with reports of visa revocations and tougher screening procedures across several categories of travel documents.

The administration has also explored additional immigration reforms, including proposals affecting visa durations and eligibility conditions for various categories of foreign nationals.

These ongoing policy shifts continue to generate debate over immigration control, humanitarian protection, and access to legal migration pathways into the United States.

The post US Tightens Green Card Rules, Nigerians on Temporary Visas May Need to Apply From Home Countries appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The United States has issued a fresh warning to Nigerian travellers, cautioning that visa overstays could negatively affect travel opportunities for other Nigerians seeking entry into the country for education, business, or family-related visits.

The warning comes amid stricter immigration enforcement and tighter travel controls under the administration of President Donald Trump, as U.S. authorities intensify efforts to curb visa violations and immigration abuse.

In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stressed that adherence to visa rules is critical to maintaining fair and continued access for Nigerians who travel responsibly.

According to the Mission, visa overstays by a segment of travellers often have broader consequences, influencing policy decisions that affect the wider population.

“Visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can affect opportunities for their fellow citizens,” the U.S. Mission said. “Strengthening compliance helps protect access for students, business travellers, and families who travel responsibly.”

The advisory highlights growing concern within U.S. immigration circles that repeated violations by visitors from specific countries could trigger stricter screening processes, longer wait times, or additional requirements for future visa applicants.

Rising scrutiny on visa compliance

Visa overstaying occurs when a visitor remains in the United States beyond the authorised period granted on entry. While overstays may appear minor on an individual level, U.S. immigration authorities consider them serious violations that undermine the integrity of the visa system.

Recent immigration data and policy signals suggest that countries with higher overstay rates are more likely to face tougher visa conditions, including higher refusal rates and enhanced background checks.

The U.S. Mission’s message indicates that Nigerian travellers, particularly students and business visitors, could bear the indirect cost of such violations if compliance levels do not improve.

Impact on students and business travellers

Education and business remain two of the most common reasons Nigerians travel to the United States. Thousands of Nigerians apply annually for student visas, professional training, conferences, and short-term business engagements.

Analysts say visa overstays could complicate this pathway, as immigration authorities may adopt a more cautious approach toward applicants from countries perceived to pose higher compliance risks.

Families seeking to visit relatives in the U.S. may also face additional hurdles if visa integrity concerns persist.

Call to report visa fraud

Beyond overstays, the U.S. Mission also encouraged Nigerians to report cases of visa fraud, noting that fraudulent practices further weaken trust in the application process.

The Mission urged the public to report suspected visa fraud via its official channels, including AbujaFPU@state.gov and LagosFPU@state.gov.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that visa fraud, including the use of fake documents or misrepresentation of travel intent, can result in permanent travel bans.

Immigration climate remains tight

The advisory aligns with broader immigration measures recently announced by the United States, including expanded travel restrictions, stricter visa processing, and new financial requirements for certain applicants.

While the U.S. has maintained that legitimate travellers remain welcome, authorities insist that compliance with immigration rules is non-negotiable.

For Nigerian travellers, the message is clear: respecting visa conditions not only protects individual travel records but also safeguards opportunities for other citizens.

As global mobility becomes increasingly regulated, experts advise travellers to fully understand their visa terms, monitor expiry dates, and seek timely extensions or lawful exit options where necessary.

The post Visa Overstays by Nigerians May Limit Travel Access – US appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

This initiative aims to enhance security screening but raises privacy concerns and potential risks of data misuse by immigration authorities.

According to TravelBiz, the rule would apply to immigration forms, including those for citizenship, asylum, and status adjustments.

The USCIS has published the proposal in the Federal Register, allowing a 60-day public comment period for feedback on its impact.

Affected applications include N-400 (naturalization), I-131 (advance parole), I-485 (green cards), I-589 (asylum), and refugee petitions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supports this move, stating it strengthens security vetting through more comprehensive background checks.

However, immigration experts warn about possible misinterpretation of social media posts and the lack of clear evaluation guidelines.

Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden expressed concerns about how USCIS will analyze posts, store data, and flag potential issues.

“There is a risk applicants could be denied due to misinterpreted online activity or posts taken out of context,” he noted.

The USCIS has assured there will be no additional costs beyond standard filing fees, but scrutiny may cause delays.

Applicants and organizations can submit feedback during the 60-day period to address privacy, effectiveness, and procedural concerns.

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