175,000 Green Cards Revoked: State Department to Cancel Visas for Asylum Applicants

The U.S. State Department is taking steps to revoke nonimmigrant visas held by individuals who have applied for asylum, according to recent reports. The move targets those who allegedly obtained temporary visas by falsely claiming they intended to return to their home countries, which is a requirement for nonimmigrant visa issuance. Authorities contend that more than 400,000 foreign nationals may have applied for and received temporary visas while concealing their true intention to seek permanent residency through asylum. If substantiated, this would represent a systemic abuse of the nonimmigrant visa system. For EB-3 applicants and employment-based immigrants, this development underscores the heightened scrutiny being applied across all immigration pathways. USCIS and DOS have been aligning enforcement priorities, and this crackdown signals a broader push to ensure visa holders comply with the terms of their admission. Applicants currently on employment-based immigrant tracks, including EB-3, should ensure their prior visa history is fully compliant and accurately documented. Any discrepancies between past nonimmigrant visa applications and subsequent immigration filings could invite additional review.