U.S. Visa Interview Pause and B1/B2 Revocation Plan: What Travelers and Asylum Seekers Need to Know

The U.S. State Department has announced two major changes that affect people applying for or already holding U.S. visas. First, it has paused all immigrant‑visa interview appointments around the globe for family‑sponsored, employment‑based and investment categories. Second, it is preparing to cancel up to 200,000 B1/B2 visas that were issued between 2016 and 2026 and belong to individuals who have filed, or are in the process of filing, asylum claims in the United States.

According to a State Department spokesperson, the interview pause is meant to give consular officers time to complete a worldwide training program that began in early August. The training focuses on identifying applicants who are likely to rely on U.S. public benefits after they arrive. No date has been announced for when normal scheduling will resume.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the revocation effort is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security and will target short‑term visitors who later sought asylum to stay permanently. If the plan is fully implemented, it would be the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press.

People who have never filed an asylum claim are exempt from the revocation, says Ngo Van Thoa, director of Pan American Travel. He added that B1/B2 visas used for business, tourism, family visits or medical treatment remain valid as long as the holder has not pursued asylum. Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Du Lich Viet, warned that applicants with close family already settled in the U.S. may face tighter scrutiny.

Since April 28, consular officers worldwide must ask every non‑immigrant visa applicant two extra questions: whether they have suffered harm or mistreatment in their country of nationality or last residence, and whether they fear such harm if they return. An applicant must answer “no” to both questions for the officer to continue processing the visa, according to a State Department cable cited by CNN.

Experts advise applicants to avoid any “approval tricks” and to provide truthful information, a clear travel purpose, and solid evidence of ties to their home country. Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing and communications director at Vietluxtour, recommends completing the electronic form accurately, matching the itinerary and finances with the interview, and steering clear of unusually large deposits right before the interview.

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