US tightens immigration rules as visa revocations cross 250,000

WASHINGTON: The United States has introduced sweeping immigration changes as the new federal fiscal year begins.

The Trump administration has expanded scrutiny of foreign nationals. The State Department said it had revoked more than 250,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office.

The visa cancellations involved several alleged violations. These included breaches of visa conditions, criminal activity, fraud, misuse of immigration procedures and national security concerns.

Around 2,300 visas were revoked in cases linked to alleged birth tourism. The term refers to foreign nationals travelling to the US to give birth.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said visa decisions were closely linked to national security.

The administration has also revoked visas belonging to 27 current and former officials and their family members from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The action was linked to allegations of corruption.

US officials are also preparing further action against some B1 and B2 visa holders. As many as 200,000 foreigners who entered the country on business or tourist visas and later applied for asylum could be affected.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticised what the administration describes as false asylum claims. He said the asylum system was designed to protect people facing persecution.

The administration has argued that a large number of asylum applications have contributed to a major backlog. Some cases can take years to resolve.

The start of the new fiscal year has also brought changes for people seeking permanent residency.

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin sets the dates for many family-sponsored and employment-based green card applications.

Employment-based visa limits have been reset for the new fiscal year. Some categories have moved forward, while others have experienced delays.

Indian applicants are closely watching the changes. The October bulletin lists a February 1, 2023 final-action date for Indian applicants under EB-1.

The final-action date for EB-2 applicants from India is November 1, 2013. For EB-3 applicants, it is January 1, 2014.

The State Department had exhausted the fiscal 2026 allocation for Indian EB-2 applicants in May. The annual limits have now been reset for the new fiscal year.

The US has also widened social-media screening for some visa applicants.

The expanded checks cover foreign media representatives applying for I visas. They also apply to Canadian and Mexican professionals and their dependants seeking TN and TD classifications.

Applicants in these categories have been instructed to make their social-media profiles available for review.

The State Department said information from available sources would be considered during visa screening. Officials will assess whether applicants meet visa requirements and whether they raise national security or public safety concerns.

Other changes affect some non-citizens receiving Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Programme. Tighter eligibility requirements could affect their access to these programmes.

The impact of the new immigration measures will depend on each applicant’s visa category, immigration status, country of chargeability and priority date.