US State Department Reviewing 55 Million Visa Holders for Deportable Violations and National Security Risks

The United States is conducting a sweeping review of more than 55 million valid visa holders, as part of a continuous vetting programme aimed at identifying ineligibility indicators, including criminal activity, security threats, and violations of immigration law. 

Image Source: POTUS Trump on X

“All U.S. visa holders are subject to continuous vetting,” the department said, citing the policy’s focus on individuals who may pose a threat to public safety or who may have become ineligible to hold a visa post-issuance. 

If new information surfaces, the visa can be revoked. “If the visa holder is in the United States, he or she would be subject to deportation,” the department added.

The review is not based on any specific nationality or visa category. Instead, it spans all active visa types--tourist, student, business, work, and diplomatic--held by foreign nationals currently residing in or planning to enter the United States.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the move in a written response to a query from the Associated Press on Thursday, and the newsbreak was first reported by AP.

According to the State Department, the grounds for revocation include a range of criteria: overstaying visa duration, criminal conduct, security-related flags, or associations with terrorist groups. 

Officials stressed that the review incorporates “all available information,” including law enforcement and immigration databases, as well as new intelligence or findings that may emerge after the visa has been granted.

The announcement aligns with existing provisions under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which permits visa revocation or denial based on both factual misrepresentation and national security concerns. However, the scale of this audit--spanning over 55 million individuals--signals one of the most extensive post-issuance review efforts in recent years.

While the process itself is not new, its scope and public disclosure come amid heightened domestic and electoral focus on immigration enforcement. 

The announcement arrives just months ahead of the U.S. presidential election cycle, where border control and visa policies have been central talking points across party lines.

Legal experts note that visa holders within the U.S. whose documents are revoked would not automatically be placed in detention but would be subject to deportation proceedings under immigration court jurisdiction. 

Individuals outside U.S. territory would face immediate cancellation of their entry permission.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are understood to play a supporting role in providing data inputs for the State Department’s review, though no agency has confirmed operational details. 

The review will likely leverage biometric databases, flight and travel records, and interagency watchlists.

Under current rules, visa revocation can occur even without the holder being notified in advance, especially in cases involving national security or counterterrorism triggers. 

In such cases, the individual may only learn of the revocation at the port of entry or during routine immigration compliance checks.

Immigration analysts suggest the move reflects a shift toward a “post-entry” enforcement model, in which visa issuance is no longer seen as the final determination of eligibility. 

Instead, eligibility is viewed as a continuing condition that can be reassessed throughout the visa’s validity.

For international students, workers, and long-term non-immigrant residents, the announcement may introduce heightened uncertainty, especially for those awaiting visa renewals or change-of-status approvals. 

Universities, employers, and immigration attorneys are likely to closely monitor developments in how this vetting process affects specific visa categories like H-1B, F-1, and J-1.

No public timeline has been given for completion of the review, nor has any estimate been provided regarding how many visas might be impacted. 

The State Department has not issued any advisory for embassies or consulates abroad, and visa issuance continues under existing criteria.

The U.S. currently maintains over 180 visa categories. As of mid-2025, the top five countries by visa issuance include India, China, Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. 

Any substantial shift in visa revocations across these countries could have significant diplomatic and bilateral implications.

The continuous vetting framework is part of the U.S. Visa Lifecycle Vetting Initiative, an interagency programme established in the aftermath of the 9/11 Commission Report. 

It has expanded in scope and capability over the past decade, especially with the use of artificial intelligence and real-time data sharing across federal systems.

While the move has not yet triggered formal diplomatic responses, several embassies are reportedly seeking clarifications through back-channel engagement with U.S. authorities.