The United States has significantly tightened its borders for visitors under President Donald Trump's second term, with officials confirming the revocation of a vast number of travel documents. The State Department announced this week that it has cancelled over 100,000 visas since the current administration returned to office, a move that aligns with its 'America First' philosophy.
Who Is Affected by the Visa Revocations?
The sweeping cancellations are not limited to any single group. The State Department confirmed the revoked visas include approximately 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised visas for individuals who had previous encounters with US law enforcement. However, the crackdown extends beyond these categories, impacting a broad spectrum of potential travellers to America.
Perhaps more concerning for many British and European tourists is the reported instability of the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) scheme. This online system, which pre-authorises travel for visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries like the UK, Australia, Japan, and most of Europe, is being withdrawn for some without a clear explanation.
Why Was My ESTA Cancelled? The Hidden Reasons
Numerous reports on forums like Reddit detail experiences where ESTAs were revoked despite travellers having clean records. Users state they have never overstayed, have no criminal charges, and have not publicly expressed controversial political views. One individual reported receiving an email from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stating their ESTA status had changed, rendering them unauthorised to travel, after two short, legitimate tourist trips to New York and Miami.
While the US government reserves the right to revoke any visa or ESTA at any time, common reasons often include:
- An undisclosed criminal record, however minor.
- Failure to adequately prove non-immigrant intent – meaning you cannot convincingly show ties to your home country.
- Travel to countries on a US banned list, such as Iran, Cuba, Somalia, or Libya. One Reddit user claimed their ESTA was revoked shortly after a visit to Cuba.
- A history of overstaying on a previous visa or being denied entry at the US border.
Critically, there is no formal appeals process for a denied or revoked ESTA. The only recourse is to apply for a standard B1/B2 visitor visa, which involves a more rigorous application and an in-person interview at a US embassy.
A Further Freeze on Immigration Visas Looms
The restrictions on visitors may be just the beginning. A State Department memo obtained by Fox News Digital indicates plans for a broader freeze on immigration visas from 75 countries, reportedly including Russia, Iran, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Somalia, and Yemen. This pause, set to begin on 21 January, is said to be indefinite pending a full reassessment of visa processing protocols. The memo clarifies this would affect immigration visas, not temporary visitor visas.
The Independent has contacted the US State Department for comment on these policies and the experiences of travellers who have had their ESTAs unexpectedly cancelled. For now, the message to potential visitors is clear: entering the United States has become a more uncertain and stringent process, with rules that can be applied with little immediate explanation.
