The Consular Newsletter (April 28 – May 04, 2025)
This week, the EU's top court ruled against Malta’s golden passport scheme, while temporary consulate suspensions are anticipated amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.
A. Announcements
B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
E. Passports, visas, and migration fraud
F. Five perspectives
G. Honorary consuls
H. Get daily news
I. Support consular research
J. Thanks
A. Announcements
While we are planning to launch the website in May 2025, you are now welcome to archive your existing works in The Consular Repository and submit new writings for The Consular Magazine.
If you would like to partner with the Center, feel free to get in touch.
B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
Americas
A chapter of the U.S. Consulate in Mérida closes. The Yucatan Times
Amid visa crackdown, foreign students in California and beyond reconsider summer travel. Los Angeles Times
Guatemalan migrant who gave birth in US avoids rapid deportation. Reuters
In Texas borderland, Trump’s immigration push suffers its worst legal defeat yet. New York Times
Trump administration reveals how it targeted thousands of international students on visas. NBC News
Visa revocations can now lead to legal status terminations, according to internal memo. NBC News
Asia
Passport office security guard denies entry to man wearing shorts, sparks debate. NDTV
Europe
Crisis in Spanish consulates puts the nationality of nearly half a million descendants at risk. CiberCuba
EU citizenship no longer for sale. Deutsche Welle
EU top court rules against Malta's golden passport scheme. Reuters
The radical barristers who really lay down the law in Britain. The Spectator
Multiple continents
Kneecap’s post-Coachella fallout continues—US visa removed, German festival appearances canceled. Digital Music News
Lead Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev’s sister traveled to Ukraine on US passport. Kyiv Post
Somalia bars Taiwanese passport holders from entering the country. New York Times
US embassy in China bans visas for 'birth tourism', violators permanently barred. VnExpress
Africa, Middle East, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
In Africa
Algeria weighs French embassy land seizure after Paris' new Harkis compensation law. The New Arab
Ignore fake letter claiming South Sudan expelled US ambassador, closed embassy. Africa Check
In Americas
Guatemala ministry says US embassy's Chinese hack report a years-old case. Reuters
Kenya to establish Consulate General in Haiti. Citizen Digital
Russia opens embassy in Dominican Republic. Anadolu Agency
In Asia
India's consulate to be relocated from Zahedan to Mashhad. Mehr News Agency
Preparations for execution of attacker on Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran completed. News Azerbaijan
In Europe
Man with knife attempts to infiltrate Israeli London embassy for terrorist attack. The Jerusalem Post
Pakistan seeks action against London mission vandals. Dawm
South Africa to maintain close ties with Bulgaria as the embassy in Sofia winds down operations. Africa
In Middle East, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
1993 Bombay blasts case: 66-year-old accused Farooq Takla found guilty of passport forgery. Times of India
Afghan citizen charged with visa fraud in New York. AMU TV
Delhi Police arrests passport fraud mastermind from Gandhinagar. Hindustan Times
Fake citizens exposed: Kuwaiti and Syrian nationals sentenced for passport fraud. Arab Times
Immigration adviser fined for rubber stamping applications of scammed migrants. Radio News Zealand
Indian students held in US, duped elderly of gold as fake govt agents. India Today
New York man indicted for identity theft and fake passport use in Vermont. Shore News Network
Passport fraud exposed in UP's Rampur as man obtains multiple passports with different identities. The Times of India
Philippines urged to address passport tampering scheme amid declining tourism confidence, impacting travelers and airport security. Travel and Tour World
F. Five perspectives
This selection highlights a number of posts published this week to help readers discover diverse perspectives; the views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the position of the Consular Affairs Center.
A United Nations Global Passport??? (by
).Embassy Fortresses & Cottagecore Diplomacy (by
).How This Legal Worker Visa Became a Human Trafficking Scheme (by
).New records show Scientology still hogging US 'religious' visas (by
).- ).
G. Honorary consuls
The Consular Affairs Center provides tailored reports for worldwide honorary consuls. Contact the Center to learn more.
H. Get daily news
Consular affairs via Bluesky, Facebook, KakaoTalk, Line, LinkedIn, Substack, Telegram, Threads, Viber, VK, WhatsApp, and X.
The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings via LinkedIn.
Passports, visas, and migration fraud via LinkedIn.
I. Support consular research
Support is possible via a donation. Your generosity helps a lot. Thank you very much.
J. Thanks
Partner: Yonsei University.
We are grateful to the news sources that contributed to bringing you this week's highlights. The content and views expressed are those of the authors alone and do not reflect the position of their affiliated institutions or the Consular Affairs Center.