The Consular Newsletter (February 09-15, 2026)
This week, the US denied plans for a West Bank consular branch, while consular cases linked to Cambodia scam centers keep emerging.
Every week, the Consular Newsletter updates consular officials, diplomats, migration lawyers, researchers, and travel industry professionals with the latest major news on consular affairs and diplomatic networks. This week, the US denied plans for a West Bank consular branch, while consular cases linked to Cambodia scam centers keep emerging.
A. Announcements
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B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
Multiple continents
Consular access 16 Indian sailors detained in Iran secured; 8 released, 8 remain in custody: MEA. ANI
Inuit leaders celebrate milestone trip as Canada opens Greenland consulate. CBC
Rachel Moran on ICE at the Ecuadorian Consulate. University of St.Thomas
Suspect in 2012 Benghazi consulate attack pleads not guilty to federal charges. The Hill
UK expands visa route for Hong Kongers after Jimmy Lai sentencing. Reuters
US embassy denies reported plan to open consular service branch in West Bank settlement. The Times of Israel
Americas
A true American doesn’t just have a passport — they exhibit these core values. VegOut
Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros likely to be delayed by visa issues for another week. Chicago Sun Times
Everyone in Washington wants to ‘reform’ agriculture’s main visa program. Food & Environment Reporting Network
State Department orders nonprofit libraries to stop processing passport applications. The Associated Press
State Department to pull additional passports from parents who owe child support. Fox News
Asia, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Australian man died in Bali after consulate refused to assist with medical transfer. The Guardian
Sorting out cases involving Indonesian citizens in Cambodia’s scam centers. Tempo
Europe
Expats renounce British citizenship as new passport rules loom. The Times
Middle East
A passport stamp for a Palestinian state in the making. Israel Hayom
Officials raise alarm over ‘State of Palestine’ passport stamps at Rafah crossing. Ynet
Africa
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
Al-Shaibani: reopening Syrian Consulate in Bonn a significant milestone in diplomacy. Syrian Arab News Agency
Azerbaijan’s president accuses Russia of ‘deliberate attack’ on country’s embassy in Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent
Belgium to open consular service in Yerevan. Armenpress
BLACKPINK’s Jennie acquires former Iraqi Embassy building for 20 billion won. The Chosun Daily
Colombia reopens Embassy in Bucharest after 24 years of absence. Romania Insider
Japan opens new visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Moscow Times
Like Trump, U.S. embassies are raising cash for lavish July Fourth parties. The New York Times
Russia to open Consulate in Aktau. Russia’s Pivot to Asia
Turkey set to establish embassy in Reykjavík. Iceland Review
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
Chinese crypto scam fugitive with St. Kitts passport owns Dubai property. OCCRP
Egypt arrests woman over alleged Hajj visa scam. Gulf News
FAIR’s Matt O’Brien testifies before Senate on immigration fraud. FAIR
Passport fraud: Dublin man and cousin admit to bizarre birth certificate scam. BreakingNews
Passport scam case: Moga court sentences three cops to 3-year rigorous imprisonment. The Tribune
Punjab: 2008 Moga passport scam: Bathinda court cites shoddy probe, acquits 17 travel agents. Hindustan Times
F. Honorary consuls
Opinion: the murky world of shadow diplomats. News18
G. Consular jobs and internships
A non-exhaustive selection
Australia in Berlin, Germany / Internship (deadline: February 17)
Belgium in Warsaw, Poland / Consular Officer (deadline: February 18)
United States in Lagos, Nigeria / Visa Assistant (deadline: February 25)
Access jobs (TBA)
Access honorary consul jobs (link)
H. Migration laws, regulations, and policies
A non-exhaustive selection
[Japan] 世界大学ランキングに基づき加点対象となる大学一覧（令和８年１月時点）を更新しました。 MOJ / ISA
[United States] Cap reached for first allocation of returning worker H-2B Visas FY 2026. DHS / USCIS
I. Perspectives
A quick trip to Lyon and handling US paperwork from abroad (by Alex & Beyond)
Africa beyond remittances: the African diaspora could build the biggest bank in Africa, bigger than the top 5 banks combined (by Cofounders Notebook)
Immigration intakes don’t account for the impact of AI. They should (by Michelle Rempel Garner)
Is a break between Israeli Jews and Jews of the Diaspora inevitable? GESHER believes it’s not, and is working hard to build real bridges (by Daniel Gordis
Just what you’ve always wanted: you can finally get your passport stamped by “The State of Palestine” (by Daniel Gordis)
Mexico at the crossroads: sovereignty, solidarity, and the pressure of a powerful neighbor (by CODEPINK and Teri Mattson)
Resolute John Florio at the French embassy (by Marianna Iannaccone)
The day your visa gets approved: the African immigration grief nobody talks about (by ODE™ — The One Dollar Economy)
The diplomat who hid people on a list (Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Portugal) (by John Fenzel)
J. Get daily news
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LinkedIn for the diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings.
LinkedIn for passports, visas, and migration fraud.
LinkedIn for honorary consuls.
LinkedIn for consular jobs and internships (a non-exhaustive selection).
LinkedIn for migration, laws, regulations, and policies (a non-exhaustive selection).
K. Supporting consular research
The Center warmly thanks its Partners, Members, and Donors for their support.
Incubating partner: Yonsei University
Country research partner: (AL) Albanian Institute for International Studies
Support consular research by becoming a Partner, Member, or Donor. Media professionals interested in contributing to The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, please feel free to contact the Center.
The views expressed are solely those of the author(s), not of the Center.