The Consular Newsletter (July 14-20, 2025)
This week, U.S. deports third-country nationals to Eswatini, while travelers face new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’.
Every Monday, 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. Keep informed!
Contents: 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. Get daily news. H. Support consular research. I. Thanks.
A. Announcements
If you are a media professional and would like to help keep The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings up to date, please feel free to contact the Center.
You are welcome to submit new writings for The Consular Magazine.
B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
Africa
African nation says it will repatriate migrants deported by U.S. The News York Times
President Tinubu orders identity verification on consular services. Voice of Nigeria
Americas
‘We did not expect this’: State Dept laid off passport planning staff, after telling them they were exempt. Federal News Network
Ex refused to sign the documents to obtain passports for their children, so this woman got them on her own and booked their flights. Twisted Sifter
Homeland Security agent says he was told not to inform Rümeysa Öztürk her visa was revoked when she was arrested. CNN
International visitors to the US will now have to pay a 'visa integrity fee.' Economists worry it will deter travelers. 9News
Passport Crisis in Colombia: a looming chaos. Colombia One
State Dept. ordered to issue passports with accurate gender markers for nonbinary and trans people. Go Magazine
Tensions rise as Lula blasts US over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial. Reuters
Travelers to the U.S. must pay a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ – what to know. CNBC
US student visa refused after applicant fails to share Reddit account. Storyboard18
Asia
China jails Japanese national for espionage: embassy. Barron's
India seeks consular access to 34 fishermen detained by Bangladesh for maritime boundary breach. Zee News
More than 140 Vietnamese detained in Cambodia over online scam involvement. Voice of Vietnam
New Indonesian passport design launch canceled due to budget efficiency push. Tempo
Oceania and Pacific Islands
One ocean, one people – why not one passport? Devpolicy Blog
Multiple continents
‘Everyone in my queue got rejected,’ Indian’s B1/B2 visa denied despite clean record. Financial Express
Australian embassy tries to tell Flotilla crew member to abandon Gaza humanitarian voyage. The Skwawkbox
Complaints pile up against only agency providing Indian consular services in Canada. CBC
Filipino freed from detention decries ICE abuse, neglect of PH government. Inquirer
Huckabee threatens to declare Israel not welcoming Christians, as visa row blows open. The Times of Israel
Iranian drone launches toward U.S Consulate in Iraq – explosion captured on camera. Oneindia
Irish tourist jailed by Ice for months after overstaying US visit by three days: ‘Nobody is safe’. The Guardian
Men deported by US to Eswatini in Africa will be held in solitary confinement for undetermined time. The Associated Press
Over 500 Nigerians in Qatar stranded after paying N315,000 each for passport renewal, Embassy fails to deliver five months later. Sahara Reporters
Philippine defense chief renounced Maltese citizenship before his appointment, department says. The Associated Press
US citizen who helped Russia from inside Ukraine granted Russian passport by Putin. Reuters
US consulate in China halts visa interviews over ‘unsafe’ heat, alleges air con delay. South China Morning Post
Europe and Middle East
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
Ambassador Jukka Siukosaari signs lease for a new space for the Embassy of Finland in London. Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Balla: we will keep our word for an Albanian consulate in Crete. CNA
Biden admin spent hefty sum of US tax dollars to upgrade embassy swimming pools in Iraq, Russia. Fox News
Embassies should see cars clamped for congestion charge debts – peers. The Independent
Foreign embassy congestion charge debt to TfL tops £160 million. IanVisits
Libya, Egypt discuss reopening of Egyptian consulate in Tripoli. The Libya Observer
Mayor calls for direct flights, opening of Nigerian consulate in Houston. The Eagle Online
Move the U.S. Embassy for Yemen to Yemen. Middle East Forum
Russia to close Polish consulate in tit-for-tat move. Polskie Radio
Sybiha: new embassies, more than 10 new consular offices to be opened by year end. Interfax Ukraine
Türkiye, Libya discuss reopening of Turkish consulate in Benghazi. Caliber
U.S. Embassy confirms controlled explosion at diplomatic facility in Baghdad. Kurdistan24
US orders return of Baghdad embassy, Erbil consulate staff. Rudaw
Are you aware of any recent openings or closures of embassies, high commissions, consular posts, or permanent missions? We invite users to participate in keeping the database current by sharing updates and corrections via the platform: https://arcg.is/1TDPiy1
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
Alleged N110.4 billion fraud: court rules Yahaya Bello’s international passport not in its custody. Nairametrics
Indian-origin businessman charged with committing visa fraud in U.S. The Hindu
Louisiana Police chiefs accused of fabricating robberies in immigrant visa scheme. The New York Times
Malaysian fugitive Jho Low allegedly using fake Australian passport while living in China. ABC
Mexico sees massive spike in citizenship and visa requests from Denver – and scams. Westword
Seven Afghans detained at KLIA for using fake visas from Uzbekistan. The Sun
U visa' abuse: fake crimes, real US green cards – a $5,000 scam explained. Business Standard
US re-arrests Nigerian convict for suspected fraud. Punch
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.
"He needs to be deported" concerns over Taliban supporter in Scotland (by
).Beware of immigration judges asking friendly questions (by
).John Brennan's original sin: the Obama passport breach (by
).The immigration corruption complex (by
).The latest attack against the Russian embassy in Sweden (by
).
G. 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.
H. Support consular research
Support is possible via a donation. Your generosity helps a lot. Thank you very much.
I. 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.