The Consular Newsletter (March 09-22, 2026)
This week, more Americans can now get a Canadian passport, while the US will close its consulate in Peshawar.
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, more Americans can now get a Canadian passport, while the US will close its consulate in Peshawar.
A. Announcements
Your organization can sponsor this newsletter by contacting the Center.
B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
Multiple continents
Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul reveals to GT how it helped 93 stranded Taiwan compatriots return home from Middle East. Global Times
Egypt steps up daily outreach to expats in Gulf, Jordan, Iraq amid regional escalation. Egypt Today
MEA receives consular access request after arrest of six Ukrainians by NIA. The Times of India
Middle East: consular assistance for British nationals 2026. United Kingdom House of Commons Library
Russian Consulate in Central Iran damaged in airstrike. The Moscow Times
Sudanese students say UK visa ban has dashed hopes of studying at top universities. The Guardian
The rise of the ‘backup passport’. BBC
U.S. orders diplomats to leave Consulate in Southern Turkey. The New York Times
Americas
A new game turns the H-1B visa system into a surreal simulation. Wired
Donald Trump’s H-1B visa moves would be reversed under new proposal. Newsweek
House bill would exempt health care workers from $100,000 H-1B visa filing fee. American Hospital Association
More Americans are now eligible for a Canadian passport thanks to a newly passed law. AFAR
State Department cuts price of renouncing U.S. citizenship to $450. The New York Times
State Department mandates passports for Diversity Visa seekers. Bloomberg Law
The economic case for a $100,000 tax on H-1B visas rests on several errors. Peterson Institute for International Economics
The State Department is forcing certain libraries to shutter their passport services. Literary Hub
Middle East
Delays in visa processing in several countries due to conflict in Middle East. Pryor Cashman
Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
Costa Rica orders Cuban embassy closure as Cuba blames US pressure. Reuters
New ayatollah owns £35m London flats near Israeli embassy. I24 News
Three brothers arrested after explosion at US embassy in Oslo. BBC
US Embassy in Venezuela raises American flag for first time in 7 years. The Hill
US will permanently close the consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, its closest mission to Afghanistan. The Associated Press
Uzbekistan opens consulate general in Seattle to engage diaspora. Gazeta
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
7-year immigration scam exposed – fraudulent H-1B visas and green cards in North Texas. The Dallas Express
Bahamas boosts efforts to combat travel and ID document fraud amid rising regional cases. Identity Week
British passport holders told ‘think twice’ as scam warning issued. Liverpool Echo
Cambodia’s scam crackdown must now target visa fraud: comment. The Star
FBI busts convenience store clerks for ‘staged armed robberies’ to apply for immigration benefits. Fox News
Fake consular liens and $16 million claims: Florida man convicted of legal fraud. Tampa Free Press
Robbery for residency: how 11 Indians allegedly defrauded US authorities to claim U visas. The Times of India
F. Honorary consuls
Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter.
G. Consular jobs and internships
A non-exhaustive selection
United Kingdom in Madrid, Spain / Consular Services Document Policy Caseworker (ETD Centre) EOEE (deadline: March 31)
Access jobs and internships (link)
Access honorary consul jobs (link)
H. Migration laws, regulations, and policies
A non-exhaustive selection
[Ireland] Changes to how you sign in to the ISD customer service portal. DJHAM / Immigration Service
[Malaysia] Syarat-syarat pengambilan nombor giliran melalui portal atau aplikasi. MOHA / Immigration Department
[United States] USCIS reaches H-2B cap for second half of FY 2026 and filing dates now available for supplemental visa allocations. DHS / USCIS
I. Perspectives
Canadian retiree required to give DNA at Blue Water Bridge (by Phoebe Wall Howard)
Expat vs migrant: how language shapes migration (by Nina Vincent)
From Dubai to Hong Kong: how the Iran crisis is redirecting global wealth (by George Chen)
Outraged: Canadian’s DNA border incident triggers response from U.S. Rep. Dingell (by Phoebe Wall Howard)
Portugal spent millions attracting remote workers. Then forgot to keep them (by Gonçalo Hall)
Pulling no punches: “On October 7, Diaspora Jews discovered that they had no purpose.” (by Daniel Gordis)
Q&A 3-14-26 de jure nationality status correction (by Liberty Uncensored)
The black woman quoted in your U.S. passport (by Jemar Tisby, PhD)
The second year in France comes with its own surprises (by Valerie Rivera)
The voter network nonprofit sponsored H-1B visa for non-citizen (by Earl F Glynn)
J. Get daily news
Bluesky, Facebook, KakaoTalk, Line, Mastodon, Substack, Telegram, Threads, Viber, VK, WhatsApp, and X for all news.
LinkedIn for consular affairs.
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
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.
Thanks for the mention!!
Thanks for mentioning my publication! <3