The Consular Newsletter (March 23 – April 05, 2026)

This week, US visa processing slows, while China presses Japan to punish a military officer who breached its Tokyo embassy.

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, US visa processing slows, while China presses Japan to punish a military officer who breached its Tokyo embassy.

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A. Announcements

If you are a media or research organization interested in contributing to The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, or if you consider sponsoring this Newsletter, contact the Center.

B. Video of the week

C. Consular affairs

Multiple continents

• Algeria summons French Chargé d’Affaires over detention of consular official. AL24 News

• That time Matt Bomer lost his passport in Japan. The Hollywood Reporter

Africa

• Nigeria warns its citizens in South Africa to be cautious after march turns violent. BBC

Americas

• A slowdown in US visa processing is wreaking havoc on foreign doctors’ lives. Politico

• Exempting physicians from H-1B visa fee protects patients. American Medical Association

• Getting a passport in Cuba: keep cool, it takes time. Havana Times

• One in four countries now subject to U.S. visa bond pilot program. Hunton

• Trump Administration announces major passport rule change. Newsweek

• Trump State Dept. accused of ‘largest fee fraud in history’ of US immigration system. Common Dreams

Asia, Oceania, and Pacific Islands

• Himanta Sarma responds after Congress claims his wife holds 3 passports. NDTV

Europe and Middle East

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings

• China demands Japan punish military officer who breached embassy in Tokyo. Reuters

• Portugal to open consular office in Kathmandu. The Himalayan Times

• Shocking leak reveals true damage of U.S. Embassy strike was concealed. The Daily Beast

• UAE condemns ‘acts of vandalism’ at its embassy in Damascus. Reuters

• US Mission says Consulate relocation project contributes up to $100 million to Morocco’s economy. Morocco World News

• US reopens embassy in Venezuela. Politico

E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud

• Federal trial for 5 men accused in Cenla visa fraud scheme continued. Town Talk

• Taxpayer services warning of 3rd-party passport scam. Patriot

• Ten Haitian officials, including a director general, detained in passport fraud case. The Haitian Times

F. Honorary consuls

• The former model became the honorary consul of Ukraine, and on odd… EurAsia Daily

• Weapon found In Belarus Honorary Consulate car at Montenegro border. Reformation

G. Consular jobs and internships

A non-exhaustive selection

• Canada in Tokyo, Japan / Consular Assistant (deadline: April 06).

• France in Vienna, Austria / Administration des Français (deadline: April 16).

• United Kingdom in Doha, Qatar / Vice Consul (EO) (deadline: April 09).

H. Migration laws, regulations, and policies

A non-exhaustive selection

• [China] Announcement on the implementation of electronic border management area permit. MPS / NIA

• [Japan] 特定技能の鉄道分野に特有の事情に鑑みて定める基準の改正について. MOJ / ISA

• [New Zealand] Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota registrations are now open for 2026. MBIE / Immigration

I. Perspectives

• “Counting passports” by Brian Henry (by Brian Henry)

• A $5 million visa, a wine island called Waiheke, and why so many Americans are flocking to New Zealand right now (by Michelle Gross)

• Birthright and wrong (by John Ganz)

• Bring your most organized self (by Casey Kelly)

• Cape Verde: what you should know before you go (by Louise Stevenson)

• Diaspora divides mirror conflict in Iran and Lebanon (by Tomer Attias)

• Expatriation experimentation (by Shanon Harris)

• How to move to the happiest country in the world (by Daria)

• Inside diplomacy: bidding for senior jobs (by Ambassador at Large)

• Italy’s €250K Investor Visa: what you actually need to know (by Alessandro Palombo)

• On being “diaspora trash” (by Emily Tamkin)

• Permission. Not just a passport (by The Midlife Nomad)

• Supreme Court arguments wrap in landmark challenge to Trump birthright citizenship Executive Order (by Legal Defense Fund)

• The $450 question about U.S. citizenship (by Canadian Returnee)

• The Italian diaries: 2 years and one rejection later...it’s happening?! (by Jamie Walsh)

• The Jamaican diaspora: remittances, reality, and the limits of expectation (by Dr Leo Gilling)

• The napalm girl story in the diaspora (by Carl Robinson)

• The visa was just the beginning (by Julie Dyer)

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.

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The views expressed are solely those of the author(s), not of the Center.

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