The Consular Newsletter (May 05-11, 2025)
This week, controversies over opposition leader Julius Malema's visa and the UK mission in Pretoria surfaced, as the US moves to merge its Palestinian office into the Israel embassy.
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
Naval Academy restricts access for foreign passport holders amid new ID policy. Eye on Annapolis
Trump card visa: Elon Musk's DOGE quietly launches golden immigration program for ultra-wealthy foreigners. The Latin Times
Asia
India launches chip-based e-passports to enhance travel security. Adda247
Manila’s NAIA Terminal staff is no longer allowed to touch passports after damage fiasco. LoyaltyLobby
Migration lawyers call for safeguards on automated handling of data. EurekAlert!
Europe
Visa crackdown on the nationalities blamed for asylum costs. The Times
Woman got Irish man to pretend he was biological father of her child to obtain Irish passport. Irish Mirror
Multiple continents
France seeks to raise pressure on Iran over couple’s detention. The Algemeiner
On Western Sahara: will Morocco foot the bill for new U.S. Consulate in Dakhla? Atalayar
Panama deports Cameroonian passport holders in U.S.-backed crackdown on irregular migration. Cameroon Concord
SA British High Commission apologises to Malema for visa application not being finalised. Eyewitness News
Swiftly deporting migrants to Libya would violate court order, US judge rules. Reuters
US Consulate General in Pakistan's Lahore directs staff to shelter in place. Reuters
VFS Global acquires majority stake in Brazil’s CiX Citizen Experience. Travel Trade Journal
VFS Global powers digital cross-border mobility with SAP software. Frontier Enterprise
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 expels 2 French intelligence agents over fake diplomatic passports. Anadolu Agency
In Americas
Five Venezuelan opposition leaders rescued from Argentinian Embassy in Caracas. Miami Herald
Former Panama president Martinelli leaves Nicaraguan embassy for asylum in Colombia. CNN
Surge in SVG’s Venezuela embassy funds. St. Vincent Times
In Asia
In Phnom Penh, the French Embassy commemorates the tragedy of April 1975. Le Monde
Kazakh Senate approves land lease in Almaty for building US Consulate. Kazinform International News Agency
North Korea's Kim visits Russian embassy as his generals meet Putin. Reuters
In Europe
Iranian terror suspects ‘targeted Israeli embassy in London’. The Times
Iranian terror suspect arrested over 'foiled plot to attack Israeli embassy' was 'asylum seeker living in taxpayer-funded house'. GB News
In Middle East
Azerbaijan and Iraq discuss opening Consulate General in Erbil. APA
Uganda to open passport office in Riyadh to ease Gulf access. New Vision
US to fold Palestinian affairs office into embassy in Israel. Reuters
In multiple continents
North Korea’s diplomatic missions double as trade brokers. Daily NK
In 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 Rochester appears in federal court. 13WHAM ABC Rochester
ED finds terror clues in WhatsApp chats of Pakistani accused in West Bengal passport scam. The Free Press Journal
Forged visa, fake route to US: Pb agents caught in trafficking case. MilleniumPost
Lagos businessman to face trial over alleged $236,400 Grenada visa fraud. Daily Post
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.
EU cancela visa a la Gobernadora morenista Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, de Baja California (by
).La carrera diplomática alzada en armas (by
).Passport to freedom, passport to fear (by
).Police bust major immigration fraud ring (by
).You shouldn't separate housing policy from migration policy (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.