The Consular Newsletter (May 11-17, 2026)

This week, the United States' review of Mexico’s consulates sparks closure fears, while FIFA still expects Iran at the World Cup despite visa hurdles.

The essential news on consular affairs, diplomacy, migration, security, and travel for professionals and researchers / This week, the United States' review of Mexico’s consulates sparks closure fears, while FIFA still expects Iran at the World Cup despite visa hurdles.

---

A. Announcements

• Do you have an analysis, essay, opinion, or story to share on consular affairs, diplomacy, migration, security, or travel? The Consular Magazine is open to all, from students to professionals and researchers.

• Media and research organizations can contribute to The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings.

B. Video of the week

C. Consular affairs

Multiple continents

• Algeria grants consular access to French journalist amid thaw. APA News

• Belgium refuses to renew passport of Israeli citizen living in Jerusalem area beyond Green Line. The Times of Israel

• Consulate General of Nepal in Dallas collects over 500,000 USD in revenue. MyRepublica

• French judge opens inquiry into Khashoggi killing. Reuters

• Neymar’s surprise visit to Italian consulate explained: it was not what everyone thought. Tribuna

• Taliban’s intern recruitment at Bonn Consulate: what are they really after? Hasht-e Subh

• Traveling without a passport, boarding pass, or hotel key: the seamless travel Amadeus dreams of. El País

• Visa cartel has its own visa temple’: US Senator targets Indians, Hyderabad’s Balaji temple over H1-B visas. Deccan Herald

• Vox stages anti-immigration event in front of Moroccan consulate in Algeciras. Yabiladi

Africa

• African fans face World Cup issues despite visa bond U-turn. BBC

Americas

• Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport flags traveler’s “Temu” passport with no photo. TheTravel

• New immigration restrictions on H-1B visas and students are coming. Forbes

• U.S. waives visa bonds for World Cup ticketholders from some countries. Time

• US is ‘reviewing’ Mexican consulates, prompting fears they could close. ABC30 News

• Why more U.S. business owners see a second passport as a path to the next level. Kiplinger

Asia

• Chinese man arrested for damaging Suvarnabhumi gate. Khaosod English

Europe

• Russian taekwondo athletes sidelined by visa delays. Inside the Games

• Uxbridge woman’s passport approval hinged on 1969 Medway police report. Milford Daily News

• Why investor visa schemes are forcing Europe to rethink Schengen oversight. The Parliament

Middle East

• Court orders UAE consulate to pay $203,000 over breastfeeding worker. Human Resources Director

• Fifa expects Iran at World Cup despite visa concerns. Middle East Eye

Oceania and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter.

D. Honorary consuls

• Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter.

E. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings

• Embassies in Jerusalem: gov’t approves proposal allocating budget for relocations to capital. The Jerusalem Post

• German diplomatic staff return to Kurdistan region and Iraq. Kurdistan24

• Israeli deputy PM calls on Romania to move embassy to Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Post

• Syria reopens its Embassy in Morocco. The North Africa Post

• US diplomat urges embassy moves to Jerusalem ahead of Jerusalem Day. The Jerusalem Post

• ‘We want to see an Israeli Embassy in Beirut’: in Lebanon’s talk shows, Israel is no longer unspeakable. Haaretz

F. Passport, visas, and migration fraud

• About 25 foreign nationals arrested for fraudulent voting in Tamil Nadu Assembly poll. The Hindu

• Govt to evaluate ASEAN visa-free travel after 210 scammers nabbed in Batam. The Jakarta Post

• ICE director says foreign student program is ‘magnet for fraud’ after 10,000 potential cases uncovered. The Christian Post

• Identity fraud surges in Netherlands as social media and sex sites demand passport scans. NL Times

• Legal tides: Assam’s CM stands firm amid passport controversy. Devdiscourse

• Malaysia’s visa-exemption policy being exploited by global scam rings, says police chief after US$14.7m raids. CNA

• Nepali man arrested for $42,000 U.S. migration scam. Nepyork

• Suburban Chicago man sentenced to nine years in prison for immigration fraud, possession of child pornography, and tax offenses. USCIS

• Trinidadian and Chinese nationals caught with fake passports. Newswroom

• US influencer targets Telugu Bizman over visa fraud. Deccan Chronicle

G. The passport and visa database and rankings

• Americans need a second passport to enter nearby country under new law – & it costs $200. The Sun

• Japan campaigners urge review of tougher business visa rules. The Manila Times

• Nigeria implements 30-day visa exemption for Rwanda nationals. The Nation

• Syria visit rules from Turkey issued. Enab Baladi

• Thailand to cut visa-free stay to 30 days for tourists from 93 countries. Reuters

• Your AI-touched-up passport photo could get your application rejected — here’s what the U.S. government wants instead. TravelPirates

H. Consular jobs and internships

A non-exhaustive selection

• Canada in Makati, Philippines / Consular Assistant (deadline: May 27)

• United Kingdom in Perth, Australia / Consular Services Officer (deadline: May 31)

I. Migration laws, regulations, and policies

A non-exhaustive selection

• [Japan] 在留資格「経営・管理」に係る上陸基準省令等の改正について. MOJ / ISA

• [United Kingdom] More children eligible for eGates in boost for families this summer. Home Office / UKVI

J. Perspectives

• 15 Years, 15 Stories #1: Spain, a forgotten passport, and the miseducation of a first-time traveler (by Kathleen Kuczma)

• 66 days until France. But who is counting? (by Abbie Elizabeth Smith)

• Commanders 2026 schedule: Passport stamps, playoff tests and a whole lot of prime time (by Ben Standig)

• Diplomatic staff reserved two Rooms for Andrew - one for him and one for his ‘antics’ with prostitutes (by Andrew Lownie)

• Extraterritorial jurisdiction, double jeopardy, and Kiara’s Law (by Kyla Lee)

• Hey, Ethiopian diaspora! Stop chanting at parked cars (by Jeff Pearce)

• Immigrants and expats are not the same (by Milo)

• Immigration enforcement needs ‘You’re fired’ (by Mark Krikorian)

• IRGC proxy Commander directed attack on United States Consulate in Toronto, plotted to bomb New York synagogue, and paid for terrorist strikes across Europe through mafias (by Sam Cooper)

• Mexican bureaucracy: passport edition (by Andrea)

• SIS alert and visa refusal: entry visas cannot be denied automatically (by Avv. Fabio Loscerbo)

• Somali pirates demand $10M ransom for oil tanker owned by Emirati company (by Mohamed Gabobe)

K. Get daily news

• Bluesky, Facebook, KakaoTalk, Line, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Substack, Telegram, Threads, Viber, VK, WhatsApp, and X for consular affairs.

• LinkedIn for consular jobs and internships (a non-exhaustive selection).

• LinkedIn for honorary consuls.

• LinkedIn for migration, laws, regulations, and policies (a non-exhaustive selection).

• LinkedIn for passports, visas, and migration fraud.

• LinkedIn for the diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings.

• LinkedIn for the passport and visa database and rankings.

K. Partners

Incubating partner: Yonsei University. Country research partner for The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings: (AL) Albanian Institute for International Studies.

---

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

---