The Consular Newsletter (October 13-19, 2025)
This week, South Korea partially bans travel to Cambodia over scam centers, while the U.S. weighs opening a consulate in disputed Western Sahara.
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!
A. Announcements
Got an analysis, perspective, or story to share? The Consular Magazine explores migration and travel, particularly where governments play a role. Open to all, from students and young professionals to seasoned experts. Interested? The Center warmly welcomes your writings!
B. Video of the week
C. Consular affairs
Multiple continents
Candace Owens denied visa to Australia by country’s highest court. Politico
FBI says a Louisiana resident assisted Hamas and lied on his US visa application. The Associated Press
Juan Branco trial in Paris: stuck in Dakar, Me Abdy Nar Ndiaye points the finger at the French Consulate. Seneweb
Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes pursuing Slovenian passport to play alongside Luka Doncic. The Orange County Register
Panama president says US Embassy threatened to cancel visas over ties to China. The Associated Press
Trump’s Senior Advisor says U.S. will open consulate in Moroccan Saharan city of Dakhla & exposes Algeria’s hypocrisy The North Africa Post
Americas
Death row, detainment and dire geopolitics cause onslaught of Canadian consular cases. The Albertan
Labor unions challenge Trump administration for visa-holder social media surveillance. KOAT
Many rural schools rely on international teachers. Trump’s visa changes threaten that. HPPR
Passenger at JFK presents passport from mysterious ‘Torenza’—but where is this country? Gulf News
Should you carry your U.S. passport in case of an ICE raid? These street vendors say they have no choice. Boyle Heights Beat
U.S. revoked at least six visas over Kirk comments, State Department says. The Washington Post
US embassy warns Americans over travel to Trinidad and Tobago as Venezuela tensions flare. The Hill
US tells airlines to disregard ‘X’ sex markers on passports and input ‘M’ or ‘F’. The Guardian
Asia
Belarusian model killed for organs in Myanmar scam compound over ‘poor performance’. The Standard
Cambodia deports 64 South Korean online scam suspects. Xinhua News Agency
South Korea bans travel to Cambodia over scam centers. Deutsche Welle
Europe
Europe says goodbye to passport stamps. TravelPirates
Visiting the European Union? Expect to give your biometric data. The New York Times
Africa, Middle East, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
A postmodernist home reborn: we tour the British embassy in Brazil. Wallpaper
As India plans to upgrade its embassy in Kabul, staffers of the former Afghan government in Delhi fear for their future. The Hindu
China warns UK of ‘consequences’ over mega-embassy delays. BBC
Close the consulate and repair the French-Israel relationship. Jewish News Syndicate
Consulate General of Romania reopens in Odesa. Intent
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský to take over the new building of the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C. Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government completes Portuguese consular network reform in Brazil. Governo de Portugal
House next door to North Koreans for sale. The Manhattan Mercury
Labour fears China backlash if super-embassy is rejected. The Telegraph
Massad Boulos: US will open Consulate in Morocco’s Western Sahara. Morocco World News
New spy fears over site of Chinese ‘super-embassy’ due to proximity to phone exchange that handles sensitive City data. Daily Mail
Syrian Consulate in Germany to reopen soon. Sada Elbalad English
UAE buys land for permanent embassy in Israel. The Jerusalem Post
Ukraine plans to open a Consulate General in Prešov by the end of the year. Ukrainian News Agency
Venezuela to close embassies in Norway, Australia. Reuters
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
£270,000 COS visa scam exposed: Indian nationals defrauded by UK-based Nigerian trio linked to Jay Daniels Staffing Ltd. ZimEye
Alleged Oct 7 terrorist charged with entering the United States illegally after receiving fraudulent visa from Biden Admin. The Washington Free Beacon
Bengal man held for forging 250 passports for Bangladeshis. News Arena India
Cambodia trash can passports fuel crime concerns. The Chosun Daily
ED arrests Pak national’s aide in fake passport racket. The Tribune
Kosovan who pretended to be the father of 13 babies to illegally obtain UK passports locked up for five years. Daily Mail
Mumbai crime: Bangladeshi national held for 20-year illegal stay and possession of fake Indian passport. Bombay Samachar
Sophisticated phishing scams targeting overseas Koreans rising as criminals impersonate embassy, consular staff. Korea JoongAng Daily
F. Honorary consuls
Govt scraps blue number plates for Honorary Consuls’ vehicles. The Himalayan Times
G. Current honorary consul jobs
Belgium in South Carolina state, United States (deadline: November 15, 2025)
Access jobs: link
H. Perspectives
Afghan war allies sue State Department over visa denials (by
)Australia’s High Court rejects Candace Owens’ visa appeal, over fears of social division (by
)Former visa holders say Kirk deserved to die (by
)How do EU work visa programs for migrants perpetuate labor inequities? (by
).Inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Ruse (by
).Passport power and the Caribbean divide (by
).- )
Syria: a journey stopped by my passport (by
)The $100,000 H-1B visa fees: what’s the real story? (by
)The decline and fall of the U.S. Passport (by
).The impact of visa policy changes on rural schools and international educators (by
).The passport “ban” isn’t a total trap...yet (by
).- )
WHO brags about rolling out its vaccine passport in Africa (yet again) (by
)Why I lost my passport on purpose (by
)
I. Get daily news
Consular affairs via Bluesky, Facebook, KakaoTalk, Line, LinkedIn, Mastodon, 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.
Honorary consuls via LinkedIn.
J. Supporting consular research
The Consular Affairs Center warmly thanks its partners and donors for their support.
Incubating partner: Yonsei University.
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The views expressed are solely those of the author(s), not of the Center.