The Consular Newsletter (October 20-26, 2025)

This week, a Myanmar scam center raid sends hundreds fleeing to Thailand, while China warns the UK over embassy delays.

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!

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A. Announcements

Your organization can support consular research by sponsoring this newsletter. Contact the Center to learn more.

B. Video of the week

C. Consular affairs

Multiple continents

• A young Ukrainian has been missing in Venezuela for a year. El País

• Belarusian model reportedly killed in Myanmar went there on her own: Thai police. South China Morning Post

• German woman detained in DR Congo after an attempted bank robbery. TRT Afrika

• Hackers gained access to FIA data, including Verstappen’s passport. Autosport

• Iraq repatriates 40 Kurdish migrants from Libya as embassy expands return efforts. The New Region

• Man with knife arrested near U.S. Embassy in Tokyo after police officer injured. The Japan Times

• PH gov’t reminds seafarers they have right to consular, legal aid as US deportations rise. ABS-CBN

• Taliban gains access to sensitive Afghan citizens data at Bonn Consulate. Afghanistan International

Americas

• America on alert: the new wave of global embassy warnings. Vocal Media

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump administration over $100,000 H-1B visa fees. NPR

• Walmart halts job offers for H-1B visa candidates. BBC

Asia

• Migration makeover: rewriting rules to secure safe passage for a global India. Deccan Herald

• Myanmar scam centre raid sends hundreds fleeing to Thailand. New Straits Times

• North Korean interpreter defects via South Korean Embassy. The Chosun Daily

• South Korea to reform consular system to help victims of Cambodia scam gangs. The Nation

• Thai citizenship of Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Lee Yong Phat revoked. Thai PBS

Europe

• The cost of a visa for a researcher moving to the UK is 22 times that of international average. Chemistry World

Middle East

• Syrian Consul in Dubai resigns over As-Suwayda violence, government responds. The Media Line

Africa, Oceania, and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

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D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings

• Bangladesh to open new consulate in Michigan, US. Dhaka Tribune

• Chilean consulates in Argentina in dire straits. MercoPress

• China will retaliate if UK blocks China’s plans for new embassy in London, says Victor Gao. Phayul

• Foreign Office and Home Office drop demand for security changes at new Chinese mega-embassy in London. The Standard

• Former home of Monaco consulate up for sale. Commercial Real Estate

• India restores full embassy in Kabul. The Tribune

• Qatar inaugurates new embassy building in Washington. The Peninsula

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E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud

• 1st Circ. affirms Navy Officer conviction in Afghan visa scam. Law360

• Kuwait arrests three passport officers over fake entry-exit records. Gulf News

• South African’s lawsuit over truck driver work visa exploitation quietly resolved. Land Line Media

• Tibetan man sentenced to 27 months in prison for filing fraudulent asylum claims for profit. US Citizenship and Immigration Services

• What to know about ‘free visa’ scam targeting migrant workers. The Business Standard

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F. Honorary consuls

• Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter.

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G. Current honorary consul jobs

• Belgium in South Carolina state, United States (deadline: November 15, 2025)

• Access jobs: link

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H. Perspectives

• $100K visa H-1B visa fee peanuts for indentured servitude (by

  Joe Guzzardi
  )

• After the visa years (by

  Sen Zhan
  )

• Arrested in Jordan (by

  Dimitri Lascaris
  )

• China reacts to visa restrictions (by

  Abdul Rahman
  )

• Embassies of the King (by

  Sam Jones
  )

• How I almost paid $400 for a visa (by

  abby
  )

• Misadventures dealing with the US Embassy in Tokyo 1/4 (by

  Kitsune, Maskless Crusader.
  )

• Non è (solo) “fuga dei cervelli”. È geografia dei passaporti: imparare a leggere (davvero) l’Istat (by

  Matteo Cerri
  )

• Our man in Moscow (by

  Alexander Rose
  )

• Passport revocation provision & the increasing importance of due diligence, the failure of media, and sinking trust (by

  Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq.
  )

• Resolute John Florio at the French embassy (by

  Marianna Iannaccone
  )

• Unpacking the latest H-1B updates (by

  Amber Davis
  )

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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.

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J. Supporting consular research

The Consular Affairs Center warmly thanks its partners and donors for their support.

Incubating partner: Yonsei University.

Individual support is also possible via a donation. Your generosity helps a lot. Thank you very much.

If you are a media professional wishing to contribute to The Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, or an organization interested in partnering, please feel free to contact the Center.

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

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