The Consular Newsletter (September 22 – October 05, 2025)
This week, debate over a $100,000 U.S. H‑1B visa fee continues, while Gaza flotilla nationals in Israeli custody retain consular access.
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
Afghanistan’s Bonn consulate staff resign over accreditation of Taliban-appointed officials. Reuters
Former Artsakh official found dead in Armenian Consulate in Russia. Asbarez
French man held in Saudi Arabia for over a year after Hajj scam. Middle East Eye
MK sets up office outside French consulate over ‘Palestine’ recognition. Jewish News Syndicate
Opinion – wow China is keeping a British political prisoner in Hong Kong E-international relations
Swiss to protest over curtailed visit to Gaza flotilla nationals detained in Israel. Reuters
The U.S. eases visa restrictions on South Korean workers. The New York Times
Americas
AMA urges DHS to exempt physicians from new $100,000 H-1B visa fee. American Medical Association
Apple Wallet is getting US passport support very soon on iPhone. 9to5Mac
Can Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas withstand legal challenges? Reuters
Canada warns travelers with ‘X’ gender passports they may not be allowed into US. Reuters
Colombia’s foreign minister ‘renounces’ her U.S. visa as tensions between both nations escalate. PBS News
Government shutdown silences US embassies on social media. Newsweek
H-1B visas have always been a scam. Trump’s changes won’t fix the problem. Los Angeles Times
Immigration questions and lawsuit cast doubt on $100,000 H-1B visa fee. Forbes
Passports, visas should not be impacted by government shutdown. Good Morning America
US increasing embassy staffing to handle World Cup fans. The Hill
Asia
Korean Embassy in Laos warns citizens against engaging in prostitution. The Korea Herald
Pakistan using High Commission’s visa desk in India as spying front, arrested spy reveals chilling details. The Daily Jagran
Europe
Bulgaria becomes one of first states to gain consular access to its citizens in Sumud Flotilla case. Bulgarian News Agency
Setting new standards for the British passport. Thales
Middle East
Allegations of severe detention conditions for Greta Thunberg: ‘Forced her to kiss the Israeli flag, made her crawl’. Ynet
Kuwait demands passport surrender from citizens stripped of nationality. Gulf News
Africa, Oceania, and Pacific Islands
Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.
D. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings
Bangladesh considers opening a consulate in Benghazi. The Libya Observer
Calls to shut down Israeli embassy in South Africa intensify amid Trump’s sanctions. Business Insider Africa
China wants a ‘super-embassy’ in London – sparking anger and spying fears. The Washington Post
Colombia’s Petro fires own Beijing embassy team for ‘sabotaging’ China outreach. South China Morning Post
How Czechs trolled the Russian embassy, then things escalated. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Inside a brutalist US embassy reborn as London’s newest Rosewood hotel. Monocle
Irish leader opens new Irish Embassy next to the White House and pledges deeper US ties. IrishCentral
Latvian Embassy’s Marylebone home hits market for £30 million. CoStar
Paraguay reopens its Consulate General in New York after 12 years. Agencia IP
Somali Embassy in Yemen resumes passport services after eight-year suspension. Yemen Online
Water torture... China turns off the taps for British diplomats after row over ‘mega-embassy’ in London. Daily Mail
E. Passport, visas, and migration fraud
‘Americans First’: Trump administration to ‘root out fraud and abuse’ in the name of H-1B visa programme via Project Firewall. The Financial Express
From crash horror to passport: prosecutors detail Staten Island mom’s alleged plan to help son flee country. SILive
Global visa fraud and the imperative for traveller vigilance. Vanguard
Travel agent booked for visa fraud after 3 years. The Tribune
F. Perspectives
China’s K Visa: welcoming the world’s innovators (by
).Close the UK, French consulates in Jerusalem or admit recognition was a sham (by
).Israel jails Greta, world outraged (by
).Microsoft scrambles after Trump’s H1-B Visa Executive Order (by
).Moving to France: navigating visas (by
).- ).
The passport in the lockbox (by
).Trump’s $100,000 visa scam (by
).When “home” becomes a visa status (by
).Your passport, please // short-story (by
).
G. 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.
H. Supporting consular research: in appreciation of our partners
Incubating partner: Yonsei University.
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.