The Consular Newsletter (February 10-16, 2025)

Every Monday, the consular newsletter compiles the latest major news on consular affairs and diplomatic networks.

Contents

A. Consular affairs

B. The diplomatic and consular networks database and rankings

C. Passports, visas, and migration fraud

D. Honorary consuls

E. Help the Consular Affairs Center

Americas

• Bill would penalize university nonimmigrant visa-holders for pro-terrorism language. Iowa Capital Dispatch
• Border czar Tom Homan insists it’s ‘responsible’ to ask feds if AOC’s webinar on evading ICE was ‘crossing the line’. New York Post
• Lawsuit challenges Trump's 'two genders' passport policy. Advocate
• Migrants at risk of losing green card lottery if Dems lose visa gamble. Fox News
• Transgender woman opens up about not being able to get passport under Trump's policy changes. KENS 5
• Trump administration sued over passport sex designations. Law360

Asia

• 260 foreigners rescued from virtual slavery in Myanmar’s online scam centers are being repatriated. Associated Press
• Authorities urge consulates to address rising crime among foreigners in Bali. The Bali Times
• Hong Kong confirms Bitcoin, Ether can be used to prove wealth for investment visa. Coin Desk
• Sajad Lone accuses past govts of ‘weaponizing passport verification’. Rising Kashmir
• Thai police collaborate with 18 embassies to repatriate call centre scam victims. The Nation

Europe

• Brussels scrambles to defend Migration Pact after Donald Tusk's refusal to comply. Euronews

Middle East

• Lawyer in Saudi trans student's suicide note had embassy links, BBC finds. BBC

Multiple geographical areas

• ‘They can go to hell,’ Ribadu slams Canadian embassy for denying Nigeria’s defence chief visa. Premium Times
• Canadian High Commission reacts to denial of visa to Nigeria’s military chiefs. Premium Times
• Congressman: Stop China's exploitation of our student visa program. Newsweek
• Japan’s embassy, Hungary’s police slammed for not protecting murdered Japanese woman. South China Morning Post
• Nigeria’s Invictus Games Hopes Dashed as Seven Athletes Were Denied Canadian Visas. Arise News
• Now Trump says he would back legal action if Prince Harry lied on US visa application about drug use as insiders warn 'he should be very worried indeed'. Daily Mail
• Rare 1930 British Indian passport, used before independence. News Karnataka
• Visa row: Canada High Commission mum, pleads privacy. The Nation
• White South Africans gather in support of Trump and his claims that they are victims of racism. DC News

Africa, Oceania, and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

In Africa

• Turkey to open consulate in Benghazi. Atalayar

In Americas

• Bolivarian regime keeps water from reaching former Argentine Embassy in Caracas. MercoPress
• Guatemalan government acknowledges responsibility for 1980 Spanish Embassy attack. The Diplomat in Spain

In Asia

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

In Europe

• Amid row over mega London embassy plan, China’s top diplomat to visit Britain for talks. First Post
• China refuses to bow to UK request over fence for London embassy. Financial Times
• China wants tunnel, basement rooms at planned London ‘mega-embassy’. Radio Free Asia
• Chinese group backing new embassy gave award to ‘spy’. The Times
• Croatians in Argentina call for embassy opening in Zagreb. Croatia Week
• From embassy to enterprise: Former Foreign Office perm sec Simon Fraser on founding a start-up. Civil Service World
• London council won’t argue against China’s ‘super-embassy’ at key hearing. Radio Free Asia
• Paris names an avenue near Russian embassy after Alexei Navalny. Le Monde
• Philippine Consulate reopens in Palma de Mallorca, easing access to thousands of Filipinos in the region. Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs
• PM Modi arrives in Paris to boost India-France ties, attend AI summit, and inaugurate first consulate in Marseille. The Tribune
• PM Modi in Marseille: inaugurates Indian consulate, pays tribute to Indian soldiers killed in World Wars. Wion
• Two men charged following Quran burning incident near Turkish Consulate in London. NewsX

In Middle East

• Azerbaijani Embassy in Syria resumes operations after 13 yrs. Mehr News Agency
• Bahamian Embassy officially opens in United Arab Emirates. Eyewitness News
• Fijian government to vote on moving embassy to Jerusalem. Jewish News Syndicate
• Saudi Arabia reopens consulate general in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Iran Front Page
• The day Arafat visited Iran and opened the Palestine embassy. Tehran Times

In multiple geographical areas

• Afghanistan’s 12 embassies, two consulates still operated by former government diplomats. Amu TV
• The Trump administration is sending embassy staff home en masse. EurAsia Daily
• Trump may close US consulates to save the State Department budget. 112
• US embassies instructed to prepare for staff reductions: Sources. ABC News

In Oceania and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

Africa

• Immigration to launch new passport and visa stamp to allay fraud concerns. The Reporter
• South African police arrest Chidimma Adetshina’s mother over identity fraud. Vanguard

Americas

• Belizean consultant charged in alleged visa fraud case. Breaking Belize News

Asia

• FIA arrests former ASF official in visa fraud case. Associated Press of Pakistan
• FIA nabs suspect in 6m visa fraud, human trafficking case. The Nation
• South Korean fraud suspect arrested in Pattaya for visa overstay. Thaiger

Multiple geographical areas

• Beware of visa scams! Red flags, signs to watch out for. Rappler
• Case registered against arrested Ukranian actor for forging Indian birth certificate. Hindustan Times
• Stolen Information used in personalized immigration-themed attack. Cofense
• VFS Global warns travelers about visa scams. Back End News

Europe, Middle East, Oceania, and Pacific Islands

• Stay tuned for next week's newsletter.

• Russia withdraws accreditation of Norwegian honorary consul Andrei Shalyov. The Barents Observer

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