Cambodia and Croatia Sign Deals on Diplomatic Visa Exemptions and Foreign Service Training
Cambodia and Croatia signed a diplomatic passport visa exemption and a memorandum connecting their diplomatic training institutions. The…
Palace Says DFA to Review China Visa-Free Entry Policy Amid Illegal POGO Concerns
The DFA is reviewing whether Chinese visitors’ 14-day visa-free entry arrangement has harmful effects or is being exploited…
63 Lawmakers Urge End to Automatic Work-Permit Renewals Amid Green Card Backlog
USCIS ended automatic work-permit extensions for certain EAD renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025. Workers in…
Türkiye Raids Visa Agencies Over Guaranteed Appointments and Bot Software
Authorities in Türkiye launched raids across eight provinces as part of an investigation into alleged bot-assisted sales of…
Italy Cuts Visa Processing for Russian Citizens to 45 Days from 60
Italy now lists a 45-day processing period for tourist visa applications from Russian citizens, down from 60 days.…
Belarus Hosts Over 200,000 Visa-Waiver Travelers Since January 1, 2026, Belta Reports
Belarus’s visa-waiver program recorded 200,754 travelers from 38 countries during 2026, and the government extended it through December…
201 Days, 32% Staff Loss: Global Repositioning Exercise Slows US Visa Waits
U.S. visitor-visa interview waits averaged 201 days in fiscal year 2025, while the global workforce handling visitor visas…
Judge Jinsook Ohta Orders State Department to Open DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration by November 1 in Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio
A court order requires the State Department to publish DV-2027 registration details by October 29, 2026, open registration…
USCIS Moves to End H-1B Extension Deference Under 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(c)(5)
DHS proposes ending required deference to prior approvals in repeat Form I-129 extensions, including H-1B cases. Officers could…
U.S. Mission in Nigeria Says Visa Application Fees Are Non-Refundable
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria says visa application fees are non-refundable, including after a refusal. The standard $185…
Russia Raises Unified Electronic Visa, E-Visa and Expedited Consular Visa Fees by Up to 100%
Russia’s revised visa tariffs increase the unified electronic visa fee to about $52 and raise expedited paper-visa charges…
ETIAS Applications, Not Open, October 15, 2026: What Travelers to France Need to Know
ETIAS is not accepting applications as of October 15, 2026, and the EU has not confirmed a launch…
H-1B Deference End at 8 CFR 214.1(c)(5) Could Cost Petitioners $134,000
DHS has proposed ending general deference to earlier approvals in certain employment-extension cases, including H-1B petitions. Officers could…
Ireland Challenges Germany on Russian Tourist Visas and LTV Permits in Schengen Area
Ireland challenged Germany’s plan to confine Russian tourist visa holders to the issuing country, arguing that this may…