The U.S. Department of State will expand social media screening for visa applicants from March 30, covering additional nonimmigrant categories including A-3, C-3 domestic workers, G-5, H-3, K-1, Q, R-1, S, T, U, and others. Applicants must set social media profiles to public for enhanced vetting to identify national security threats.
Mar 25 27 0The U.S. Department of State has identified nationals from 50+ countries, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Nigeria, and Venezuela, as needing visa bonds for B1/B2 visas starting from August 2025 to April 2026. Bond amounts range from $5,000 to $15,000, determined at interview, with mandatory Form I-352 submission and Pay.gov payment. Bonded travelers must use designated ports of entry.
Mar 18 24 0The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout has caused significant border delays, with processing times rising up to 70%. The author, drawing from experience leading eu-LISA, argues that allowing pre-registration of biometric data could improve the traveler experience by moving time-consuming steps away from the border.
Mar 4 85 0
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and Branch Office in Tel Aviv have suspended routine visa processing due to the authorized departure of non-emergency personnel. Only emergency services for U.S. citizens are available. Applicants with interviews scheduled between March 2-6, 2026, will be notified for rescheduling.
Feb 27 22 0The U.S. Department of State defines a public charge as a person primarily dependent on government subsistence through cash assistance or long-term institutionalization. Nonimmigrant visa holders abusing public benefits risk visa revocation, future ineligibility, or criminal prosecution. Consular officers assess visa applicants' age, health, finances, and skills to prevent public charge reliance. Medical travelers can still qualify for visas if they prove they will not become dependent on U.S. public benefits.
Feb 26 22 0The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon has suspended routine visa processing and is prioritizing emergency services for U.S. citizens after the State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families from Beirut due to safety risks. Scheduled visa applicants will be notified of rescheduled appointments.
Feb 25 22 0France has mandated online appointments for all visa applications worldwide starting February 20, 2026, eliminating walk-ins and informal booking methods. The new system applies to both short-stay Schengen and long-stay national visas, requiring applicants to first use the France-Visas portal and then the Démarches Simplifiées platform.
Feb 20 93 0The United States has fully suspended visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries and partially suspended B-1/B-2, F, M, J, and immigrant visas for 19 other countries, effective January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998 to protect national security.
Feb 2 24 0The U.S. Department of State paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 60+ countries effective January 21, 2026, to prevent public benefits reliance. Exceptions include dual nationals and adopted children. Tourist visas remain unaffected.
Feb 2 21 0The U.S. Department of State has paused all diversity immigrant visa issuances effective immediately, citing national security concerns following a shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor by a DV program entrant. A review of screening and vetting protocols will be conducted, but visa interviews and applications will continue.
Dec 23, 2025 21 0The U.S. Department of State will require immigrant visa applicants to interview in their country of residence or nationality starting November 1, 2025, with limited exceptions for countries with suspended visa operations.
Dec 12, 2025 20 0The U.S. Department of State has updated nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application rules, requiring applicants to schedule interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Nationals from countries without routine NIV operations must apply at designated embassies or consulates unless residing elsewhere.
Dec 12, 2025 20 0The U.S. Department of State expands social media screening to all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants starting December 15, requiring public privacy settings on all profiles to enhance national security vetting.
Dec 3, 2025 20 0VFS Global warns UAE residents that the 'small country trick'—applying for Schengen visas through less popular countries like Malta or Luxembourg to speed up processing—is a myth and violates EU Visa Code Article 5. Applying to the wrong country based on your actual travel itinerary can lead to visa refusal and a permanent negative record in the Visa Information System (VIS).
Nov 14, 2025 46 0
The EU has suspended issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas to most Russian citizens, but wealthy Russians and elites can bypass the ban by using alternative citizenships obtained through investment programs in countries like Serbia and Malta.
Nov 8, 2025 37 0
The European Commission has banned issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas to Russian nationals, effective November 7. Russian citizens must now apply for a new single-entry visa for each trip to the EU, with limited exceptions for close family members of EU citizens meeting strict criteria.
Nov 7, 2025 37 0The U.S. Department of State announces changes to the entry process for the DV-2027 Diversity Visa program, with a new start date for registration and selection results to be announced, while the visa application period remains October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
Nov 5, 2025 20 0Portugal has canceled all work-seeking visa appointments effective October 23, 2025, following the introduction of Law No. 61/2025 which abolishes the previous job seeker visa and replaces it with a highly skilled work-seeking visa. However, no applications can be submitted until new regulations are enacted, leaving hundreds of thousands of applicants in limbo.
Oct 26, 2025 32 0
Seven Kosovo nationals were arrested at the Croatia-Serbia border for exceeding the 90-day Schengen stay limit within a 180-day period. This follows similar recent enforcement actions in Germany, highlighting increased detection aided by the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Overstayers face penalties including fines and multi-year entry bans recorded in the Schengen Information System.
Oct 20, 2025 30 0
The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) launch on October 12 has been plagued by technical failures and severe delays, with only 3 countries fully ready. Brussels Airport reported 3-hour queues for non-EU travelers, while Prague's airport saw complete system failures forcing manual processing.
Oct 19, 2025 30 0