Stay informed with the latest visa, passport, and immigration updates from around the world
Major ID card requirements take effect in December 2025 and early 2026. The TSA announces a new $45 fee for travelers without REAL ID starting February 1, 2026, while the UK faces critical deadlines for biometric ID cards and a Parliament debate on digital ID following 2.9 million petition signatures.
Major travel restrictions updates in December 2025 include the US expanding its travel ban from 19 to potentially 32 countries, Europe's Entry/Exit System now operational, and China extending visa-free access to 46 nations through 2026. These changes affect millions of international travelers worldwide.
Immigration policy changes in December 2024 have dramatically altered the landscape for visa applicants, Green Card holders, and asylum seekers. The US has paused immigration processing for 19 countries, ordered reviews of previously issued Green Cards, and implemented new H-1B specialty occupation rules effective January 2025.
The DV-2027 Green Card Lottery registration remains delayed as the State Department implements a new $1 entry fee. Meanwhile, December 2025 cutoff numbers have been released for DV-2026 selectees, with approximately 52,000 diversity visas available this fiscal year.
Major visa policy changes in December 2025 are reshaping global travel, including new US biometric requirements for all non-citizens starting December 26, UK Immigration Skills Charge increases, and sweeping travel bans affecting 12 countries. These updates impact millions of green card holders, visa applicants, and international travelers worldwide.
The Transportation Security Administration announced December 1, 2025, that travelers without REAL ID-compliant identification will face a $45 fee starting February 1, 2026. This major policy change affects approximately 6% of U.S. air travelers, following the May 2025 enforcement of federal REAL ID standards for domestic flights.
The Trump administration is expanding the US travel ban from 19 to 32 countries following heightened security concerns in December 2025. Additionally, all asylum decisions have been suspended nationwide, and visa processing for Afghan nationals has been completely halted, affecting over 100,000 pending cases.
The Trump administration announced sweeping immigration policy changes in December 2025, including an indefinite pause on all asylum decisions and a complete freeze on immigration applications from 19 countries. These changes, triggered by a National Guard shooting, affect over 3.3 million green card holders and 2.2 million asylum applicants.
The U.S. State Department has delayed DV-2027 Green Card Lottery registration until December 2025 or January 2026, introducing a historic $1 entry fee for the first time in the program's 30-year history. Meanwhile, DV-2026 December cutoff numbers show significant increases expected for January, with Africa jumping from 17,500 to 35,000.
Major passport photo requirements updates take effect in December 2025 as the United States ends its grace period for non-compliant photos, Germany enforces digital-only submissions, and the UK tightens recency rules to one month. Over 300,000 applications were rejected in 2024 due to photo violations, prompting these stricter global standards.
The United States has implemented sweeping visa policy changes in December 2025, including mandatory biometric screening starting December 26, elimination of automatic work permit extensions, and a nationwide asylum decision pause. These changes affect millions of visa applicants, green card holders, and international travelers worldwide.
The TSA announced on December 1, 2025, a new $45 fee for travelers without REAL ID-compliant identification starting February 1, 2026. The fee covers 10-day airport access through biometric verification, while UK mandates biometric ID cards for EU citizens by December 31, 2025.
Get the latest visa and immigration news delivered to your inbox