Stay informed with the latest visa, passport, and immigration updates from around the world
Major immigration policy changes took effect in November 2025, including new H-1B visa fees, biometric data collection requirements, and stricter employment authorization rules. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced sweeping enforcement actions affecting over 172,000 visa applicants and work permit holders.
The U.S. State Department has delayed the DV-2027 Green Card lottery registration and introduced a historic $1 entry fee for the first time in program history. Meanwhile, DV-2026 results were released on May 3, 2025, with 129,516 winners selected from a pool of eligible applicants.
Major passport photo requirements took effect globally in November 2025, with the United States enforcing stricter biometric standards, Germany banning printed photos entirely, and India mandating full ICAO compliance. The changes aim to reduce application rejections and enhance border security through improved facial recognition technology.
Sweeping visa policy changes took effect in November 2025, with the UK implementing a strict new suitability framework on November 11 and the US tightening interview location requirements from November 1. These changes affect millions of visa applicants worldwide, impacting work visas, student visas, family immigration, and travel documents.
The TSA published a final rule on January 13, 2025, confirming REAL ID enforcement will begin May 7, 2025, for domestic air travel and federal facility access. Federal agencies will have flexibility to implement phased enforcement through May 5, 2027, while travelers without compliant IDs must use passports or other approved alternatives.
The FAA lifted all flight restrictions at 40 major U.S. airports on November 17, 2025, ending shutdown-era limits just before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, new biometric border controls expanded across Europe and stricter U.S. visa interview requirements took effect, reshaping international travel for millions.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security implemented sweeping immigration policy changes in late October and November 2025, ending automatic EAD extensions, imposing a $100,000 H-1B fee, and tightening public charge determinations. These changes affect millions of visa holders, workers, and immigrants across multiple categories.
The U.S. State Department announced major green card lottery updates in November 2025, including the delayed DV-2027 registration period, a historic $1 entry fee requirement, and critical deadlines for 129,516 DV-2026 winners who must act before September 30, 2026.
Major passport photo requirements updates took effect in November 2025 across the United States, UK, Germany, and India, implementing stricter ICAO biometric standards and digital-only rules. The changes include enhanced facial recognition specifications, zero-tolerance policies for photo manipulation, and new ISO/IEC 39794 encoding standards affecting all international travelers.
Major H-1B visa modernization rules took effect on January 17, 2025, introducing entrepreneur eligibility, expanded cap-exemptions, and streamlined application processes. The changes also impact H-2 workers and require a new Form I-129 for all petitions filed after this date.
Starting May 7, 2025, TSA began full enforcement of REAL ID requirements at all U.S. airport security checkpoints. Travelers 18 and older must now present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or an acceptable alternative like a U.S. passport to board domestic flights, ending a 20-year transition period.
The FAA lifted nationwide flight restrictions on November 18, 2025, ending emergency limits at 40 major U.S. airports. Meanwhile, Europe's biometric Entry/Exit System expanded to all Dover crossings, and Canada updated travel advisories for both the U.S. and India citing security concerns.
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