Stay informed with the latest visa, passport, and immigration updates from around the world
The U.S. has implemented sweeping visa policy changes in October 2025, including new H-1B restrictions with a $100,000 fee, mandatory in-person interviews for nearly all visa applicants, and country-specific application requirements. These changes affect millions of visa applicants worldwide as the new fiscal year begins.
The TSA's REAL ID enforcement begins May 7, 2025, requiring all U.S. travelers 18+ to present compliant identification for domestic flights. Learn the new photo requirements, how to identify a REAL ID-compliant card, and what alternative documents you can use if you miss the deadline.
Starting October 12, 2025, the European Union launches its Entry/Exit System (EES) requiring all non-EU travelers to register fingerprints and facial photos at borders. This major change affects 29 Schengen countries and replaces traditional passport stamping with digital biometric screening.
October 2025 brings significant immigration policy changes including streamlined H-2A agricultural worker visa processing effective October 2, potential DACA reopening for 400,000+ new applicants, and a federal government shutdown affecting certain immigration services. These changes impact agricultural employers, Dreamers, and millions awaiting visa processing.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed delays to the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery registration, which was expected to open in early October 2025. For the first time in history, applicants will pay a $1 registration fee, and significant process changes are underway affecting 55,000 available green cards.
Starting September 1, 2025, Indian embassies worldwide will reject passport applications with photos that don't meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The new biometric requirements affect millions of Non-Resident Indians applying for passports abroad, with strict specifications for digital uploads and printed photos.
The U.S. implemented major visa policy changes in October 2025, including mandatory interviews for children under 14 and adults over 79 (effective October 1) and streamlined H-2A agricultural worker petition processing (effective October 2). The October 2025 Visa Bulletin also brought significant priority date movements for family-sponsored and employment-based green cards.
Major ID card requirement updates take effect in October 2025, including Hong Kong's October 12 invalidation deadline for old identity cards, new ICAO biometric standards for UK entry from December 31, and the UK's mandatory digital ID scheme announced September 26 featuring photo-based biometric security.
Major travel restrictions remain in effect as of October 2025, including the U.S. travel ban on 19 countries, stricter visa interview requirements, ESTA fee increases, and new UK ETA requirements. Recent policy changes significantly impact international travelers and visa applicants worldwide.
Major immigration policy changes take effect in October 2025, including a new U.S. citizenship test starting October 20, significant fee increases for I-94 and ESTA applications, and the potential reopening of DACA for new applicants after four years. These changes affect millions of immigrants, travelers, and visa applicants worldwide.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed a delay in the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery registration and introduced a historic $1 electronic entry fee, effective October 16, 2025. This marks the first time in the program's history that applicants must pay to enter the annual green card lottery.
Global passport photo requirements are undergoing significant changes in 2025, with ICAO implementing new biometric standards, Germany mandating digital-only submissions from May 1, and India enforcing strict ICAO compliance from September 1. These updates affect millions of travelers worldwide applying for passports and visas.
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