New State Department Cable Lets Consular Officers Deny Visas Over Obesity, Cancer or Diabetes
U.S. Government Reopens After 43-Day Shutdown, Restoring Visa, Passport and Border Operations
FAA Freezes Flight Reductions at 6 Percent; Airlines Rush to Normalize Schedules Ahead of Thanksgiving
Latest News
State Department Adds Obesity and Other Chronic Illnesses to Visa "Public-Charge" Tests
A Rubio-signed cable released 13 Nov instructs U.S. consular officers to treat obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and some mental-health conditions as potential public-charge grounds for refusing visas. The policy, effective immediately, applies to tourists and employment-based applicants alike and could lengthen processing and raise refusal rates for corporate travelers.
Judge Orders Release of Hundreds Held After Chicago Immigration Raids
On 13 Nov, a federal judge ordered ICE to free many of the 615 people arrested in October’s Chicago workplace sweeps, ruling that warrantless detentions breached a prior consent decree. The case limits ICE leverage during mass raids and could expose employers to subpoenas, making I-9 due-diligence and worker education critical for global-mobility teams.
FAA Keeps 6 % Flight-Cutback Cap as Controllers Return After Shutdown
The FAA announced 13 Nov it will hold flight reductions at 6 %, not 10 %, across 40 key U.S. airports as more air-traffic controllers return post-shutdown. While easing pressure on business travel, ground-delay programs and rolling schedule tweaks will persist for several weeks.
FAA Issues Nationwide Update to Instrument Approach and Departure Procedures
The FAA’s 13 Nov Part 97 amendment revises instrument procedures at multiple U.S. airports, adding new RNP approaches and departure climb gradients. Corporate flight departments need to update avionics databases and performance planning before changes take effect next month.