US Embassy in Pakistan Suspends All Visa and ACS Appointments for 2 March After Violent Protests
US Issues Emergency Advisory for Qatar; Embassy Doha Halts Routine Services as Airspace Closes
Washington Abruptly Freezes Immigrant-Visa Issuance for 75 Countries Pending Policy Review
Latest News
Middle-East Airspace Shutdown Strands Hundreds of Thousands, Snarls U.S. Itineraries
Complete airspace closures across eight Middle-Eastern states after U.S./Israeli strikes on Iran have cancelled or delayed more than 22,000 flights worldwide. U.S. carriers are suspending Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha routes, leaving business travellers and assignees scrambling for alternatives and heightening duty-of-care obligations.
U.S. Embassy in Islamabad Cancels All Visa Appointments Amid Violent Protests
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has cancelled every visa and routine citizen-service appointment for March 2 after violent anti-U.S. protests erupted outside consular facilities in Karachi. Applicants will receive new dates once conditions improve, but employers should expect processing delays and advise travellers to monitor official updates.
USCIS Premium-Processing Fees Rise Today Across All Employment-Based Categories
All premium-processing requests filed on or after 1 March 2026 must include higher USCIS surcharges—up to $2,965 for most H-1B, L-1 and E-visa petitions. The inflation adjustment adds $160-$200 per case and hits just days before the FY 2027 H-1B cap opens, so mobility budgets and employee communications should be updated immediately.
Etihad Airways Grounds All Abu Dhabi Departures Until Afternoon After U.S.–Iran–Israel Escalation
Etihad Airways has frozen all departures from Abu Dhabi until at least 14:00 UAE time on 1 March after Gulf airspace closures linked to U.S.–Iran–Israel hostilities. The move disrupts U.S.–Abu Dhabi flights, complicates crew positioning and forces travel managers to reroute passengers and cargo via Europe.
U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Closes, State Department Warns Americans Abroad of “Severe Disruptions”
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is closed through at least March 2, and the State Department warns Americans worldwide to brace for severe travel disruptions linked to Middle-East airspace closures. Visa services are suspended, and U.S. citizens should not rely on government evacuation flights.