ESTA Now Demands Higher-Quality Selfies as CBP Tightens Identity Checks
Commentary: New $100k Fee and Wage-Weighted H-1B Lottery Could Sideline U.S. Start-Ups
U.S. Embassy Orders Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran to Shelter in Place
Latest News
State Department Launches Nationwide Passport Fairs to Ease Summer Travel Crunch
On 7 April the State Department began advertising special after-hours passport fairs nationwide to reduce wait times before the busy summer season. The pop-ups give first-time and child applicants additional venues and help companies ensure that staff receive passports in the six- to eight-week routine window, avoiding costly expedited requests or delayed overseas assignments.
State Department unsure how new visa bans and US$15,000 entry-bond rules will shape 2026 World Cup travel
Less than ten weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the State Department admits it cannot predict how recently expanded visa bans and cash bonds of up to US $15,000 will affect foreign-fan travel. Fifty countries now face a bond for every B-1/B-2 visa, while 39 nations remain under outright entry bans. Host cities such as Dallas fear lost tourism revenue, and companies are scrambling to adjust budgets and itineraries. A new “FIFA PASS” fast-track may help, but it does not waive the bond, leaving many middle-income supporters—and their dollars—on the sidelines.