US State Department launches global crackdown on ‘birth-tourism’ visa fraud
State Department Launches US$750 ‘Premium’ Interview Pilot for B-1/B-2 Visitors
Trump Administration Expands Criminal Probe Into Sponsors of Unaccompanied Migrant Children
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CBP Reminder: Only e-Passports Accepted for ESTA Approvals in 2026
A June 13 advisory stresses that every ESTA applicant now needs an e-passport with a working biometric chip; damaged or chip-less documents will be refused boarding. Employers should add chip verification to their pre-travel checklists.
State Department Launches $750 Fast-Track Pilot for B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Appointments
From 1 July 2026, the State Department will let B-1/B-2 applicants in select countries pay an optional US$750 fee to obtain a visa-interview appointment within 10 business days. The six-month pilot could help executives secure last-minute travel but adds a significant cost on top of the standard US$185 fee.
U.S. Begins Deporting Migrants to Central African Republic Under Newly Minted Bilateral Deal
A DHS charter flight has delivered 20 deportees—including Iranian asylum seekers—to Bangui under a new, still-secret U.S.–Central African Republic migration pact. Rights advocates say sending migrants to a Level-4 conflict zone violates international norms, while employers should note the growing use of third-country agreements to accelerate removals.