Tag

Consulates

All articles tagged with #consulates

US Green Card Rule Change Could Put 1 Million Applicants in Limbo
immigration5 days ago

US Green Card Rule Change Could Put 1 Million Applicants in Limbo

A May 21 USCIS memo (PM-602-0199) redefines adjustment of status for green cards as a discretionary process that requires applicants to show “unusual or outstanding equities,” raising the bar for those applying from within the U.S. and potentially affecting about 1 million pending I-485 cases. The shift could push many to seek visas from abroad, but the State Department has halted immigrant visa processing in 75 countries, leaving some applicants with nowhere to go and inviting legal challenges against the policy.

Afghanistan Consulate Takes Over Embassy in India Amid Closure Controversy
diplomacy2 years ago

Afghanistan Consulate Takes Over Embassy in India Amid Closure Controversy

Afghan diplomats appointed by the previous government announced the closure of the embassy in India, citing pressure from the Taliban and the Indian government. However, the Afghan consul general in Mumbai and the acting consul general in Hyderabad have stepped in to ensure the continued operation of the embassy and stated that there will be no disruption of consular services for Afghan nationals. They urged Afghan nationals to ignore the communication from the diplomats appointed by the previous government, stating that they have no authority in the internal affairs of the embassy.

China Demands Consulates in Hong Kong Provide Information on Local Staff
international-relations2 years ago

China Demands Consulates in Hong Kong Provide Information on Local Staff

China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong has requested that consulates in the city provide details on their locally employed staff, including job titles, home addresses, and identification information. The request, in line with international customary practice, comes as Beijing tightens control over Hong Kong following the imposition of a national security law in 2020. The consulates have been asked to comply with the request by October 18. Some Western governments have criticized the laws as curbing social and political freedoms, while Chinese and Hong Kong officials argue they are necessary for restoring stability.

politics3 years ago

Germany Expels Majority of Russian Consulates in Retaliation.

Germany has ordered Russia to close four out of its five consulates in Germany in a tit-for-tat move after Moscow set a limit for the number of German embassy staff and related bodies that can operate in Russia. The move reflects a new low in relations between Moscow and Berlin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Only the embassy in Moscow and the consulate in St. Petersburg will remain open, while Germany will have to shut its consulates in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and Kaliningrad by November.