Latest visa, passport, and immigration news. Daily updates on green card lottery, travel requirements, policy changes worldwide.
Major visa policy changes took effect in October 2025, including new US visa fees starting at $250, expanded interview requirements, and the EU's Entry/Exit System launch on October 12. These changes impact millions of travelers, immigrants, and visa applicants worldwide.
Major ID card requirements are being updated worldwide in October 2025 and beyond, including the UK's mandatory digital ID rollout, EU biometric entry systems launching, and the US REAL ID enforcement deadline of May 7, 2025. Learn what documents you need and how to prepare.
The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) officially launched on October 12, 2025, introducing biometric registration requirements for U.S. travelers visiting 29 European countries. This comprehensive guide covers the latest travel restrictions, implementation timelines, and what travelers need to know about the new border control measures affecting millions of international visitors.
Major immigration policy changes take effect in October 2025, including a more challenging U.S. citizenship test starting October 20, the reopening of DACA applications after four years, and significant visa bulletin movements for employment-based green cards as the new fiscal year begins.
The U.S. Department of State announced a historic change to the Diversity Visa Lottery starting October 16, 2025, requiring all DV-2027 applicants to pay a $1 registration fee for the first time in the program's history. This marks the end of free green card lottery entries, with registration expected to open in mid-October 2025.
Starting October 12, 2025, the European Union launches mandatory biometric checks requiring fingerprints and facial scans for all non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area. Meanwhile, Germany enforces a strict ban on self-taken passport photos from May 2025, requiring only professionally captured digital images.
New U.S. visa restrictions now require applicants to apply in their country of residence or nationality, while ESTA fees nearly doubled to $40 on September 30, 2025. These changes affect millions of travelers and immigrant visa applicants heading into October 2025.
Major ID card requirements are changing in 2025, with the U.S. REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, and the UK introducing mandatory digital ID cards for work authorization. These updates affect millions of travelers and workers across both countries.
The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) officially launched on October 12, 2025, introducing mandatory biometric registration for all non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area. The new digital border system replaces passport stamps with fingerprint and facial scans, affecting millions of international travelers including U.S., UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens visiting Europe.
October 2025 brings sweeping immigration policy changes affecting millions of visa applicants worldwide, including a new $250 visa integrity fee, streamlined H-2A agricultural worker processing effective October 2, and updated naturalization test requirements starting October 20, 2025.
Germany introduces mandatory digital biometric passport photos from May 1, 2025, eliminating paper photos to prevent fraud and morphing attacks. All German ID cards and passports will require digitally-certified photos uploaded via secure QR codes.
The U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee increased from $21 to $40 on September 30, 2025, affecting millions of visa-free travelers from 40 countries. Additionally, new visa interview requirements and application restrictions took effect in September 2025, marking the most significant changes to U.S. travel authorization in years.
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