International
US reduces visa renewal window from 48 to 12 months
US reduces visa renewal window from 48 to 12 months
The United States has changed its non-immigrant visa renewal process, reducing the eligibility period from 48 months to 12 months.
This change, as stated, will affect many foreign nationals, especially those with H-1B, H-4, B1, and F1 visas.
It will likely increase pressure on visa holders to renew their documentation more quickly than before.
The update, outlined by TravelBiz, eliminates the 48-month renewal window previously introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new rule in effect, applicants must now renew their visas within a 12-month period after expiration.
Updated eligibility criteria for visa renewals
Reports inform that under the revised policy, applicants must ensure that their U.S. visa is either still valid or expired within the last 12 months. To qualify for the renewal process, applicants must meet several conditions:
- The previous visa must be in the same category as the one being renewed.
- The applicant’s most recent visa must have been issued after their 14th birthday.
- The visa cannot have been lost, stolen, canceled, or revoked.
- Applicants must not have had any visa refusals after their most recent issuance.
Additionally, specific criteria apply to holders of J visas. These applicants must provide a valid DS-2019 form for certain exchange visitor programs.
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Impact of shortened renewal window
The reduced 12-month window for visa renewals is expected to create challenges for many visa holders. With less time to renew, applicants will have to plan their renewals more quickly.
- This, as reported, has led to an increase in applicants seeking in-person interviews, as opposed to utilizing the Dropbox process. As demand for interviews grows, securing an appointment may become more competitive.
- Moreover, this change is expected to further burden the already crowded Dropbox system. Many eligible applicants who would have previously used the mail-in renewal process may now need to attend an in-person interview due to the shortened window.
Calculating the 12-month period and additional delays
Applicants are informed that they must calculate their eligibility for visa renewal from the expiration date of their last visa. The renewal application must be received at the U.S. embassy or consulate within 12 months of the visa’s expiration.
- Any delays in submission could make applicants ineligible for the expedited renewal process, requiring them to undergo a standard interview.
- In addition to the policy change, recent reports indicate that the U.S. State Department is cutting staff at embassies worldwide, which could further delay visa processing.
This reduction in staff may lead to longer wait times for visa approvals and increased scrutiny in the processing of applications.
What visa holders should do now
To process through these new regulations, applicants are encouraged to act quickly. Visa holders should plan their renewals ahead of time and regularly check for available appointment slots. Given the high demand for interviews, securing an appointment early is crucial. It is also important for applicants to stay informed by visiting the U.S. embassy or consulate websites and consulting with immigration experts for guidance.
Visa holders should also be aware that delays in processing and longer wait times may affect travel and employment plans. The latest policy changes emphasize the need for applicants to remain proactive and well-informed to avoid complications during the renewal process.
US reduces visa renewal window from 48 to 12 months
International
Bahrain Under Attack as Iran Targets US Military Installation With Drones
Bahrain Under Attack as Iran Targets US Military Installation With Drones
MANAMA — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a United States military installation in Bahrain, escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
The IRGC said it launched six drones at a US air-defence radar system located at the Al-Rifaa helicopter base in Bahrain on Sunday, November 15, 2026.
The attack reportedly came in retaliation for what Tehran described as hostile actions by the United States.
Iranian state media reported that the drones targeted the American radar installation, which is part of the military infrastructure supporting US operations in the Gulf.
However, Bahrain’s military said its air-defence systems intercepted and destroyed several incoming aerial threats before they could reach their intended targets.
The Bahraini Defence Force accused Iran of continuing what it described as a systematic hostile approach through attacks on the kingdom.
Explosions were heard in parts of Bahrain, including around the capital, Manama, while air-raid sirens sounded and authorities issued emergency warnings to residents.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued two public safety alerts, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.
The warnings marked the kingdom’s first nationwide security alerts of this nature since September.
Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making it a strategically important location for American military operations in the Middle East.
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The latest incident followed another reported Iranian drone attack on Friday, November 13, targeting a US early-warning radar facility in Bahrain.
On that occasion, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces intercepted two Iranian drones and reported no casualties or damage, rejecting Tehran’s claim that the radar system had been destroyed.
The renewed attacks come amid an ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which began on February 28, 2026, following US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.
Iran has subsequently launched missile and drone attacks against US military installations and other targets across the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to produce a breakthrough, with Washington maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports and tensions continuing around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington could refrain from further attacks if Iran and its regional allies avoid new provocations, although the American naval blockade remains in place.
The latest developments have raised fresh concerns about regional security, international shipping and global energy supplies, particularly because of the importance of the Strait of Hormuz to international oil trade.
As of Sunday, there was no independent confirmation that the latest Iranian drone attack had successfully damaged the US radar installation. Bahrain maintained that its air defences intercepted the incoming threats.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, Channels Television and The Guardian.
Bahrain Under Attack as Iran Targets US Military Installation With Drones
International
BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House
BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House
WASHINGTON, D.C. — One person has been killed and four others injured after a gunman opened fire at and around a fitness centre in Washington, D.C., triggering a massive security operation in the US capital.
The shooting occurred on Thursday morning, November 12, 2026, in the Logan Circle neighbourhood, approximately one mile from the White House.
The suspected gunman also died after barricading himself inside a nearby apartment and apparently shooting himself, according to police.
Authorities said the first emergency call came in at about 8 a.m. from people inside VIDA Fitness, a gym located around 15th Street and P Street Northwest.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reportedly arrived within 30 seconds and discovered a man who had been shot inside the fitness facility.
Additional emergency calls subsequently reported more gunfire and victims in the surrounding area, bringing the total number of people shot to five, including the deceased.
Police said four other victims sustained gunshot injuries, with one reportedly in critical condition, while the remaining three suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly left the immediate scene and barricaded himself inside an apartment on the seventh floor of a nearby residential building.
Police officers and tactical teams subsequently surrounded the building as negotiators attempted to persuade him to surrender.
However, officers reportedly heard a gunshot during the negotiations. Upon entering the apartment, they discovered that the suspect had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed the development during a briefing, although authorities had yet to publicly disclose the identities of the victims or the suspected gunman.
The shooting prompted an extensive security operation involving local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Several surrounding streets were cordoned off, while residents and people working in the neighbourhood were advised to remain indoors as officers secured the area.
Nearby schools also implemented precautionary security measures during the emergency response.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether the suspect knew any of the victims.
Preliminary information from police indicated that the suspect may have been involved in a dispute with the homeowners’ association of the residential building where he barricaded himself. However, investigators have yet to establish a definitive motive for the shooting.
The incident has renewed concerns about gun violence in the United States, with the attack unfolding in a busy residential neighbourhood within close proximity to the White House.
The investigation is ongoing.
BREAKING: One Killed, Four Injured As Gunman Opens Fire Near White House
International
New York Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Over Murder of Ghanaian Student
Police in New York City have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian student, Javits Frimpong, who was killed while walking to school in the Bronx.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, saying the suspect had been taken into custody and charged with murder over the October 29 killing.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed because he is a minor, is also reportedly facing manslaughter and firearm-related charges.
Frimpong was shot in the abdomen near Crotona Park, close to East 171st Street and Crotona Place, while making his way to DreamYard Preparatory School in the Bronx.
He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
According to police reports, the teenager was walking to school when he was attacked. Investigators have not established the motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect knew the victim.
The arrest followed weeks of investigations and growing demands for justice from Frimpong’s family, members of the Ghanaian community and civil rights advocates.
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Police had previously indicated that three people might have been involved in the shooting and had been investigating possible motives, including robbery and alleged bullying at the victim’s school.
Frimpong’s father, Thomas Frimpong, had earlier said his son complained about being bullied by fellow students at DreamYard Preparatory School. Two students were reportedly suspended over the alleged harassment.
However, investigators have not established a connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting.
The arrest was announced as the victim’s parents, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, Reverend Al Sharpton and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Yao Kumah, gathered at a news conference in New York to demand justice.
Frimpong’s mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi, broke down in tears during the event as she appealed for justice for her son.
She reportedly travelled from Ghana following her son’s death, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had earlier appealed to US President Donald Trump to facilitate arrangements for her to travel to the United States to mourn with her family.
Frimpong had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year before his death to reunite with his father and pursue better educational opportunities. He was a Grade 10 student and reportedly aspired to become a doctor.
The killing sparked protests and public demonstrations in New York, with demonstrators calling for accountability under the campaign slogan, “Justice for Javits!”
Crump, who is representing the family, acknowledged the arrest but said several questions surrounding the teenager’s death remained unanswered.
He called for a thorough investigation to establish why Frimpong was killed and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
Ghanaian authorities have also been engaging with their American counterparts over the case. Ghana’s government has engaged Crump to assist in seeking justice for its nationals killed in the United States.
The NYPD said investigations were continuing, with the possibility of other arrests not ruled out.
The arrest marks a significant development in the case, although the circumstances and motive behind the killing remain under investigation.
New York Police Arrest 17-Year-Old Over Murder of Ghanaian Student
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