2025 Consular Processing Hot Topics: Navigating Recent Trends, the Latest Policy Changes, and What Lies Ahead
Expert panelists (including former consular officers) will provide an insightful discussion on the transformative changes at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), including the implementation of new policies and technologies. In addition, they will examine the most recent trends in visa processing and consular services. Finally, they will explore how the latest consular processing developments may impact what lies ahead.
Featured Topics
- Navigating DOS’s reorganization and the anticipated challenges to our clients and immigration practices
- Overview of travel bans: Who is impacted, who may soon be impacted, and who is outside the scope?
- Are the new National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) a viable option? How to manage and set expectations for clients
- Travel consultations all day, every day! How can attorneys manage all the different nuances and ascertain the risks?
- Additional vetting at U.S. embassies: risks to those who consular process and how to advise clients
- Harnessing technological innovations: the innovative technologies transforming consular processing, including online applications and artificial intelligence
AILA Membership Benefit – Access to Free Seminar Recordings (CLE Credit Available for $35)
Enjoy access to free seminar recordings as an AILA Member. AILA encourages live attendance for those wishing to ask the speaker questions. CLE credit is included with purchase for live participants.
Recordings will be available approximately two weeks after the live event date. AILA members can access these seminars, with no CLE credit, for free. Recordings are CLE eligible in most jurisdictions and a $35 administration fee is required to obtain CLE credit.
Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information about receiving CLE credit for a web seminar recording.
| Product Details | |
| Event Date | December 11, 2025 |
| Format | Web Seminar |
| Length | 90 minutes |
| CLE Eligible | Yes. Live attendance must be recorded in My CLE by Tuesday, December 18, 2025. This deadline does not apply to the OnDemand format. |
| Digital Library | Digital goods (MP3, PDF, ZIP, etc.) are available for download for two years after purchase. |
Eligible participants can receive up to 1.8 CLE credit hours. AILA will administer CLE credit only to individuals who register and log into the web seminar. AILA cannot verify your attendance and participation in this program unless you register directly for the web seminar and use your name to log in to participate in the program. Therefore, persons who log in or listen in on the web seminar as part of a group will not be able to obtain CLE credit.
Please note that your jurisdiction may limit the amount of distance learning credit you can earn. To view details on your jurisdiction's credit restrictions and CLE requirements, visit the CLE Center.
AILA has filed for CLE and specialized credit in all jurisdictions with mandatory CLE requirements. For details about specific approvals, contact us at cle@aila.org.
- AILA applies for accreditation upon attorneys’ request after participation for the following states: AR, DE, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, OR, TN and WY. Programs are typically approved.
- Florida and Rhode Island - Attorneys must apply on their own for approval of seminars in FL and RI. Programs are typically approved.
- The OnDemand Recording format does not qualify for CLE credit in the following jurisdictions: MO and PR. Please note that your jurisdiction may limit OnDemand credit based on the date of the original presentation. View the OnDemand Downloadable Expiration Chart for more details.
To receive CLE credit for the live event, attorneys must record web seminar attendance and the CLE code provided by December 18, 2025 via My CLE.
Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information about receiving CLE credit for a seminar recording.
*Steven D. Heller (DL), AILA DOS Liaison Committee Chair, New York, NY
*Daniel J. Parisi, Madrid, Spain
Fuji Whittenburg, Calabasas, CA
*Caroline Amberger, Former Consular Chief, Washington, D.C.
