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The Department of State has submitted a request for public comment regarding the proposed collection of information via the Special Immigrant Visa Biodata Form. This form is aimed at Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applicants and will be used to determine their eligibility for refugee resettlement benefits. The Department is seeking public input on the necessity, accuracy, and impact of this information collection. Comments can be submitted directly to the Office of Management and Budget until February 18, 2021.

The Secretary of State has imposed sanctions on six entities and eight individuals for their involvement in significant transactions related to petroleum products from Iran. These sanctions aim to block their property, restrict financial dealings, and limit their ability to interact with U.S. financial systems. Additionally, the U.S. will deny visas or entry to those identified as corporate officers or principal owners of these sanctioned entities. This action is part of the U.S. government's efforts to enforce its foreign policy under Executive Order 13846.

The Department of State announced an update to its Cuba Restricted List, which includes entities and subentities in Cuba with which financial transactions are discouraged, as they might benefit the Cuban military or government at the expense of the Cuban people. This update, which took effect on January 8, 2021, includes one additional subentity and is part of ongoing measures outlined in a 2017 policy directive to strengthen U.S. policy towards Cuba. More information about the updated list can be found on the State Department's website.

The Department of State has released the names of individuals added to the Department of Treasury's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List), due to their involvement in harmful activities related to the Russian government. This action was taken under an Executive Order, and as a result, any property these individuals have in the U.S. is now blocked. Additionally, U.S. citizens are not allowed to conduct any transactions with them. More information about the sanctions can be found on the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) website.

The Department of State has requested public comments on its proposed information collection concerning the U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals, also known as form DS-82. This proposal allows eligible U.S. citizens to renew their passports using either a paper form or an online process. Recent updates include changes to language regarding gender, now requiring applicants to state their biological sex according to Executive Order 14168. Interested parties have until March 20, 2025, to provide feedback on this information collection.

The Department of State has added one or more individuals to the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List because they meet the legal criteria set by an Executive Order targeting harmful activities by the Russian government. As a result, their assets in the U.S. are frozen, and American citizens are generally not allowed to do business with them. For more information, individuals can check the SDN List on the Office of Foreign Asset Control's website.

The Department of State's Advisory Committee on International Law (ACIL) will hold a public meeting on January 17, 2025, at The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. Attendees will have the option to join either in-person or virtually, but they need to register by January 8, 2025, to attend. The meeting will cover several international law issues, including jurisdictional challenges involving private military and security companies, the application of international tribunal decisions, and how different international laws interact during naval operations. Margaret L. Taylor, the Legal Adviser, will lead the meeting.

The Department of State is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for revised information collection related to the Foreign Diplomatic Services Applications. They are inviting public comments on this proposal as per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The public can submit their feedback by March 15, 2021, using various means such as online submissions, email, or mail. This effort is to ensure the information collection aids in managing benefits and privileges for foreign missions effectively, while also seeking to reduce the reporting burden through improved methods.

The Department of State has announced that several individuals and vessels have been added to the Department of Treasury's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. This action is part of enforcing an Executive Order aimed at blocking property related to harmful activities by the Russian government. As a result, all property and interests in the US linked to these people are blocked, and American citizens generally cannot do business with them. The vessels listed are linked to various Russian entities and are subject to these sanctions.

The Department of State has announced that several individuals have been added to the Department of Treasury's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). This is because they have been found to be involved in harmful activities related to the government of the Russian Federation, as outlined in an Executive Order. These individuals now have all their property and interests under U.S. jurisdiction blocked, and U.S. persons are generally not allowed to engage in transactions with them. The list and more details about the sanctions can be found on the OFAC website.