Page 2 - Visa

Planning New Zealand travel or study? Visa centre fees go up from 2026

Visa application centre service charges will be higher from January, adding to upfront costs for applicants from India and other countries

India eases business visa norms in boost for Chinese manufacturing experts

The changes in visa rules are aimed at reducing delays and cutting paperwork that had slowed down visa approvals over the past few years

Indian visa application centre in Dhaka closed over security concerns

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Wednesday closed its office in view of the current security situation. The IVAC at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital. "In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC JFP Dhaka will be closed at 2 pm today," the IVAC said in a statement. The IVAC said all applicants with appointment slots scheduled for submission on Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date. Earlier in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka. "We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations," it said. It said the envoy was apprised of India's str

$100,000 H-1B fee sparks legal storm: Why 19 US states are taking Trump to court | US Visa

Nineteen US states have sued the Trump administration over a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. They say the move is unlawful and could cripple healthcare, education, and essential services.

$1 million for US citizenship? Inside Trump’s new ‘Gold Card’ visa

The United States has officially launched the Trump administration’s new “Gold Card” visa, a replacement for the long-running EB-5 investor route. Here’s what it means, who qualifies

Has the H-1B system been compromised? Fraud allegations put Chennai in spotlight

A fresh controversy has hit the US H-1B visa programme after a former US lawmaker claimed that the Chennai consulate approved more than twice the visas permitted under America’s national cap.

BLS International reports 26.8% rise in net profit to ₹175.23 crore

BLS International's Q2 profit jumps 27% to ₹175 crore on strong visa and consular growth; enters hospitality sector with UK hotel acquisition

Visa, Mastercard reach revised swipe fee settlement with merchants

The settlement calls for Visa and Mastercard to lower swipe fees, which are now typically 2per cent to 2.5per cent, by 0.1 percentage points for five years

BLS Intl bags visa outsourcing contract from Cyprus embassy in Kazakhstan

BLS International Services on Thursday said it has signed a contract with the Embassy of Cyprus in Kazakhstan to provide comprehensive visa outsourcing services. Under this agreement, BLS International will oversee Cyprus visa application operations in Kazakhstan, leveraging its global expertise and technology-driven processes to deliver a transparent and hassle-free experience for all applicants, a statement said. "This partnership with the Embassy of Cyprus in Kazakhstan signifies more than an expansion of our global footprint - it reflects our vision to make cross-border mobility simpler, smarter, and more inclusive. "Through this collaboration, we aim to deliver an experience that embodies efficiency, transparency, and ease for every traveller to Cyprus," BLS International Joint Managing Director Shikhar Aggarwal said.

USCIS clarifies $100,000 H 1B visa fee: Who pays, who’s exempt, and how it works

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new guidance clarifying the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee introduced under a recent presidential proclamation.

BLS International wins 3-year contract to run visa centres in China

This comes a few days after the company had received notice from the MEA on being debarred from participation in future tenders of the MEA and Indian missions abroad for a period of two years

Datanomics: US targets optional practical training amid H-1B visa issue

The share of Indian students pursuing OPT has nearly doubled from 22.12 per cent in 2006-07 to over 40 per cent in 2023-24

Google lays off woman on O-1 visa: What it is and how it differs from H-1B

US O-1 visa is a special non-immigrant visa provided to individuals exhibiting extraordinary ability. Eligibility requires meeting stringent criteria that establish national or international acclaim

China's K visa comes into effect today: Can it be an alternative to H-1B?

China, which already has R visa in place since 2013 for high-level talent, added the K visa to specifically targets foreign young talent working in the science and technology sector

China’s K-Visa explained: Big counter to US H-1B fee hike: What is it? | China visa | US visa

As the US tightens its H-1B visa program with a steep $100,000 fee, China is rolling out a new "K-Visa" aimed at attracting young global science and technology professionals.

Trump's $100K H-1B fee leaves techies, IT industry searching for solutions

The high cost of hiring someone on an H-1B visa, once the most sought-after working visa, means companies will have to be very selective about their onsite hires to get the best talent they need

Trump's new H-1B visa fee caught everyone off guard: JPMorgan chief Dimon

"That caught everyone off guard," Dimon said in a CNBC-TV18 interview. "And so we had a lot of phone calls over the weekend. What does it mean?"

Trump's $100,000 H-1B fee spurs offshoring talks, hiring turmoil at firms

About 141,000 new applications for H-1B were approved in 2024, according to Pew Research

Bengaluru techie gets US' O-1 'Einstein visa' after three rejections

Software engineer says his focus on skill, research and persistence helped him win coveted visa

UK plans visa fee waiver to attract global science and tech talent: Report

The UK government is looking at bolstering a drive to attract global talent with a possible visa fee waiver to support the world's top science and tech talent relocation to the country, a media report said on Monday. The Global Talent Taskforce, backed up by a 54-million-pound Global Talent Fund launched earlier this year, is revving up further to lure international experts, including Indians, even as the US announced a clampdown on its H-1B visas used by global techies, according to a Financial Times' report. The taskforce, which reports directly to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, works across 10 Downing Street and the UK Treasury to explore ways to boost the UK's economic growth. "We're kicking around the idea of cutting (visa) costs to zero, the newspaper quoted a government official as saying. "We're talking about the sort of people who have attended the world's top five universities or have won prestigious prizes, the official said. It comes as Presi