Page 3 - Visa

No visa hassles: Top countries Indians can visit with ease in 2025

More than 100 countries offer visa-free, e-Visa, or visa-on-arrival access for Indian passport holders

Reserve Bank of India lens on payment fintechs over misclassified merchants

Several payment aggregators are said to have misclassified merchants, typically in the retail category, under utility - a segment that traditionally draws lower interchange rates

New US visa policy adds to rising scrutiny of international students

New US State Department guidance on visa applications is adding to scrutiny of international students that has intensified under President Donald Trump, who has leveraged control of foreign enrolment to press his demands with American colleges. In a cable sent Tuesday to US embassies and consulates, Secretary of State Marco Rubio halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students until the department releases guidelines for increased vetting of their activity on social media. Existing appointments may be kept and will proceed under current review guidelines, the cable said, but new guidance is expected in the coming days. It came days after the Trump administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling any international students, a decision that has been put on hold by a federal judge, pending a lawsuit. Trump said on Wednesday that Harvard, whose current student population is made up of more than a quarter of international students, should limit tha

US pauses student visa interviews for social media vetting: What it means | US Visa | Trump

The Trump administration has paused all new visa interviews for foreign students until their social media accounts undergo a vetting process. Watch the video to understand what it means.

Philippines to now allow visa-free entry to Indians: All you need to know

The 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional seven days for a maximum of 21 days stay, the embassy said

Trump admin considers social media vetting for international student visas

To prepare for this new requirement, the administration has directed US embassies and consular offices to halt scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants

Canada cuts Indian student visas by 31% as new immigration rules hit

Indian student visas to Canada drop 31% in early 2025 as new immigration rules, higher financial requirements, and stricter checks come into effect

India-Pak tension cause 42% drop in Visa demand for Turkey, Baku:Atlys Data

Backlash against the two countries for supporting Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

British govt proposes tightening visa rules to reduce legal migration

The measures - outlined in the Immigration White Paper that will be released Monday - propose new graduate level requirements for skilled visa applicants and limits on lower-skilled visas

India suspends Indus pact, scraps Pak visas over Valley terror attack

Shuts Attari border, downgrades diplomatic ties; all-party meet on Thursday

Indians worst hit by US student visa cancellations, shows AILA data

Trump administration has revoked visas of over 1,000 students since March

China issues over 85,000 visas to Indians in 2025 after easing rules

'Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China,' says Chinese Ambassador

Saudi halts short-term visas for 14 nations including India, ahead of Hajj

The suspension, which comes into effect on April 13, will apply to business visit visas (both single- and multiple-entry), e-tourist visas, and family visit visas

India pushes homegrown network to rival Visa, Mastercard in payments

Launched in 2016, the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) accounted for 83% of India's digital payments volume in 2024, up from 34% in 2019, and dominates the domestic retail payments sector

Tourism Ministry working to ease visa processes for foreign travellers

Efforts on to attract more MICE visitors, global conferences

Thailand plans to cut visa-free tourists' stay from 60 to 30 days

The new visa restrictions could affect long-term visitors, including digital nomads, remote workers, and retirees, many of whom depend on visa-free stays to extend their time in the country

India's visa applications up 11% in 2024, Canada and China among favourites

Popular destinations for Indian travellers in 2024 included Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom

Ex-employee alleges IT services company TCS misused US visa system

Says IT firm misrepresented job roles to send more employees

Fear of tighter US visa regulations keeps temples, consultancies busy

Footfalls at the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in New Delhi's Neb Sarai have increased, especially since January 20, when Donald Trump was sworn in as US president

Indian Consulate in Seattle faces protest over alleged visa denial

The Consulate General of India in Seattle said it had to deal with a law and order situation when certain individuals entered its premises unauthorised and engaged in aggressive and threatening behaviour with the Consulate staff over alleged denial of visa to one of them. Today, the Consulate was forced to deal with a law and order situation arising from the unauthorised entry by certain individuals into the Consulate premises after office hours, the Consulate said in a post on X Friday. It added that despite repeated requests, these individuals refused to leave the Consulate premises and engaged in aggressive and threatening behaviour with the Consulate staff. The Consulate said it was compelled to call in relevant local authorities to deal with the situation. Further action is being initiated against the trespassers. One of the individuals the Consulate referred to is former Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, who said in a post on X that she was in the Consulate with her