Page 3 - Visa

H-1B visa impact on Indian IT firms & stock market, GST 2.0 kicks in, SC on Air India crash

Nasscom, the IT industry body, said the new $100,000 H-1B fee will have a marginal impact on Indian IT firms, as their reliance on these visas has dropped significantly.

BJP govt failed to shield India from arbitrary tariffs, visa fees: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has attacked the BJP government commenting that an emergency has struck India's foreign policy under it and that it has failed to protect the country from arbitrary tariffs and visa fees. He also said the government has failed to protect Indians living abroad from violent attacks. In a post on microblogging site X on Saturday, Yadav said, "An emergency has struck foreign policy under the BJP rule: The BJP government is unable to protect India from arbitrary tariffs and arbitrary visa fees." He said the government is unable to keep up relations with neighbouring countries, adhere to the country's historical non-alignment policy, protect overseas Indians from handcuffs, chains, public humiliation and violent attacks, and bring any country along on the matter of terrorism. The post in Hindi added that the BJP government has put the foreign policy aside. Speaking to reporters at the party office in Lucknow, the Samajwadi Party chief slammed the

H-1B visa new rules: White House says $100,000 fee only for new applicants

The H1-B visa fee of USD 100,000 would be applicable only to new applicants, a White House official clarified on Saturday, a day after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation raising the fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the US. The H-1B fee is likely to face legal challenges. But if it survives, companies that hire skilled international workers would have to pay USD 100,000 each year for any employee working on the visa, for up to six years. The fee applies only to new applicants, a White House official said, according to a report in the New York Times. In a sudden move that will hugely impact skilled Indian professionals in the US, President Donald Trump ordered a steep hike in the annual H-1B non-immigrant visa fee to USD 100,000. As the Presidential proclamation that takes effect at 12.01 am EDT on September 21 sparked panic and outcry, immigration attorneys and companies asked the H-1B visa holders or their family

Nepal eases visa, exit rules for stranded foreign nationals amid unrest

Nepal authorities have announced temporary measures to facilitate foreign nationals stranded in the country due to the ongoing curfew in the Kathmandu Valley. According to Immigration officials, international travellers whose visas were valid through September 8 can now obtain exit permits and regularise their visas without paying additional fees, The Himalayan Times reported on Friday. The facility will be available both at immigration offices and at departure points. Authorities have also put in place arrangements for visa transfers in cases where visitors lost their passports during the disturbances. Travellers carrying emergency passports or other travel documents issued by their respective embassies will have their visas transferred to the new documents under existing rules, ensuring a smooth departure from Nepal, the officials said. A prohibitory order is in place in Kathmandu from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. A curfew order will come into effect from 7:00 pm Friday to 6:00 am Satur

US EB-5 visa route gaining traction among Indians, says immigration expert

The entry to America through the capital investment route is becoming popular, and Indians, particularly students and professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, can consider this option, an expert on US immigration law has said. Speaking here on the current state of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, Indian American immigration attorney Nadadur S Kumar said it is no longer a niche option. The EB-5 visa grants lawful permanent resident status (a green card) to foreigners with a minimum investment requirement of $8,00,000 (Rs 6-7 crore). The rise in property values and home equity has enabled more Indians to fund their investments, often with the support of parents. Many H-1B visa holders and students transitioning from F-1 to H-1B status in the US have also been able to leverage their financial progress to pursue EB-5," he said. The visa programme is becoming an increasingly popular pathway for Indians, particularly students and professionals

US considers ban on wholesale shopping, other visa curbs for Iranians

The Trump administration already has denied visas for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his large delegation to attend a high-level UN meeting this month and is now considering ramping up restrictions on several other delegations that would severely limit their ability to travel outside New York City. Potential travel and other restrictions could soon be imposed on the delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and, perhaps surprisingly, Brazil, which has held a traditional place of honour during the high-level leaders gathering at the UN General Assembly that begins September 22, according to an internal State Department memo seen by The Associated Press. While the potential restrictions are still under consideration and the circumstances could change, the proposals would be another step in the Trump administration's crackdown on visas, including a wide-ranging review of those already holding legal permissions to come to the US and those seeking entry to head to the UN meeting. The

US to restrict visas of Central Americans acting on behalf of China: Rubio

Secretary Rubio said that these actions reaffirm President Trump's commitment to protect America's economic prosperity and national security interests in our region

Nepal, Bhutan citizens do not require passport, visa to enter India: MHA

The citizens of Nepal and Bhutan as well as Indians entering India by land or air from the two neighbouring countries will not be required to furnish a passport or visa, as earlier. The members of the naval, military or air forces of India entering or exiting India on duty and the family members of any such person, when accompanying such a person on a government transport, will also not be required to carry a passport or visa, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) following the enforcement of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. The requirement of a valid passport or other valid travel documents and a valid visa for entry into, stay in and exit from India shall not apply if "a citizen of India entering into India by land or by air over the Nepalese or Bhutanese frontier, a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan entering into India by land or air over the Nepal or Bhutan border or if he possesses a valid passport while entering or exiting India from or to a place

Palestinian president urges US to reinstate visa ahead of UN meetings

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office on Saturday urged the US government to reverse its unusual decision to revoke his visa, weeks before he was meant to appear at the UN's main annual meeting and an international conference about creating a Palestinian state. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded the visas of Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month's annual high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly, the State Department disclosed Friday. Abbas has addressed the General Assembly for many years, and generally leads the Palestinian delegation. We call upon the American administration to reverse its decision. This decision will only increase tension and escalation," Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh told The Associated Press in Ramallah on Saturday. We have been in contact since yesterday with Arab and foreign countries, especially those directly concerned with this issue. This effort will continue around the clock," he said. He urged .

Visa & deportation updates: 8 big changes in the US, Canada, UK, China, and Vietnam | Immigration

The second week of August was buzzing with big headlines on immigration and study abroad. From Washington to Beijing, London to India, there’s been plenty of action.

US State Dept touts sharp rise in visa revocations under Trump crackdown

State Department said it had revoked the visas of more than 6,000 international students, including between 200 and 300 over terrorism concerns

No more worker visas for commercial truck drivers, says Marco Rubio

The US will stop issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said. Announcing the move on Thursday in a post on X, Rubio said the change was effective immediately. The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers, Rubio posted. The department did not immediately respond to a question about the number of foreign truck drivers working in the US. The Trump administration in past months has taken steps to enforce the requirement that truckers speak and read English proficiently. The Transportation Department said the aim is to improve road safety following incidents in which drivers' inability to read signs or speak English may have contributed to traffic deaths.

India announces free e-visas to tourists from the Philippines, boosts ties

The development comes after the Philippines earlier this year announced that it will grant visa-free entry to Indian nationals

Re 1 visa sale: Get Schengen, UK, US visas for just ₹1 on Atlys today

Atlys' "One Way Out" campaign slashes visa application fees to Re 1 for Schengen, UK, US and 10+ countries. The sale ends tomorrow

India reopens doors to Chinese tourists, ends 5-year suspension | India-China relations

India will resume tourist visa issuance for Chinese nationals from today, July 24.This marks the first time since 2020 that Chinese tourists can apply to visit India. Watch the video for details.

Datanomics: Indian students' dreams of studying abroad still in limbo

Indians' share in the total F1 (student) visas issued by the US has nearly halved from 29.35 per cent in 2022-23 (FY23) to 15.65 per cent in the first eight months of FY25

UAE launches Golden Visa for Indians: How to apply? All you need to know | Golden visa application

The UAE has rolled out a new nomination-based Golden Visa for Indians. For ₹23 lakh, eligible professionals can now secure a lifelong residency in Dubai, without buying property or owning a business.

China extends visa-free entry to 74 countries to draw more tourists

Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations. The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration. This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process, Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. While most tourist sites are still packed with far more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now bracing for a bigger influx in anticipation of summer holiday goers coming to China. I'm practical

Stablecoins challenge Visa and Mastercard as digital payment shifts grow

Still, displacing card networks won't be easy, especially in the US, where consumers are used to rewards, fraud protection and credit access - perks not easily replaced

Visa queries jump as Wimbledon, F1 power global sports tourism: Atlys

Sports events like Wimbledon and Formula 1 are driving a sharp rise in international visa searches as fans build entire travel plans around global sporting fixtures