Page 5 - Visa

RBI imposes fines on 3 payment system operators including Visa Worldwide

The RBI has imposed penalties on payment system operators Visa Worldwide, Ola Financial Services and Manappuram Finance for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. A penalty of Rs 2.4 crore has been imposed on Visa Worldwide Pte Limited and Rs 41.5 lakh on Manappuram Finance Limited. A fine of Rs 87.55 lakh has been slapped on Ola Financial Services in two cases. The RBI said monetary penalty on Payment System Operators (PSOs) Manappuram Finance and Ola Financial Services has been imposed for non-compliance with certain provisions of Know Your Customer (KYC) directions. Compounding orders were also issued to two Ola Financial Services and Visa Worldwide for contravention of certain provisions. Giving details, the Reserve Bank of India said it was observed that Visa Worldwide Pte Limited had implemented a payment authentication solution without regulatory clearance from the central bank. Accordingly, notice was issued to it, advising it to show cause as to why a penalty should not

Visa-free countries for Indians: From Americas to Africa, here's the list

As of 2024, Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 58 destinations around the world

Govt looks to speed up visa issuance for Chinese technicians: Report

The technicians are needed to operate Chinese-made machinery installed in Indian high-tech manufacturing units in industries ranging from telecoms to steel products and solar panels

India to fast-track China visas after businesses complain of delays

Businesses say restrictions are hurting the country's ability to become a manufacturing hub

Thailand introduces Destination visa for remote workers: Details here

Soon, if you successfully acquire a DTV, you'll receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa

Thailand expands visa-free status to 93 nations: Here's what you must know

Travellers from these qualified nations can visit Thailand for tourism or short-term business purposes

Visa, Mastercard to extend non-EU tourist card fee caps to 2029, says EU

Visa, the world's largest payments network operator, and its closest rival Mastercard, in 2019 agreed to a 0.2% fee cap on non-EU debit card payments

5 countries with updated visa policies; here's how Indians will be impacted

Many countries recently updated their visa policies and requirements which will have a potential impact on Indians. Anyone planning for foreign trips needs to stay informed about the latest updates

Adani Group's solar firm seeks visas for vendors' Chinese workers

Company cites lack of Indian expertise

Indians lost over 12 million euro on rejected Schengen visas in 2023

Schengen states rejected a total of 1.6 million euros visa applications in 2023, out of which a staggering 151,752 Indian nationals were denied

China asks Visa, Mastercard to reduce bank card transaction fees: Report

The Payment & Clearing Association of China is proposing lowering the fees charged on foreign card transactions to 1.5% from between 2% and 3%, the report said

Deferred pension plans, applying for visa: Top personal finance stories

This week we write about the advantages and drawbacks of annuity plans and how to work on your visa application

Financially savvy travellers: How Trisha and Modi plan their global travels

From Iceland to Africa, this globetrotting couple has seen it all by the age of 33. Here's how they prepare themselves financially for their adventures

Visa, Mastercard $30 bn settlement to limit card fees for merchants at risk

U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie in Brooklyn told lawyers for the card networks and objectors at a hearing on Thursday that she will "likely not approve the settlement," according to court records

Chinese visa 'scam': Delhi court grants bail to Karti Chidambaram

A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to Congress leader Karti Chidambaram in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Chinese visa scam. Special Judge for ED and CBI, Kaveri Baweja, granted the relief to the accused after he appeared before the court in pursuance to summons issued against him. The court had issued summons against the accused while taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the ED in the case. The judge granted the relief on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and one surety of like amount. The ED has registered the money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram in the alleged scam pertaining to the issuance of visa to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister.

Germany's new visa rules: Great opportunity for skilled foreign workers

Country needs some 4,00,000 skilled employees annually to cover a labour shortage in specialised fields

'India should seek easy visa norms for unskilled workers in bilateral pact'

India should seek easy visa norms in bilateral agreements with different countries for its semi and unskilled workers as it would help increase flow of remittances, and higher wages to labourers, trade experts said. They said easy visa norms will also help contain illegal entry of Indian labourers into developed and rich nations. Normally in a free trade agreement, two trading partners seek greater market access for its skilled professionals. India, too, asks for easy provisions for its IT and other skilled workforce. "Now, India should start talking for its semi and unskilled workforce also in the proposed free trade agreements. We should take this as a binding commitment. It will help stop illegal entry of labourers from India into developed nations. India provides low customs in trade agreements, so in lieu of that we can seek greater access for our labours," international trade expert Biswajit Dhar said. He said that wages in other countries, particularly developed, are high an

Thailand approves longer visa stays for tourists, students, remote workers

Digital nomad visas for self-employed and remote workers extended to five years

Norway further tightens its restrictions on the entry of Russians

Norway on Thursday said it will further tighten its restrictions on the entry of people from Russia, saying those with tourist visas issued by Norway before regulations were tightened in 2022 or issued by another European country will be barred from entering the Scandinavian country as of next week. Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said the tightening was a response to Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Norway has a 198-kilometer (123-mile) -long border with Russia in the Arctic. Last week, Aftenposten, a major Norwegian daily, said Norway's domestic security agency, known by the acronym PST, was worried that Russians involved in intelligence gathering were entering at the sole border crossing at Storskog near the town of Kirkenes. Inger Haugland, head of counterespionage for PST, said Wednesday that "Russia now sees itself benefiting from carrying out sabotage in European countries in order to weaken Ukrainian defense capabilities. He gave no further details. O

Britain's regulator seeks to rein in Mastercard and Visa fees on retailers

Cards are the most popular form of payment in Britain, with 27.1 billion transactions in 2022 worth 954 billion pounds