Trump Administration Doubles FY-2026 H-2B Cap, Adding 65,000 Seasonal Worker Visas
Spain’s new migrant amnesty hailed as lifeline for half a million undocumented workers
China Grants 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to UK Citizens After Starmer–Xi Summit
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Saudi-UAE diplomatic rift triggers sudden Saudi visa denials for UAE-based staff
From 30-31 January, Saudi consulates have been denying or stalling business-visa applications submitted from the UAE, a move linked to recent diplomatic tensions. The sudden clamp-down is disrupting cross-border projects and forcing UAE firms to seek work-arounds such as tourist visas or routing via third countries. The episode underscores geopolitical risk in Gulf mobility and may accelerate decisions on relocating staff to Riyadh.
Diab pushes for exit-tracking system for Canada’s 1.9 million expiring temporary visas
Immigration Minister Lena Diab says IRCC needs a digital tool to track how many temporary residents actually leave Canada when their visas expire. With almost 1.9 million authorisations set to lapse in 2026, better exit data would strengthen programme integrity, reassure the public, and simplify employer compliance.
Nationwide four-hour strike by easyJet crews disrupts Italian flight schedule
easyJet pilots and cabin crew will stop work between 13:00 and 17:00 on 31 January, threatening delays and cancellations across Italy’s main airports. The dispute centres on pay, rosters and parity with colleagues abroad. Because the stoppage sits outside the legally protected flight windows, many services are vulnerable, and EU-261 compensation may apply. Corporate travel planners should prepare alternatives and brief employees on their rights.
Barcelona sets up fast-track unit as city estimates 24,000 locals will qualify for Spain’s migrant regularisation
Barcelona’s city government projects that at least 24,000 undocumented migrants could gain legal status under Spain’s new amnesty and has created a dedicated task-force to manage applications and employer outreach. The initiative aims to fill chronic labour gaps, curb exploitation in the informal economy and provide migrants with clear, rapid guidance through the three-month application period.
Brazil welcomes 93 deported nationals from the United States in latest “Aqui é Brasil” repatriation flight
A government-chartered flight landed at Confins Airport on 30 January with 93 Brazilians deported from the U.S. Under the “Aqui é Brasil” programme, federal agencies and the IOM provided food, shelter and onward-travel support. The operation—one of 39 since August 2025—highlights the steady pace of U.S. removals and the importance for employers to have contingency plans for staff who overstay abroad.
EU Commissioner urges ‘visa diplomacy’ to steer migration and lift German border checks
EU Home-Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner told dpa that the EU should wield visa facilitation and visa sanctions more strategically, while also phasing out Germany’s “temporary” Schengen border checks once the new asylum pact is in place. The comments matter to German employers because they promise faster digital talent visas and a possible end to random ID stops that slow business travel.
UN Security Council renews UNFICYP mandate, urges new crossing-point openings
The UN has extended its peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for another year, warning that the island’s status quo is untenable and urging the opening of more Green Line crossing points. The decision signals potential improvements for commuters and businesses operating on both sides of the divide but also highlights ongoing security risks that mobility managers must track.
Sixth day of Wallonia bus-drivers’ strike cripples TEC network across French-speaking Belgium
A rolling, union-led strike at Wallonia’s TEC bus company entered its sixth day on 31 January, cancelling more than two-thirds of services in key districts and threatening to last into next week. The walkout protests government cost-cutting plans and is already forcing employers to activate tele-work and contingency travel arrangements. Continued disruption could affect cross-border commuters and logistics chains that rely on TEC’s network.
China Grants 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to British Citizens
Beijing announced that ordinary British passport holders will soon be able to enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism or business, following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s talks with President Xi Jinping. The unilateral concession eliminates costly, time-consuming visa applications and is expected to boost corporate travel, trade missions and leisure tourism between the two countries. It also signals a broader thaw in UK-China relations.