EU Audit Flags Systemic Lapses at VFS Global’s India Visa Centres
US Clarifies Indians on H-1B Can Remain While Pursuing Green Cards
US Wage-Hike Plan Would Lift Entry-Level H-1B Salaries by 33 Per Cent
Latest News
Bakrid Bank Closures on 28 May Disrupt In-Person Visa Fee Payments
With banks in major Indian cities closed on 28 May for Bakrid, travellers faced delays obtaining physical fee payments required by some foreign consulates. The mismatch between the revised holiday date and pre-booked visa appointments highlights the need for buffer days in India-origin mobility planning.
Jaishankar Presses U.S. on Visa Delays as Rubio Visits New Delhi
During U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s one-day visit to India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted mounting U.S. visa backlogs and urged Washington to protect legal mobility even as it tackles illegal migration. Rubio promised extra consular staffing and a domestic H-1B renewal pilot, framing delays as a global modernisation issue. Faster visas are critical for Indian firms executing U.S. projects; immigration lawyers recommend adding 10 months’ lead-time until reforms take effect.
Government Issues Ebola-Linked Travel Advisory for Indian Nationals
New Delhi has urged Indians to defer all non-essential travel to the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan following WHO’s formal emergency declaration over an Ebola outbreak. The advisory triggers extra health screening at Indian airports and forces companies with Central-African operations to reassess deployment plans, potentially delaying projects and increasing insurance costs.
Trade Minister Goyal to Lead 150-Member Delegation to Canada, Mobility Chapter Back on FTA Agenda
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Canada next week with a large business delegation aiming to restart stalled CEPA talks. India wants a dedicated mobility chapter to secure faster Canadian work permits for Indian professionals, while Canada seeks tariff cuts and investment safeguards. A deal could materially shorten visa processing times and lower market-entry costs for companies on both sides.