New Zealand Minister Slams ‘India-Only’ Entry Curbs in NZ-India FTA Immigration Chapter
US visitor-visa wait times for Indians stretch to 9.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai
MEA Issues Emergency Advisory After 52 Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Stranded Without Chinese Visas
Latest News
New Zealand foreign minister claims India–NZ FTA includes ‘covert’ visa curbs aimed at Indians
During Parliament’s first reading of the India–NZ FTA bill, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters accused the government of inserting immigration clauses that would uniquely restrict Indian citizens, contradicting the spirit of the trade pact. The government denies any discrimination, but the dispute raises uncertainty for employers planning to use the agreement’s 5,000-visa work pathway. Indian businesses and mobility managers should monitor the legislative process for final visa settings. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/target-indians-and-indians-alone-new-zeland-foreign-minister-winston-peters-on-covert-immigration-changes-under-fta/articleshow/132031305.cms))
As America turns 250, Indians make up nearly three-quarters of all H-1B approvals
A 27 June Indian Express deep-dive shows Indians received 73 % of all FY 2023 US H-1B approvals, reflecting India’s vast STEM pipeline and long-standing tech links with the US. The piece explains how the visa works, why green-card backlogs hit Indians hardest, and what impending US policy debates could mean for employers and migrants alike. ([indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-news/america-250-h1b-visa-indians-us-tech-workforce-10757792/))
Commerce Minister Wraps London Mission to Finalise India-UK CETA Mobility Provisions
Finishing a London trip on 27 June, Minister Piyush Goyal agreed final operational steps for the India-UK CETA and social-security convention. Companies get a new 180-day ‘Business Visitor (CETA)’ visa, pilot fast-track lanes at Heathrow/IGI, and clarity on dual social-security exemptions—key wins for short-term assignees between the two countries.
India Extends US $10 e-Tourist-Visa Window; Deal Ends 30 June
The government confirmed on 27 June that India’s off-season US $10 e-Tourist Visa will expire on 30 June as planned. While application windows and entry-point expansions stay, travellers booking from July will again pay the regular US $25 fee. Mobility planners have two days left to leverage the discount for last-minute trips.
H-1B travel anxiety: Indian couple fear job loss if they fly home for family emergency
A Hindustan Times feature highlights how tightened US visa-renewal rules leave H-1B holders vulnerable during family emergencies. An Indian couple fear they could lose their jobs if they return to Delhi for a cancer-stricken parent due to 9-month interview backlogs. Mobility managers are urged to create contingency plans and monitor the forthcoming Stateside Visa Renewal pilot. ([hindustantimes.com](https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/h1b-visa-fears-leave-indian-couple-worried-about-flying-back-to-mother-in-law-with-cancer-might-lose-jobs-uscis-101782539446925.html))
Sports Ministry Floats ‘Sports Passport’ Proposal to Let OCI/PIO Athletes Represent India
On 27 June India’s Sports Ministry confirmed it is drafting a ‘Sports Passport’ that would let elite OCI/PIO athletes represent India without renouncing foreign citizenship. The move could serve as a special multi-entry visa and talent-attraction tool, though it will require coordination with the Home and External Affairs ministries.
UK Travel Advisory Update Re-asserts 10 km No-Go Zone Near India-Pakistan Border
On 27 June the UK FCDO refreshed its India advisory, again barring travel within 10 km of the Pakistan border and highlighting continuing curfews in Manipur. Because many corporate travel tools pull live FCDO data, the new timestamp automatically heightens approval thresholds for trips to Punjab and Northeast India.
Chicago Consulate to Hold 27 June ‘Consulate-at-Your-Doorstep’ Camp for OCI, Visa and Passport Services
India’s Chicago consulate ran a mobile camp in Edina, Minnesota, on 27 June, processing hundreds of OCI, passport and emergency-visa cases in a single day. The pop-up model trims travel costs for Indian professionals in America’s Midwest and reflects Delhi’s wider IVFRT push for decentralised, tech-enabled consular services.
Canada tightens language-test fraud checks, raising scrutiny for thousands of Indian applicants
IRCC has ordered visa officers to subject all approved language-test results to enhanced fraud screening, a move that could lengthen processing for Indian students and skilled workers. Genuine applicants should be unaffected but must ensure their test documentation is flawless.
India Relaunches “Air Suvidha 2.0” Health Declaration as Ebola Precaution
From 26 June 2026, India has reinstated a mandatory online Self-Declaration Form—Air Suvidha 2.0—for all arriving international passengers in response to the escalating Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. Travellers must complete the form before departure and present the QR code on arrival, or risk being denied boarding. The move signals India’s shift toward a permanent, on-demand digital health-screening tool—something corporate travel managers should now build into standard pre-trip workflows.
India Hikes Passport Fees From July 1, Raising Cost of Global Travel Planning
Starting 1 July 2026, every category of Indian passport will cost ₹1,000–₹2,000 more. The MEA says the increase funds security-chip upgrades, but it comes just before the peak outbound student and holiday season, forcing travellers and employers to revise budgets immediately. Businesses should encourage staff with imminent international assignments to file renewal applications before the June-end cut-off.
Air Suvidha 2.0: India makes digital health form mandatory for all international arrivals amid Ebola alert
India has re-launched its Air Suvidha portal, requiring every incoming international passenger to complete a digital health declaration before boarding. The move—triggered by a WHO Ebola emergency—tightens border health controls while maintaining contactless processing for the country’s 30 million annual inbound flyers.
Air Suvidha 2.0 health-declaration portal made mandatory for all international arrivals amid Ebola alert
From 26 June 2026, India’s resurrected Air Suvidha 2.0 portal becomes compulsory for every inbound passenger. The digital form—triggered by the ongoing Ebola outbreak—feeds health data directly to immigration, aiming to protect public health while keeping arrivals contact-free. Failure to complete the form can lead to denied boarding and costly itinerary changes for business travellers.
India to Resume Regular Tourist Visas for Bangladeshis After Two-Year Suspension
From 28 June India will again issue tourist visas to Bangladeshi citizens, ending a 22-month freeze that hit bilateral tourism and short-term business visits. The phased reopening should revive hotel, aviation and medical-travel sectors, but initial quotas will be limited and documentation checks tightened.
Indian Expats in UAE Face Higher Passport Fees and New Single-Window Consular Centres
From 1 July Alhind will operate all Indian consular centres in the UAE, while passport fees rise sharply worldwide. A five-day handover freeze and higher costs mean Indian residents must plan renewals carefully, and employers with large Gulf workforces face immediate budget implications.