Government formally launches digital e-OCI card and links it to Trusted Traveller e-gates
India eases in-country OCI application requirements, scrapping Residency Permit
India vows to press Washington on new U.S. visa restrictions affecting students and professionals
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MEA says India will press Washington over new US student-visa time limits
India’s foreign ministry will lobby the US over proposed fixed-term admissions for F, J and I visa categories, warning that the change could disrupt Indian students and their dependants. Companies counting on OPT graduates for US assignments should track the rule-making closely.
India engages Washington on new U.S. visa-duration rule for students and media
New Delhi has opened formal talks with Washington after the U.S. finalised a rule limiting F-1, J-1 and I visas to a fixed four-year stay. India is pushing for grace periods and STEM exemptions to protect more than 320,000 students, thousands of exchange visitors and foreign correspondents. Companies should prepare for mid-course extension filings and possible cost increases.
Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme enters Phase 2 rollout
Phase 2 of India’s Trusted Traveller Programme is underway, bringing e-gates to seven additional airports and laying groundwork for reciprocal fast-track agreements with the US and Singapore. Mobility teams can now enrol more staff and cut airport dwell times nationwide.
U.K. updates India travel advice: Ebola self-declaration & e-OCI recognition now mandatory
A 18 July FCDO bulletin adds two new India entry notes: (1) a mandatory online self-declaration for Ebola screening must be filed within 24 hours of travel; and (2) India’s new digital-only e-OCI card is now fully accepted at all immigration checkpoints. The update streamlines OCI travel but adds a health-compliance step for all inbound passengers.
India–EU Trade & Technology Council backs pilot to link EU Digital Identity Wallet with DigiLocker
The India-EU TTC has authorised a six-month pilot to make the EU Digital Identity Wallet interoperable with India’s DigiLocker, enabling instant cross-border verification of passports and credentials. The project promises faster immigration clearance and simpler KYC for business travellers, and could set a global template for trusted digital documents.
Indian Consulate warns of surge in fake e-Visa websites after phishing spike
India’s San Francisco consulate has flagged a wave of fraudulent e-Visa portals and published a blacklist of URLs. Mobility managers must steer travellers to the only official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in, to avoid data theft and invalid visas.
India drops residency-permit requirement in latest OCI card rule change
A 18 July Financial Express report confirms that OCI applicants no longer need to upload their local Registration Certificate/Residence Permit; the IVFRT system will verify status automatically. The simplification cuts paperwork for foreign professionals and aligns with India’s broader e-OCI digitisation drive.
Gold-smuggling ring with airport insiders busted at Mumbai; 6 arrested
DRI officers seized ₹7.49 crore in smuggled gold and arrested six people, including airport staff, at Mumbai airport on 18 July. Expect tighter baggage and transit screening nationwide in the coming weeks.
Indian Consulate in San Francisco warns travellers about surge in fake e-visa websites
On 18 July the Indian Consulate in San Francisco published an advisory listing fake e-visa websites that are duping travellers. HR and travel managers should steer assignees to the sole official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, to avoid data theft and trip disruptions.
UK updates India travel advice: Ebola self-declaration and e-OCI clarifications
The FCDO’s 18 July update introduces a mandatory online health self-declaration for Ebola screening and clarifies documentation rules for the new electronic OCI card. UK and other foreign travellers to India must submit the form within 24 hours pre-departure and carry the resulting QR code, or face delays and potential quarantine. Mobility teams should adapt pre-trip processes immediately.
President Murmu’s Eastern Europe tour to spotlight new mobility corridors for Indian business
President Droupadi Murmu’s 19-25 July trip to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania includes business forums and visa-facilitation talks that could create faster entry routes for Indian ICT workers, healthcare staff and film crews into Eastern Europe. Companies eyeing the region should watch for new fast-track visa schemes and air-services negotiations.
Customs refreshes traveller allowances as Baggage Rules 2026 go live online
CBIC’s traveller portal was updated on 18 July to operationalise the Baggage Rules 2026, raising duty-free limits, adding a laptop exemption and launching an online e-declaration tool. The changes simplify arrivals for business travellers but require policy updates, especially for land-border movements.
Luxembourg Embassy reminds Indian applicants: Schengen visas can be filed 6 months ahead
Luxembourg’s VFS centre in India has formally reminded travellers that Schengen applications can be lodged six months in advance—useful intelligence as autumn conference season approaches.
Japan quintuples standard visa fees—but keeps India on ₹ 500 concessional rate
Tokyo has raised general visa fees five-fold but has kept the long-standing ₹ 500 concession for Indians. The freeze shields Indian business travellers from higher costs, though companies should note slightly longer processing times under Japan’s new VFS contract.
India launches e-OCI card and speeds up airport clearance for diaspora travellers
India has replaced the physical Overseas Citizen of India booklet with an e-OCI card and linked it to the Fast-Track Immigration–Trusted Traveller Programme, letting OCI holders use automated e-gates at 13 airports. The initiative is expected to slash immigration times and simplify document management for some five million diaspora travellers. Companies with large India traffic should encourage eligible staff to upgrade and enrol.
India Opens Dialogue with Washington as U.S. Tightens Student-and-Visitor Visa Rules
New fixed-term U.S. visa rules for students, exchange visitors and journalists have prompted India’s foreign ministry to open urgent talks with Washington. The MEA says it will press for flexibility and faster appointments to protect the 250 000-plus Indians studying in America. Companies worry the move may foreshadow tighter timelines for work visas as well.
New Delhi raises U.S. visa delays with Washington amid peak student season
India’s foreign ministry says it is pressing the U.S. to ease visa interview backlogs that are jeopardising Indian students’ autumn-semester start dates and delaying corporate travel. Washington plans to open additional student slots and expand interview waivers, but staffing constraints persist.
Indian admits scramble for scarce U.S. student-visa appointments
Hindustan Times reports an unprecedented shortage of F-1 interview slots, leaving many Indian students without appointments before classes begin. Universities are offering deferrals, and experts warn that the uncertainty may redirect talent to countries with faster, digital visa pipelines.
Passport fees jump after decade-long freeze—Tatkaal cost now ₹ 6,000
Ordinary Indian passport fees have increased by up to 67%, with Tatkaal charges reaching ₹ 6,000. Employers and travellers must revise budgets, but MEA promises faster turnaround and new digital payment options.
Student-Visa Appointment Crisis Deepens as Indian Admits Race Against U.S. Embassy Slots
Indian students bound for U.S. universities face unprecedented difficulties securing F-1 visa appointments, with available interview dates now after the August semester start. The crunch threatens enrolments, scholarships and corporate graduate-hire pipelines.
Indian students face crunch for U.S. visa appointments as autumn semester nears
With just weeks left before U.S. universities open, Indian students are struggling to secure F-1 visa interviews, as first-available slots at major consulates slip into October. The crunch may force deferrals and has implications for companies counting on fresh graduate hires.
India opens dialogue with Washington over stricter U.S. visa rules
The MEA has begun talks with the United States after the DHS replaced ‘duration-of-status’ admissions with fixed four-year visas for students, exchange visitors and journalists. India will argue that repeated extension costs and administrative risks could deter the record numbers of Indians heading to the U.S. for study and work, and will seek in-country renewal options. Corporates should prepare for extra compliance and budgeting.
Thailand keeps visa-free entry for Indians but trims stay to 30 days, mandates digital arrival card
Thailand has scrapped plans to remove visa-free entry for Indians but is cutting the allowable stay to 30 days and making digital arrival-card registration compulsory. The move restores certainty for business and leisure travel but demands new compliance steps before departure.
India digitises OCI scheme—new applicants receive e-OCI only
All fresh OCI cards are now issued digitally, and existing cardholders can download an e-OCI version for travel and immigration use. The move slashes processing times and costs for both applicants and employers relocating staff to India.