New rescheduling limits may force US visa applicants in Brazil to repay US$185 fee
Sydney Airport security screeners strike twice on 16 October, airlines issue re-booking waivers
Canada overhauls Express Entry CRS to reward high-wage Canadian experience
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Canada overhauls Express Entry to reward high-wage Canadian experience – LMIA no longer required
Starting 3 November 2026, Express Entry will grant up to 150 CRS points for high-wage Canadian experience or job offers and will drop the LMIA requirement for such offers. The move makes it far easier – and cheaper – for employers to secure permanent residence for valued foreign talent and is expected to raise cut-off scores in the short term.
Canada drops LMIA requirement for job-offer points, boosting Indians in Express Entry
Canada has scrapped the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirement for most job offers that count toward Express Entry points, effective 3 November 2026. The move instantly raises the CRS scores of thousands of Indian workers already in Canada, making invitations for permanent residence more attainable and reducing employer paperwork. Companies and applicants should act quickly to capitalise on the transition window.
Bureau of Immigration reiterates limits of OCI status in new social-media advisory
India’s Bureau of Immigration published a social-media graphic on 16 October clarifying that OCI card-holders are not Indian citizens and cannot vote, hold public office or buy agricultural land, even though they enjoy life-long visa-free entry and other benefits. The reminder comes amid court challenges testing the scope of OCI rights and serves as a compliance checklist for employers using OCI status for long-term assignments.
Higher USCIS Filing Fees Take Effect Today Under H.R. 1 Inflation Adjustment
USCIS’ inflation-indexed fee schedule became effective on 16 October 2026. Asylum, parole, TPS and related EAD fees rise by $5–30 under H.R. 1. Filings postmarked today with the old amounts will be rejected, so employers must update payment systems and reissue checks for packets assembled before the deadline.
USCIS inflation-adjusted filing fees take effect today, 16 October 2026
USCIS’ annual CPI adjustment under H.R. 1 is now in force. Four humanitarian-related fees—including the parole and asylum surcharges—are up by US$1-30. Filings post-marked 16 October 2026 or later that lack the updated amounts will be rejected, so employers and foreign nationals must update fee charts immediately.
Belgium’s asylum applications drop 30%, ninth consecutive monthly fall
Belgium registered 2,071 asylum claims in September, a 30% annual decrease and the ninth monthly fall in a row. Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt credits stricter national rules, while NGOs cite wider geopolitical shifts. The Immigration Office’s workload is down, but the CGRS backlog has hit a record, threatening longer processing for some applicants. Planned cuts in reception capacity could free housing but risk future bottlenecks if arrivals rise.
US PERM freeze at eight firms leaves Indian H-1B holders in limbo
The US Department of Labor has halted PERM labour-certification processing for eight companies under investigation, jeopardising green-card timelines for about 12,000 Indian H-1B workers. Without PERM approvals, many could hit their six-year visa limit early next year, placing projects and client contracts at risk. Employers and employees should urgently consider transfers, alternative visas or offshore redeployment.
Federal Court Upholds Geneva Airport Operating Rules, Paving Way for Night-Noise Contingent System
Switzerland’s Federal Administrative Court confirmed the legality of Geneva Airport’s revised operating regulations, including a night-noise quota and three weekly late long-haul slots. The ruling ends four years of legal uncertainty and secures capacity at the country’s second-largest international hub, a critical gateway for multinational firms and diplomatic traffic. Airlines can keep their night operations, while the airport can proceed with a rapid-exit taxiway to ease congestion.
Gol suspende voos para Miami, Orlando e Punta Cana a partir de fevereiro de 2027
A Gol cancelará as rotas para Miami, Orlando e Punta Cana a partir de fevereiro de 2027 devido ao aumento de 100 % no custo do combustível. Passageiros poderão remarcar ou ser reembolsados sem taxa, mas perderão opções de voo direto, elevando o tempo e custo das viagens corporativas entre Brasil e EUA.
Australia issues ‘Do Not Travel’ alert for Saudi Arabia amid escalating security risks
DFAT raised Saudi Arabia to “Do Not Travel” on 16 October 2026, citing missile threats and airport disruptions. The change triggers insurance exclusions and forces companies to rethink staff deployments, pilgrim travel and flight routings through the Gulf. Mobility managers should activate contingency and evacuation plans immediately.
Cyprus completes technical work for Schengen accession
Cyprus has finished every technical test required to join the EU’s Schengen zone, shifting the process into the hands of EU politicians. Businesses should prepare for passport-free travel across most of Europe as early as 2027, but final approval still needs unanimous backing from existing Schengen members.
Bundestag clears Digital Identity Act, paving way for EU-wide EUDI Wallet from 2027
Parliament has passed Germany’s Digital Identity Act, enabling the launch of the EU Digital Identity Wallet from January 2027. The wallet will let users store digital passports, residence permits and eventually visas on their phones, with significant efficiency gains for employers, border agencies and service providers. Firms should prepare backend systems for API integration and updated onboarding workflows.
Spain and Italy Agree to End Temporary Schengen Border Checks Imposed After Ceuta Crisis
Madrid and Rome have struck a deal to scrap the temporary passport controls they imposed on each other’s air and sea passengers after the summer Ceuta incident. The coordinated rollback—expected to take effect next week—restores friction-free Schengen travel on one of Europe’s busiest corporate corridors and eliminates added check-in and compliance costs for airlines and multinational mobility programmes.
France extends Schengen-area internal border checks for another six months from 1 November 2026
Paris has told the European Commission that it will keep internal border checks with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Italy until 30 April 2027, citing terrorism and smuggling risks. The move maintains the identity-check regime introduced in 2015 and could add modest time to business-travel itineraries, especially on rail and road corridors. Companies should ensure employees continue to carry passports/ID and build extra buffer time into schedules.
Air France, Transavia and Corsair avert 5-day strike after unions suspend action
Unions representing flight and cabin crew at Air France, Transavia and Corsair have suspended a five-day strike planned for 17-21 October after winning a freeze on proposed roster changes and a pledge to hire 350 seasonal staff. The last-minute deal spares France’s airports major disruption at the start of the school-holiday rush and removes a serious threat to business travel and expatriate assignments that transit through Paris. Companies should still expect busy terminals and should verify any flights that were pre-emptively cancelled.