Indian Embassy in UAE consolidates consular network: 4 centres to close, 12 to stay open from 22 October
India issues France travel advisory as cost-of-living protests escalate
Latest U.S. visa-appointment dashboard shows Indian wait times still long—12.5 months in Mumbai for B1/B2
Latest News
Record return migration: 12,700 Indian tech workers have already left the US in 2026
New data show 12,700 Indian tech professionals have already repatriated from the US this year—on track to surpass 2025’s record. Stricter US visa scrutiny, PERM audits and tech-sector layoffs are accelerating the trend. Indian employers welcome the skills but warn that returnees must upskill for AI-centric roles and navigate complex tax and family reintegration issues.
Canada’s weekly update shows Indian study-permit waits stretch to 7 weeks; visitor visas inch down to 29 days
IRCC’s 21 October dashboard shows Indian study-permit processing estimates lengthening to seven weeks, while work-permit waits remain at 11 weeks. Visitor-visa timelines improve slightly to 29 days, but super-visa processing stretches to 77 days. The figures signal tighter planning windows for Indian students, businesses and families heading to Canada.
FTA reciprocity: India simplifies visa entry routes for New Zealand service suppliers
Taking effect on 21 October 2026, India’s side of the India–New Zealand FTA introduces accelerated business, project and ICT visa categories for New Zealand citizens, with processing targets of five working days and relaxed tenure rules. Mutual recognition of professional licences in 12 sectors further eases short-term service delivery. The streamlined routes are expected to boost bilateral projects and give Indian companies quicker access to New Zealand expertise.
Toronto Consulate clarifies: OCI holders may travel while passport-update request is pending
India’s Consulate in Toronto confirmed on 21 October that OCI cardholders may freely enter and exit India after submitting their passport-update application online; they need only carry the old card, new passport and the system acknowledgement. The move eases confusion amid processing delays and the shift to e-OCI digital cards.
Indian Embassy to close four UAE consular centres, consolidates passport and visa services
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will shut four consular application centres on 22 October, leaving 12 ICACs to handle all passport, visa and attestation work. Applicants will pay higher passport fees introduced in July and may face tighter appointment slots, although urgent cases can still walk in. The consolidation signals a push toward fully digital consular services.
Toronto Consulate clarifies: OCI holders may travel even if new-passport details are pending update
CGI Toronto has reiterated that OCI card-holders must update new-passport details online within three months but may freely travel to India while the update is awaiting final acknowledgment. The notice eases concerns among Canada-based Indians and underscores the need for timely online compliance.
US reassures India that tighter visa rules are ‘not targeted at Indian professionals’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Indian media that new US visa compliance measures are aimed at systemic reform, not at curbing the entry of Indian professionals. He also said the India-US trade deal is nearly complete. The clarification eases concerns after the PERM programme was suspended for several major tech employers, potentially stalling thousands of green-card cases. Multinationals should still expect short-term processing delays and tighten compliance controls.
UK student-visa refusal rate for Indian applicants climbs to 8 per cent, prompting university risk reviews
New data show the UK’s student-visa refusal rate for Indians rising to 8 %, pushing some universities to reassess recruitment strategies and tighten compliance checks. Indian students should expect more rigorous financial and credibility screening, while employers could face a leaner pool of Graduate-Route talent in coming years.
Indian consular services in UAE consolidated; four application centres to close
A 21 October embassy notice confirms that India will shutter four of its 16 Consular Application Centres in the UAE from 22 October, leaving 12 locations to handle all passport, visa and attestation work. Applicants with existing bookings will be accommodated at alternate ICACs, but mobility managers should update staff on the new addresses and potential travel times.