Chinese Embassy Takes Over Visa Processing in India from 26 October
IndiGo extends suspension of all Riyadh flights to 31 October amid Saudi security alerts
US visa wait-time update shows Indian visitor applicants face up to 12-month interview queue
Latest News
November 2026 Visa Bulletin brings big jump for Indian family-sponsored green-card queues
The November 2026 Visa Bulletin makes the F2A category ‘current’ and advances several other family-sponsored lines for India, potentially freeing up tens of thousands of immigrant-visa numbers. Faster reunification eases attrition risks for US firms employing Indian nationals, but HR teams need to act quickly before the window closes.
Four Indian Consular Centres Close in UAE as Passport-Service Contract Heads for Re-Tender
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi closed four consular application centres on 22 October amid a court-ordered re-tender of its passport- and visa-service contract. Only 12 centres remain open, fees have risen and appointment lead times have lengthened, affecting millions of Indian residents in the UAE.
Karnataka High Court orders state to implement immigration SOPs, warns against ‘indifference’ to illegal entry
The Karnataka High Court has given the state three months to show full compliance with the Home Ministry’s SOP on detecting and processing illegal immigrants, warning that lax enforcement creates long-term security vulnerabilities. Firms operating in Karnataka should expect tighter scrutiny of foreign-worker documentation.
Flydubai Cancels Flights to Three Saudi Cities, Indians Urged to Check Connections
Flydubai has suspended flights from Dubai to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha until 29 October after an attack on Dammam airport. The move disrupts Indian workers and pilgrims who rely on Dubai connections, pushing up fares and prompting the Indian Consulate to activate emergency support lines.
Indian High Commission in Dhaka reviews visa-appointment delays, pledges faster access for medical travellers
India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh has admitted that visa-appointment delays are hampering travel, especially for patients, and said the Dhaka mission is reviewing processes to speed up slots. Although no concrete reforms were announced, the assurance signals potential easing of a bottleneck affecting cross-border medical travel.
India–New Zealand FTA Launches 5,000-Slot Work Visa and Iconic Occupations Pathway
Online filing for the two India-specific New Zealand work visas went live on 21 October, offering 5,000 three-year permits for skilled and iconic occupations without labour-market testing. The scheme eases project staffing for Indian firms but imposes cooling-off periods, so assignment rotation must be planned.
US State Department’s October Update Shows Slight Drop in Visa Interview Waits at Indian Posts
The State Department’s 21 October release shows interview waits at Indian consulates narrowing by up to two weeks. Firms can reschedule into newly released slots and should maximise interview waivers to cut deployment times. Published figures are guidance only, so project dates should be double-checked.
Canada Pushes Indian Study-Permit Processing to Seven Weeks; Visitor Visas Improve Slightly
IRCC’s 21 October dashboard pushes Indian study-permit waits to seven weeks and extends super-visa timelines, while visitor visas improve marginally to 29 days. Schools and employers should pad mobilisation plans, and travellers must complete biometrics promptly to avoid missing holiday departures.
Booking.com Courts Indian SMEs With Self-Service Business-Travel Platform and In-House Payments
Booking.com has unveiled an India-specific, self-service corporate-travel product for SMEs and will process payments in-house, giving hotels quicker payouts and travellers consolidated GST invoices. The strategy challenges MakeMyTrip, Yatra and Cleartrip for a slice of India’s fast-growing business-travel spend.
Indian Embassy in UAE Overhauls Appointment System for Passport, Visa and OCI Services
India’s mission in Abu Dhabi has merged embassy and Dubai-consulate appointment systems, added SMS reminders and single-click rescheduling for passport, visa and OCI services. Wait times should drop below 15 days, easing year-end travel planning for millions of Indian residents in the UAE.