India adds Kochi, Calicut and Ahmedabad to Visa-on-Arrival network for UAE nationals
USCIS to hike select immigration fees from 1 January 2026—Indian applicants should budget now
UK sets 2026 start date for mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation—Indians already compliant
Latest News
IMD warns of cyclonic rains—expect flight delays and ferry cancellations across South India
A developing cyclonic system will dump heavy rain on Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Andaman Islands from 24 November, with airports and railways warning of delays and cancellations. Companies should build contingency time into southern India itineraries and track airline waiver policies.
India adds Kochi, Calicut and Ahmedabad to Visa-on-Arrival network for UAE nationals
India has extended Visa-on-Arrival privileges for UAE citizens to Kochi, Calicut and Ahmedabad, raising the total eligible airports to nine. The change, effective immediately, offers 60-day double-entry stays, unlimited annual use and online pre-registration, making it easier for tourists, medical travellers and business visitors to bypass traditional visa channels. Airlines and local industries expect a boost in traffic and investment flows.
Indian missions worldwide resume tourist-visa processing for Chinese nationals
On 23 November Chinese and Indian media confirmed that all Indian embassies and consulates have restarted tourist-visa services for Chinese citizens, ending a de facto global freeze in place since 2020. The move, coupled with the restart of direct flights, is expected to rekindle business travel and tourism but stakeholders say India still needs to digitise and streamline visa processes to capture pent-up demand.
USCIS sets 1 January 2026 fee increases; Indian applicants face higher costs
USCIS has announced inflation-linked fee increases for several immigration benefit forms effective 1 January 2026. Indian students, professionals and sponsoring employers will pay slightly more for work permits, parole renewals and TPS filings, and must use the updated fee schedule to avoid rejection. Because future adjustments will now occur annually, global-mobility teams need to embed fee escalations into long-range cost models.
Ex-Chennai consular officer claims 80-90 % of H-1B cases from India were fraudulent
A podcast published on 23 November features former US consular officer Mahvash Siddiqui describing the H-1B programme as “industrialised fraud,” claiming up to 90 % of Indian cases she saw in Chennai two decades ago involved forged documents. The comments, though anecdotal, risk sharpening US political focus on Indian visa applicants and could lead to stricter scrutiny at consulates and onshore compliance audits.
Chandigarh immigration firm booked for ₹9.8 lakh Luxembourg work-visa scam
Police in Chandigarh have booked the owner and staff of World Walk Immigration for allegedly swindling six residents out of nearly ₹10 lakh by promising fake Luxembourg work visas. The case highlights ongoing risks posed by unregistered visa agents and underscores the need for due diligence and employee education on legitimate migration channels.