USCIS Sets March 4–19 Registration Window and Confirms Wage-Weighted Lottery for FY 2027 H-1B Cap
Schengen-Style GCC Unified Visa Moves Closer: What UAE Travellers Need to Know
India widens e-Tourist Visa to 166 nationalities, boosting inbound corporate travel
Latest News
Cyprus Presses Washington to Admit Island into U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is in Washington urging the United States to include Cyprus in the Visa Waiver Program by July 2026. Cyprus says it has met all security and data-sharing benchmarks, and business groups project millions in cost savings and a double-digit rise in bilateral travel if the waiver is approved. The move would remove the need for costly U.S. visitor visas and boost the island’s attractiveness as a regional headquarters hub.
Storm Marta cuts 179 roads across Spain, three on the national core network
Storm Marta has forced the closure of 179 roads, including three key highways, leaving freight and commuter traffic paralysed across Spain. Business travellers and logistics operators should expect diversions and shipment delays until weather fronts ease.
UK Government Confirms 25 % ETA Fee Hike to £20 From Late February
From 25 February 2026, the cost of a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation will rise from £16 to £20. The 25 % increase coincides with the date on which airlines, ferry companies and Eurostar must refuse boarding to visa-waiver nationals who do not hold an ETA. The change raises travel costs for tourists and globally mobile staff and puts new administrative pressure on employers.
Government outlines tougher—but limited—changes to rules for Ukrainian refugees
Deník N reports that the Czech government has agreed a moderate tightening of the ‘Lex Ukraine’ regime: income-tested housing aid, targeted labour-market tests and closer monitoring of time spent outside Czechia. The measures fall short of far-right demands but will still require employers and refugees to adjust procedures when they come into force, likely mid-2026.
GCC’s new Schengen-style unified visa edges closer, promising smoother Gulf trips for Indians
The GCC released the first detailed application guide for its Unified Tourist Visa on 8 February 2026, confirming that one digital permit will soon grant entry to all six Gulf states. Indian businesses should prepare for simplified regional travel and adjust compliance processes ahead of the pilot launch later this year.
Snowstorm Paralyses Toronto Pearson, Stranding Thousands and Disrupting Global Itineraries
A heavy snowstorm on 7-8 February crippled operations at Toronto Pearson, causing hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations across six major carriers and stranding thousands of passengers. The incident highlights the vulnerability of Canada’s main international hub to winter weather and the importance of flexible booking strategies for corporate travellers.
France Tightens State Medical Aid for Undocumented Migrants and Launches New Consular-Data Link
Paris has published two decrees that (1) allow French consulates to consult the AME database and (2) tighten the document list for filing AME applications. The government says the measures could save €180 million a year while keeping full health-care coverage unchanged for now. For employers and mobility specialists, the reform means closer cross-checks between visa files, border-control biometrics and social-security records, raising the bar on compliance for foreign workers and their dependants.
Emirates Seeks Expansion of India-UAE Flight Quota as Demand Soars
Emirates confirmed on 8 February 2026 that it is in advanced talks with Indian authorities to raise the long-standing cap on India-UAE flight seats. The airline argues that the current 66,000-seat limit no longer reflects demand, forcing high fares and lost business opportunities. Any quota increase would lower costs for UAE-based firms, widen key Indian gateways, and support mobility programmes that rely on frequent shuttles between the two countries.
Undocumented migrants welcome Spain’s upcoming extraordinary regularisation as ‘act of justice’
Interviews with would-be beneficiaries reveal high hopes for Spain’s April 2026 mass-regularisation programme, which could bring half a million workers into the formal economy and ease talent shortages.
China moves 13.25 million rail passengers on 7th day of Spring-Festival rush, adds 1,688 extra trains
On 8 February China Rail expected to carry 13.25 million passengers and deployed 1,688 extra trains, while aviation authorities forecast 19,614 flights. The scale highlights both the resilience of China’s transport grid and the need for corporate travellers to plan carefully during the Spring-Festival peak.