CBP Says One Million ESTAs Approved for World-Cup Fans as Trusted-Traveler Enrollments Surge
16 % year-on-year jump in holiday traffic will test Hong Kong’s control-points resilience
Swiss Airports Brace for EU Biometric Entry/Exit System Bottlenecks
Latest News
DHS Finalizes Weighted H-1B Lottery Rule, Favoring Higher-Paid Jobs from FY 2027
DHS confirmed that, beginning with the FY 2027 cap, USCIS will weight H-1B lottery entries by prevailing-wage level, giving higher-paid positions up to four chances of selection. Employers must document wage data and coordinate with candidates because one low-wage filing can reduce a beneficiary’s odds across all registrations. The rule benefits companies that can pay senior-level salaries but threatens entry-level hiring pipelines, making early planning essential.
Student and Care-Worker Visa Numbers Plummet in Latest Home Office Data
Home Office figures for January 2026 show Health & Care Worker visa applications down 97 % from their 2023 peak, while sponsored-study visas slid 31 % year-on-year to a four-year low. The collapse follows higher salary thresholds, an end to most overseas care recruitment and restrictions on student dependants. Employers and universities warn of staffing gaps and steep revenue losses if the trend continues.
Greece reopens all Schengen visa centres across India after cyber outage
After a two-month cyber shutdown, all Greece Schengen Visa Application Centres in India reopened on 12 February 2026, restoring normal and priority processing for Indian travellers. The move averts potential disruption to spring leisure and corporate groups and highlights the importance of resilient outsourced-visa infrastructure.
Spanish Police Warn of 'Lost Passport' Scam as Migrants Seek to Qualify for 2026 Regularisation
Police have detected a 60 % jump in ‘lost passport’ reports that appear designed to create proof-of-presence for Spain’s 2026 migrant regularisation. Officers must now perform full ID checks, and filing a false report can derail amnesty bids. Employers should prepare stricter onboarding compliance as authorities combine humanitarian goals with fraud crack-downs.
French MPs Re-open Debate on Municipal Voting Rights for Non-EU Foreigners
France’s lower house opened debate on a constitutional bill that would let non-EU foreigners vote in municipal elections after five years’ residence. The measure, if ultimately approved, would affect around 3.8 million people and could strengthen France’s appeal to international talent, but still needs super-majority backing or a referendum.
Austria’s draft GEAS law would cap family-reunification visas and delay reunions by up to three years
Amnesty International Österreich says Austria’s draft law to implement the EU asylum pact goes far beyond Brussels’ minimum rules. A proposed annual quota would leave many refugees waiting years to reunite with spouses and children, while shifting permits to the stricter residence act makes dependants’ status conditional on the sponsor’s job and income. Human-rights groups threaten court action, and employers warn of talent-retention risks.
Hong Kong prepares for record-breaking 11.38 million border crossings over Lunar New Year
Immigration officials expect 11.38 million passenger movements across Hong Kong’s borders during the 10-day Lunar New Year period, 16 % more than 2025. Extra counters, joint command centres and real-time congestion data will be deployed to manage the spike, which underscores the city’s post-pandemic recovery and has direct implications for business travel and supply-chain planning.
Polish Border Guard fines Opole employer after 38 foreign workers found without permits
Border Guards in Opole voivodeship detained 38 Filipinos and Colombians working without permits and ordered their departure within 30 days, while the staffing agency and end-client face heavy fines. The incident illustrates Poland’s stepped-up workplace audits and the risks for manufacturers and service suppliers who rely on third-country nationals.
China strictly enforces higher salary thresholds for foreign Category A & B work permits
China has reinstated full salary compliance for foreign work permits: Category A must earn at least six times and Category B four times the local average wage. Beijing and Shanghai now require minimum monthly pay of roughly RMB 71.6k and RMB 49.7k respectively. Employers face higher payroll costs, stricter document reviews and longer processing times, underscoring the need to audit expatriate compensation packages now.
México restabelece visto eletrônico (SAE) para turistas e executivos brasileiros
A partir de hoje, brasileiros voltam a solicitar o visto mexicano on-line pelo Sistema de Autorização Eletrônica, dispensando ida ao consulado. A reversão da regra de 2022 reduz prazos para até 48 horas, barateia viagens de negócios e deve impulsionar o fluxo bilateral antes da Copa 2026.
Dubai International Airport breaks global record with 95.2 million passengers in 2025
Dubai International (DXB) processed 95.2 million travellers in 2025, the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded, according to data released on 12 February 2026. Sustained growth, strong on-time performance and record baggage handling cement DXB’s status as the world’s busiest international hub, giving employers and mobility teams greater confidence in routing staff through Dubai.
Cabinet approves Dublin Airport Passenger Capacity Bill, paving way to lift 32-million cap
Ireland’s Cabinet has published the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill, the long-awaited legislation that will abolish the 32-million passenger cap. Removing the limit is expected to boost air connectivity, support exports and tourism, and give businesses greater certainty when planning travel or relocation to Ireland.
Swiss Sets Summer Referendum on SVP Plan to Cap Population at 10 Million
The Federal Council has scheduled a 10 June 2026 referendum on the SVP’s initiative to cap Switzerland’s population at 10 million. Passage would oblige the government to restrict new residence permits and, ultimately, exit the EU free-movement accord—potentially crippling talent pipelines for Swiss-based multinationals and undermining bilateral trade deals.
Law Society Urges Fairness as ‘Earned Settlement’ Consultation Closes
The public consultation on the Home Office’s plan to replace automatic five-year settlement with a tougher ‘earned settlement’ model closes today. In a last-minute statement, the Law Society said retrospective changes could violate equality law and damage the UK’s competitiveness for skilled migrants.