IRCC Portal Outage Prompts 48-Hour Extension for Time-Sensitive Immigration Filings
Bill C-12 Receives Royal Assent, Setting One-Year Deadline on New and Pending Refugee Claims
Emirates and Air Arabia add limited departure flights as airspace restrictions persist
Latest News
Trump Orders Immediate TSA Pay as DHS Shutdown Persists, But Long Lines Likely to Linger
President Trump’s March 28 executive order directs DHS to pay TSA officers immediately despite Congress’ failure to end the department-wide shutdown. Experts say the cash infusion may ease the worst airport lines but cannot quickly replace the hundreds of screeners who have quit since mid-February, so business travelers should still expect delays next week. The order leaves broader DHS funding—and future TSA pay—unresolved, keeping pressure on companies to maintain travel-disruption contingencies.
French Air Traffic Control Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights Across France and Europe
A 48-hour national strike by French air-traffic controllers began early Friday, forcing airlines to cancel up to 40 % of flights at Paris airports and severely disrupting over-flights across Europe. The walk-out, triggered by staffing and wage disputes, is hitting business-travel itineraries at the start of the Easter peak, with knock-on effects expected into the weekend. Corporates are scrambling to rebook travellers or shift meetings online, while airlines warn of continued delays even after service resumes. The stoppage underscores growing labour unrest just months before France must also cope with the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System.
ICP confirms 31 March deadline for war-related overstay fine waiver
• ICP says its special waiver of overstay fines, introduced after the 28 February airspace closure, will end on 31 March 2026. • Visitors and cancelled residents who do not exit or change status before the deadline will start accruing AED 50 per day in penalties from 1 April. • Corporate mobility teams must review assignee status urgently to avoid fines and employer-file blocks.
Ice Storm Grounds Dozens of Flights in Atlantic Canada, Carriers Issue Flexible Rebooking Policies
Freezing rain across Atlantic Canada shut down Halifax airport for several hours on 28 March 2026, leading to more than 60 flight cancellations and widespread delays. Major airlines have issued flexible rebooking waivers through 31 March. Businesses should expect itinerary disruptions for regional commuters and U.S.-bound travellers and adjust mobility timelines accordingly.
Unconfirmed reports of mass cancellation of Iranian residence and Golden Visas
• Iranian social-media groups report sudden cancellation of Iranian nationals’ UAE residence permits, including some Golden Visas. • No official confirmation yet, but silent nationality-specific visa actions have precedent in the Gulf. • Employers should verify visa status immediately and prepare relocation or remote-work options for affected staff.
Republican Rift Sinks DHS Funding Compromise, Extending Immigration-Policy Uncertainty
A House revolt on March 28 derailed a bipartisan Senate plan to reopen most of DHS but exclude ICE, prolonging a partial shutdown that has already slowed Global Entry interviews and other mobility-related services. The impasse adds uncertainty for employers filing H-1B petitions and planning cross-border travel, as critical vetting databases and port resources remain under-funded. Lawmakers may pursue a short stop-gap bill, but business-mobility advocates want a more durable fix.
Indian e-gates spark compliance headache for NRIs as passport stamps disappear
A flood of NRI complaints on 28 March 2026 reveals that India’s new biometric e-gates no longer stamp passports, leaving travellers without proof of stay required for NRI tax status. Advisors urge business travellers to collect alternative evidence or request manual stamps until the Home Ministry launches a promised digital arrival/departure certificate.
‘One-click visas’: Australia switches on new real-time processing platform, slashing wait times across key streams
Home Affairs has gone live with a new cloud-based processing engine that delivers near-real-time decisions for low-risk Working Holiday 417 and Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visas, with a new high-salary ‘Specialist Skills’ lane promising seven-day approvals. The system pulls data directly from government sources, cutting paperwork and queues— a boon for companies and universities, though privacy questions remain.
Flights to Europe from India still operating—but on longer routes—as travellers seek clarity
Travellers questioned on 28 March whether India-Europe flights were cancelled amid West Asia turmoil. Airlines are still flying but detouring around Iranian and Pakistani airspace, lengthening journeys by up to 90 minutes and complicating corporate travel cost and insurance planning.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Noida International Airport, India’s newest global gateway
India opened a second international gateway for the National Capital Region as Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Noida International Airport on 28 March 2026. Phase 1 will handle 12 million passengers annually and is expected to slash congestion at Delhi airport, spur major logistics investment and shorten commute times for business travellers to Noida and Greater Noida.
Ibiza Airport accelerates installation of EU Entry/Exit System ahead of summer rush
Ibiza Airport confirmed it will finish installing the EU-mandated Entry/Exit System before the Easter season. The biometric platform will record every non-EU traveller’s fingerprints and face, replacing manual passport stamps and potentially lengthening queues for UK visitors. Extra police and support staff are being hired, and airlines are padding schedules as a precaution. Companies are urged to brief travellers and allow longer connection times.