Sri Lanka’s new free ETA rule allows Indian tourists to visit for 30 days without visa fees   Sri Lanka Free ETA For Indians Begins Sri Lanka's free ETA for Indians has officially started from May 25, 2026, allowing Indian passport holders to visit the island nation for up to 30 days without paying visa fees. The new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme covers travelle

From New Delhi today, Indian H-1B visa holders are confronting a critical situation as major US tech companies like Meta, Amazon, and LinkedIn announce layoffs. Thousands of Indian professionals on H-1B visas now face a strict 60-day grace period to secure a new employer willing to sponsor their visa, switch to a different visa category, or leave the United States. The combination of rising Silicon Valley layoffs, AI-driven restructuring, and a slowing job market has intensified pressure on t

H-1B Job Loss Rule Leaves Indian Tech Workers Searching For Visa Options   Indian H-1B Workers Under Pressure Indian tech professionals in the US are facing fresh uncertainty after layoffs at major companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Oracle. Many affected employees are working on H-1B visas, where the job loss rule gives them only 60 days to find another employer who can sponsor their visa. If they fail to secure a new role withi

Kazakhstan Launches Altyn Visa Kazakhstan has announced a new 10-year Golden Visa programme called the Altyn Visa to attract foreign investors, entrepreneurs and skilled professionals. The scheme is part of the country’s wider immigration reforms aimed at bringing global capital and talent into key sectors while reducing dependence on oil revenues. Under the proposed programme, foreign nationals investing at least $300,000 in Kazakhstan may qualify for

Indian Student Visa Holder Wins Scottish Parliament Seat Student Visa Holder Wins Seat Indian citizen Q Manivannan has been elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh and Lothians East region as a Scottish Green Party regional list member. The case has drawn attention because Manivannan reportedly holds a Student visa linked to a PhD at the University of St Andrews. After completing the PhD, Manivann

UK Immigration White Paper Proposes Tougher Visa And Settlement Rules UK Immigration Rules Set For Change The UK government’s 2025 immigration white paper has proposed major changes to visa and settlement rules as part of efforts to reduce net migration. The document does not directly change the law, but several proposals have already started moving forward through immigration rule updates. Key proposals include reducin

Japan Tightens Business Manager Visa Rules For Foreign Entrepreneurs Japan Visa Applications Fall Sharply Japan has recorded a 96% drop in business manager visa applications after the government tightened eligibility rules last October. Immigration Services Agency data showed that applications fell from a monthly average of about 1,700 before the change to nearly 70 per month after the revised standards took effect. Offic

Immigration Attorney Explains Founder’s EB-1A Visa Journey Founder’s Long Visa Journey Kazakhstan-born entrepreneur Ablay Sarmantay secured a US EB-1A approval after facing six visa rejections over five years. He had received five student visa refusals and one tourist visa denial before finally entering the United States with his family. His EB-1A petition was later approved in just 16 days under the extraordinary ability categ

EB-1, EB-2 And EB-5 Updates For Indian Green Card Applicants US June Visa Bulletin Released The U.S. Department of State has released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, giving the latest update on immigrant visa availability, final action dates, and dates for filing applications. The bulletin is important for employment-based green card applicants from India, especially those waiting under EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 categories. Accor

World Cup Fans Get Relief From US Visa Bond Rule US Visa Bond Rule Relaxed The Trump administration has temporarily eased a visa bond rule for certain foreign football fans travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the revised policy, eligible fans from select countries with confirmed World Cup tickets and enrolment in FIFA’s visa facilitation system will not have to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000.

Bali Visa Rules Tighten For Influencers And Creators Bali Tightens Visitor Visa Rules Indonesian immigration authorities have warned foreign tourists in Bali against carrying out unpaid promotional or work-related activities while staying on visitor visas. Officials said travellers must ensure their activities match the purpose of their visa and stay permit, as even unpaid collaborations may violate immigration rules if they provid

OPT Visa Crackdown Raises Concern For Indian Students In US ICE Probes OPT Visa Misuse US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has identified around 10,000 foreign students, including several Indians, who allegedly claimed employment with highly suspect companies under the Optional Practical Training program. OPT allows F-1 student visa holders to work in the United States after graduation for 12 months, while STEM students may qualify for longer e

US Visa Restrictions Target Alleged Fentanyl Supply Network   US Targets Alleged Fentanyl Network The United States has imposed visa restrictions on 13 individuals linked to an India-based online pharmacy accused of selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl to people in America. The action is part of Washington’s wider crackdown on global opioid trafficking networks. According to the U.S. Department o

USCIS Backlog Data Shows Rising Delays And Denial Rates New Dashboard Tracks USCIS Backlogs A new interactive dashboard from the American Immigration Council is giving the public a detailed look at USCIS backlogs, visa processing trends, filing volumes, and denial rates. The dashboard includes more than 20,000 data points covering over 190 immigration applications and petition types from fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2025.

Australia Keeps Permanent Migration Cap At 185,000 In 2026–27 Budget Australia’s 2026–27 federal budget has confirmed that the permanent migration program will remain capped at 185,000 places. More than 70 percent of these places will be reserved for skilled migrants as the government focuses on filling labour shortages in key sectors. The government plans to prioritise onshore applicants across both skilled and family visa streams. The remai