Page 6 - Visa

Australia to cap enrolment of international students at 270,000 in 2025

The Anthony Albanese government's recent action comes in response to a surge in migration that has put pressure on the housing market in Australia

Visa figures reveal Indian students being put off applying to UK varsities

Indians may continue to top the tally of student visa grants but they are beginning to show signs of being put off applying to UK universities amid greater migration curbs, the latest Home Office statistics revealed on Thursday. The Home Office data for the past year until June 2024 shows a 23 per cent fall in Indian students coming to the UK for higher studies, even as they continue to represent the largest group granted leave to remain on the Graduate Route visa which allows foreign students to work in Britain for two years after their degree. This fall in Indian student numbers is the first indication of the impact of tighter curbs on the right of most student visa holders to bring along dependent family members, which came into effect earlier this year. There were 110,006 sponsored study visa grants to main applicants who were Indian nationals in the year ending June 2024 (25 per cent of the total), 32,687 fewer than the previous year, the Home Office statistics reveal. Most of

RBI slaps fine of Rs 2.4 crore on Visa for unauthorised payment method

The central bank has aimed to tighten scrutiny of the processes followed by financial technology, or fintech, companies

RBI imposes fines on 3 payment system operators including Visa Worldwide

The RBI has imposed penalties on payment system operators Visa Worldwide, Ola Financial Services and Manappuram Finance for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. A penalty of Rs 2.4 crore has been imposed on Visa Worldwide Pte Limited and Rs 41.5 lakh on Manappuram Finance Limited. A fine of Rs 87.55 lakh has been slapped on Ola Financial Services in two cases. The RBI said monetary penalty on Payment System Operators (PSOs) Manappuram Finance and Ola Financial Services has been imposed for non-compliance with certain provisions of Know Your Customer (KYC) directions. Compounding orders were also issued to two Ola Financial Services and Visa Worldwide for contravention of certain provisions. Giving details, the Reserve Bank of India said it was observed that Visa Worldwide Pte Limited had implemented a payment authentication solution without regulatory clearance from the central bank. Accordingly, notice was issued to it, advising it to show cause as to why a penalty should not

Visa-free countries for Indians: From Americas to Africa, here's the list

As of 2024, Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 58 destinations around the world

Govt looks to speed up visa issuance for Chinese technicians: Report

The technicians are needed to operate Chinese-made machinery installed in Indian high-tech manufacturing units in industries ranging from telecoms to steel products and solar panels

India to fast-track China visas after businesses complain of delays

Businesses say restrictions are hurting the country's ability to become a manufacturing hub

Thailand introduces Destination visa for remote workers: Details here

Soon, if you successfully acquire a DTV, you'll receive a 5-year multiple-entry visa

Thailand expands visa-free status to 93 nations: Here's what you must know

Travellers from these qualified nations can visit Thailand for tourism or short-term business purposes

Visa, Mastercard to extend non-EU tourist card fee caps to 2029, says EU

Visa, the world's largest payments network operator, and its closest rival Mastercard, in 2019 agreed to a 0.2% fee cap on non-EU debit card payments

5 countries with updated visa policies; here's how Indians will be impacted

Many countries recently updated their visa policies and requirements which will have a potential impact on Indians. Anyone planning for foreign trips needs to stay informed about the latest updates

Adani Group's solar firm seeks visas for vendors' Chinese workers

Company cites lack of Indian expertise

Indians lost over 12 million euro on rejected Schengen visas in 2023

Schengen states rejected a total of 1.6 million euros visa applications in 2023, out of which a staggering 151,752 Indian nationals were denied

China asks Visa, Mastercard to reduce bank card transaction fees: Report

The Payment & Clearing Association of China is proposing lowering the fees charged on foreign card transactions to 1.5% from between 2% and 3%, the report said

Deferred pension plans, applying for visa: Top personal finance stories

This week we write about the advantages and drawbacks of annuity plans and how to work on your visa application

Financially savvy travellers: How Trisha and Modi plan their global travels

From Iceland to Africa, this globetrotting couple has seen it all by the age of 33. Here's how they prepare themselves financially for their adventures

Visa, Mastercard $30 bn settlement to limit card fees for merchants at risk

U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie in Brooklyn told lawyers for the card networks and objectors at a hearing on Thursday that she will "likely not approve the settlement," according to court records

Chinese visa 'scam': Delhi court grants bail to Karti Chidambaram

A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to Congress leader Karti Chidambaram in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Chinese visa scam. Special Judge for ED and CBI, Kaveri Baweja, granted the relief to the accused after he appeared before the court in pursuance to summons issued against him. The court had issued summons against the accused while taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the ED in the case. The judge granted the relief on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and one surety of like amount. The ED has registered the money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram in the alleged scam pertaining to the issuance of visa to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister.

Germany's new visa rules: Great opportunity for skilled foreign workers

Country needs some 4,00,000 skilled employees annually to cover a labour shortage in specialised fields

'India should seek easy visa norms for unskilled workers in bilateral pact'

India should seek easy visa norms in bilateral agreements with different countries for its semi and unskilled workers as it would help increase flow of remittances, and higher wages to labourers, trade experts said. They said easy visa norms will also help contain illegal entry of Indian labourers into developed and rich nations. Normally in a free trade agreement, two trading partners seek greater market access for its skilled professionals. India, too, asks for easy provisions for its IT and other skilled workforce. "Now, India should start talking for its semi and unskilled workforce also in the proposed free trade agreements. We should take this as a binding commitment. It will help stop illegal entry of labourers from India into developed nations. India provides low customs in trade agreements, so in lieu of that we can seek greater access for our labours," international trade expert Biswajit Dhar said. He said that wages in other countries, particularly developed, are high an