PIO Card validity extended up to December 31, 2024: The government of India has announced that Indian Immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards, along with a valid foreign passport, as a valid travel document till December 31, 2024, instead of the earlier deadline of December 31, 2023.
This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime, any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) thereby making handwritten PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions/Posts.
All PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards as on January 9, 2015, have been advised to convert their PIO card to OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card at the earliest.
China introduces five new measures for foreign nationals: Effective January 11, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has implemented five measures aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China. The measures are designed to make business activities, education, and tours in China more accessible for foreign nationals.
Measure 1: Relaxed conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas. Any individual seeking to visit China for non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private affairs, or to visit relatives and unable to obtain a visa beforehand due to time constraints may now apply for a port visa at a port visa authority with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.
Measure 2: Relieves foreign nationals eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit at major hub airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport from the need to undergo inspection procedures. Foreign nationals eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit policy are exempt from border inspection at nine international airports in China: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Individuals with international interline tickets transiting to third countries and regions within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports may enjoy visa-free direct transit without border inspection procedures.
Measure 3: Allows foreign nationals already in China to apply for visa extension, renewal, and re-issuance at the nearest public security organs. Individuals in China for short-term non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private matters, tourism, or to visit relatives with legitimate reasons for extending their stays may now submit applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay.
Measure 4: Allows every foreign national already in China to apply for a multiple-entry visa in cases of need. Foreigners already in China requiring a multiple-entry visa for legitimate reasons may now apply to an exit-entry administration of a public security organ with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.
Measure 5: Minimises the types of the materials for visa applications for foreign nationals in China. Foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be checked through the shared information systems are now exempt from having to present the physical certificates when applying for visas. Also, when applying for a visa for short-term family visits or reunions with relatives in China, a declaration of kinship may be used in place of the formal kinship certificate.
UK IHS fees hike from February 6: Effective February 6, 2024, the UK will charge increased Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees that is applicable to most visa categories. From February 6, applicants who are filing a UK entry clearance or leave to remain application for a period of six months or longer will need to pay the IHS as part of their visa application. Lower IHS fees apply to some visa applicants, and certain visa categories are exempt from paying the IHS fee.
Sponsored workers would, however, need to pay the IHS fee if applying for a UK visa that is for a period of six months or longer.
The new IHS fees will be:
- For sponsored workers (and most adult UK immigration applicants), the IHS fees per applicant will increase from £624 to £1,035 per annum;
- Students and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants will see an increase from £470 to £776 per annum;
- Applicants under the age of 18 will see an increase from £470 to £776 per annum.
The number of available jobs in Taiwan surged from 555,000 in early 2020 to more than 1 million in December, 2023. However, on average, there is only one local applicant for every two positions.
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