Featured Stories: Residency and Mobility News

Powered byCityFalcon (opens in a new tab)

Indian man with US Green Card challenges his immigration detention; DHS reveals his criminal record in court

Immigration

An Indian national with Green Card, Yogesh Chandaben Dabhi, filed a petition stating that he is a lawful permanent resident of the US, but he was detained

More people now eligible for Isle of Man social housing

Cost of Living

The amount people can earn before applying for social housing on the Isle of Man has increased. The threshold for both single and joint applications has risen to plug the gap created by rises in the cost of living. A single person with no children can now earn £35,800 - up by £1,500 - and still apply for public sector housing. While a couple with three children can now earn £63,900 - a rise of £13,400 on the previous limit. The government said the new rules "better reflect current earnings and housing costs" and would see more people eligible to qualify for public sector housing. Annual inflation linked rises to the earnings thresholds will be applied in future, to make sure the eligibility criteria keeps pace with wage increases. The changes, which were approved by Tynwald members in July, also give local authorities more discretionary powers to allocate housing based on need. The Department of Infrastructure said those measures would "address exceptional housing circumstances, which cannot be universally legislated for".

October 1: Cost of living will come down – Tinubu promises Nigerian

Cost of Living

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will bring down the cost of living. Tinubu made the promise on Thursday during his nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day anniversary. According to him, Nigeria has enough land and people to feed the entire nation, stressing that his administration is focused on expanding mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming. The President also promised that his government would improve access to seeds and fertiliser, increase mechanisation holistically, and invest in storage and transportation. He added that his administration is building and completing the roads, railways and ports that connect farms and factories to markets. “Our priority is to bring down the cost of living. We will achieve this by lowering the cost of producing and moving the things Nigerians consume. “Our logic is simple. When a farmer produces more cheaply, when fewer crops are lost between the farm and the market, when a manufacturer spends less on electricity, when a truck reaches its destination faster, and when the business environment fosters fair competition, all those savings will ultimately find their way into the price of goods in the market. “But prosperity requires more than cheaper goods.

Sweeping US immigration changes take effect as 250,000 visas revoked

Immigration

WASHINGTON: Sweeping changes to United States immigration policy take effect on October 1 as the Trump administration tightens scrutiny of foreign nationals while the State Department says it has revoked more than 250,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office. The new federal fiscal year brings changes affecting green card applicants, visa holders, some non-citizens receiving government health coverage and people seeking certain US visas. The changes include the reopening of some employment-based green card categories, tighter eligibility requirements for some Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programme (CHIP) recipients, and expanded social-media screening of visa applicants. The State Department said the more than 250,000 visa revocations involved a range of alleged violations, including breaches of visa conditions, criminal activity, fraud, abuse of the immigration system and national security concerns. About 2,300 visas were revoked in cases involving so-called birth tourism , in which pregnant foreign nationals travel to the US specifically to give birth. “Every visa decision is a national security decision,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, describing the revocations as part of an expanded vetting effort.

Japan's Sanae Takaichi announces new tightened measures for foreigners seeking permanent residency

Visa & Residency

The measures come as the country’s conservative leader Sanae Takaichi looks to deliver on election promises, which were spearheaded by vast immigration reforms, in her historic supermajority election victory in February.

US increases immigration application fees, effective Oct 16

Immigration

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published an official notice raising fees for select H.R. 1 immigration applications read more US increases immigration application fees, effective Oct 16

Inside Wealth: Wealth tax heads to the ballot box

Wealth Tax

CNBC’s Robert Frank reports on why November’s midterm elections will be a referendum on taxing the wealthy for voters in nine states.

In New York Times interview, PM Carney suggests immigration increase is on the horizon

Immigration

Prime Minister Mark Carney says with Canada’s immigration system back under control, the question now is about when to begin a “controlled increase” of the country’s population.

Indian Green Card applicants see mysterious USCIS status change, immigration lawyer says it must be a 'system glitch'

Immigration

Several Indian Green Card applicants reported an unexpected change in their status online which says their case \"requires USCIS to send a notice\".

Disclosing foreign assets or income under FAST-DS 2026 is just the first step: Here's how to pay tax

Foreign Assets & Income

FAST-DS 2026 allows eligible taxpayers to disclose certain previously undisclosed foreign assets or income. Those making a valid declaration must follow a prescribed payment process. Here’s what taxpayers need to know about ITNS 289 and the steps involved in making the tax payment.

Hotmail's Sabeer Bhatiya suggests 55% inheritance tax to make India a ‘truly competitive nation’; what the levy means

Inheritance Tax

Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia calls for an inheritance tax in India, asserting that true opportunity should arise from individual accomplishments instead of family wealth. Details here.

Moving from UAE to India? 6-step financial homecoming guidebook to manage tax residency, bank accounts, Dubai property, and gratuity

Visa & Residency

Tax residency, bank accounts, Dubai property and gratuity all need sorting before and after you fly home.

Spain confirms 1 African country qualifies for fast-track citizenship in 2 years

Citizenship

Spain confirms Equatorial Guinea as Africa’s only nation eligible for Spanish citizenship after two years’ residency, subject to legal and integration requirements.

Serbia grants citizenship to former Ukrainian MP Novynskyi, wanted on treason suspicion

Citizenship

Novynskyi received citizenship through a provision allowing Serbia to naturalize a foreign national under an expedited procedure when authorities determine that doing so is in the country’s interest.

Angela Rayner criticises worker visa plans on eve of Labour conference

ImmigrationVisa & Residency

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has said she is concerned about Labour's proposals to change visa rules, which would make it harder for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the UK. In an interview with the Timesahead of Labour's annual conference, Rayner questioned Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans, saying they are unfair because they "change the goalposts". Under the proposals, most migrants would have to wait 10 years to qualify for residency - instead of the current five - while foreign workers on health and social care visas would face a 15-year wait. Mahmood said the government would make a decision on the immigration overhaul by the end of the year. Speaking to the Times, Rayner said she was concerned about shifting "the goalposts years down the line" for people who arrived in the UK at the beginning of this decade, expecting to secure permanent residence under the current rules. She described the potential rule change as "very disruptive" and added: "I do have concerns about that." During her interview with Times, she said that the changes would impact foreign care workers who "moved their lives here to look after our loved ones".

New app 'eases' Thai immigration

Immigration

Foreign visitors to Thailand will have easier access to immigration and travel services through the newly launched Thai Immigration (THIM) Application, Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalug, Immigration Bureau commissioner, said.

Cost of living alters plans for Gen Z and millennials: more than half are delaying marriage, children, education, or starting a business

Cost of Living

PHOTO ART: MERCA2.0 | DALL-E The rising cost of living is reshaping the personal and professional plans of Generation Z and millennials . Buying a home, getting married, having children, pursuing an education, or starting a business are decisions that a significant share of young people are postponing due to pressure on their finances, according to the Deloitte Global 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey . The study, conducted among more than 22,500 members of both generations across 44 countries , shows that money has become one of the main factors in determining when to take some of the steps that traditionally marked the transition into adulthood. READ ALSO. Gen Z trusts traditional media: an opportunity for brands For the fifth consecutive year, the cost of living ranks as the top concern among Gen Z and millennials , ahead of other social and workplace issues. Nearly half of respondents say they are living paycheck to paycheck, a situation that leaves less room to save, invest, or take on long-term financial commitments.

Citizenship Is Not A Product: Rubio Hits Birth-Tourism Fixers After SCOTUS Blocked Broader Ban

Citizenship

Citizenship Is Not A Product: Rubio Hits Birth-Tourism Fixers After SCOTUS Blocked Broader Ban The United States is no longer pretending that a tourist visa plus a delivery room equals a legitimate path to American citizenship. On September 23, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa-restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act aimed at the people who actually run the business: owners and managers of commercial birth-tourism networks, visa "fixers" who coach applicants to lie , foreign medical providers who arrange the trips and allegedly tap Medicaid, and anyone else who knowingly enables the trade. Family members of those targets can be swept in as well. In short, people selling packages to facilitate US entry are on notice (perhaps they should focus on EB-5s like the Kushners).These foreign commercial networks advertise U.S. citizenship as a package - collecting tens of thousands of dollars to coach clients on what to say at the consulate, book housing near hospitals, and deliver a passport-eligible infant.

Visa to replace Luxembourg residence permit under immigration shake-up

Immigration

Most non-EU nationals planning to stay longer than 90 days will need to obtain a D visa abroad as government brings procedures into line with the rest of EU

US lawmakers call to extend immigration protections for Ukrainian refugees as renewal deadline looms

Immigration

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was originally granted to Ukrainians in April 2022 following the Russian full-scale invasion.

10 days ago

(opens in a new tab)