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House of Lords says proposed 10-year settlement wait is ‘manifestly unfair’

A House of Lords committee has warned the Home Office that making existing migrants wait ten instead of five years for permanent settlement would be “manifestly unfair” and could deter global talent. The peers call for clear data, an impact assessment and assurances that the change will not be applied retrospectively, urging firms to plan for policy uncertainty.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/gb/house-of-lords-says-proposed-10-year-settlement-wait-is-manifestly-unfair/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com

Hong Kong launches first “seamless e-channel” pilot at HZMB to cut clearance time to 5 seconds

Hong Kong Immigration has started a fully contact-less e-channel at the HZMB port, allowing pre-registered frequent travellers to clear both arrival and departure in about five seconds just by walking through a smart lane. Officials hope to roll the system out across major land and air checkpoints after evaluating security and reliability data. The initiative promises to slash queuing times for the tens of thousands of daily cross-border commuters who drive business integration in the Greater Bay Area.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/hk/hong-kong-launches-first-seamless-e-channel-pilot-at-hzmb-to-cut-clearance-time-to-5-seconds/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com

No Regular H-1B Interview Slots for Indians in 2026—Appointments Pushed to 2027

Updated US scheduling data show zero regular H-1B visa interview slots at any US consulate in India for the rest of 2026, pushing appointments into 2027. The unprecedented backlog jeopardises onsite staffing plans for Indian tech firms and forces employers and employees to build costly work-around strategies.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/in/no-regular-h-1b-interview-slots-for-indians-in-2026-appointments-pushed-to-2027/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com

Largest PNP draw of 2026: IRCC issues 955 invitations with CRS cut-off plummeting to 730

On June 22, IRCC invited 955 provincial nominees—the largest PNP-only draw of 2026—and slashed the CRS cut-off to 730. The move reflects a surge of new nominations from several provinces and offers relief to employers and candidates who struggled with record-high PNP thresholds in May.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/ca/largest-pnp-draw-of-2026-ircc-issues-955-invitations-with-crs-cut-off-plummeting-to-730/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com

Supreme Court Eases Deportation of Green-Card Holders With Criminal Histories

The Supreme Court ruled that Customs and Border Protection officers can reclassify green-card holders with certain criminal allegations as ‘arriving aliens’ without first proving the crime. The decision expands CBP discretion, raising re-entry risks for LPR business travelers and requiring stricter compliance checks.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/us/supreme-court-eases-deportation-of-green-card-holders-with-criminal-histories/

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UN report slams Australia’s offshore processing – Canberra still responsible for detainees on Nauru

A new UN Special Rapporteur report released on 24 June says Australia cannot escape legal responsibility for asylum-seekers held on Nauru. The finding undermines a decade-old policy of outsourcing offshore detention and is expected to intensify domestic and international pressure for reform. Mobility teams must watch for knock-on effects on skilled-migration policy and on contractors that support the detention system.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/au/un-report-slams-australias-offshore-processing-canberra-still-responsible-for-detainees-on-nauru/

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Federal Police Dismantle Human-Smuggling Rings Moving Brazilians to the United States

Brazil’s Federal Police carried out Operations *Falsa Promessa* and *Rasga Mortalha* on 24 June, arresting two suspects and executing 11 warrants against gangs that smuggled Brazilians to the United States. The investigation uncovered 89 victims, seized weapons and froze R$20 million in assets. The case highlights the dangers of irregular migration and the need for employers to educate staff on lawful mobility options.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/br/federal-police-dismantle-human-smuggling-rings-moving-brazilians-to-the-united-states/

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Japan’s Embassy in Beijing hikes visa fees from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026 the Japanese Embassy in Beijing will raise single-entry visa fees from CN¥440 to CN¥715 and multiple-entry fees to CN¥1,430, with discounted rates preserved only for Indian nationals. The change comes amid surging post-pandemic demand for Japan travel and will push up mobility costs for Chinese corporates that rely on frequent staff rotations. Applicants who file before 30 June can still pay the old tariff.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/cn/japans-embassy-in-beijing-hikes-visa-fees-from-1-july-2026/

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Spain Opens 10-Week Extraordinary Regularisation Window for Undocumented Migrants

Royal Decree 316/2026, published on 24 June, opens a one-time regularisation process that lets undocumented migrants who arrived before 1 January 2026 obtain a one-year residence-and-work permit. Applications—accepted online or in person—must be filed by 30 June. The measure gives employers legal access to previously irregular labour and is expected to formalise hundreds of thousands of workers, easing shortages in key sectors.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/es/spain-opens-10-week-extraordinary-regularisation-window-for-undocumented-migrants/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com

French air-traffic controllers call four-day strike for October, putting 1,800 flights at risk

The SNCTA union has announced a nationwide four-day air-traffic-controller strike from 7–10 October, a move that could ground up to 1,800 flights and snarl Europe-wide schedules. A smaller one-day stoppage on 24 June already caused 933 cancellations, underlining the vulnerability of European air corridors that depend on French airspace. Businesses should prepare alternative travel options and build contingency time into autumn trips.

https://www.visahq.news/2026-06-24/fr/french-air-traffic-controllers-call-four-day-strike-for-october-putting-1800-flights-at-risk/

Need help with travel visas, work visas, or immigration? VisaHQ can help — https://www.visahq.com