Germany Extends Internal Border Controls Until 15 September 2026
IRCC issues 4,000 invitations in Canadian-Experience-Class Express Entry draw, CRS holds at 508
Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports restart limited passenger services after unprecedented air-space shutdown
Latest News
Australia quietly doubles Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa fee to A$4,600
The Albanese government has doubled the main charge for most Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas, lifting it from A$2,300 to A$4,600 with immediate effect on 3 March 2026. Students and universities say the unannounced rise—part of a wider clamp-down on ‘visa-hopping’ and student numbers—will damage Australia’s attractiveness and worsen skills shortages. Businesses relying on graduate-visa talent face higher costs and should revisit mobility budgets.
UK begins extraction of nationals as first evacuation flights leave Dubai amid ‘chaos’
A UK-chartered evacuation flight left Dubai on 3 March, signalling the first organised extraction of British nationals since Gulf airspace closed. With only a trickle of commercial seats available, UK businesses are revamping traveller-tracking and emergency policies while awaiting a fuller resumption of flights.
Finland Announces Ban on Non-Biometric Russian Passports From 1 June 2026
Finland will refuse entry to holders of non-biometric Russian passports from 1 June 2026, following an Interior-Ministry decision released on 3 March 2026. The move harmonises Finnish practice with Baltic neighbours, further curtails Russian leisure traffic and obliges employers and carriers to ensure Russian travellers have upgraded passports. Companies should audit documentation now to avoid disruption.
Ireland Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainian and Other Beneficiaries to March 2027
ISD confirmed on 3 March 2026 that all Temporary Protection permissions — covering most Ukrainian nationals in Ireland — are automatically extended to 4 March 2027. Beneficiaries keep unrestricted work rights, and employers avoid a looming compliance crunch. Holders must still renew their IRP cards even though the yellow certificate may show an expired date.
First post-crisis Emirates A380s depart DXB as hub moves from shutdown to skeletal schedule
Emirates restarted its long-haul network on 3 March with five A380 flights to Europe and Saudi Arabia, but 80 % of the DXB schedule remains cancelled. Seat supply is extremely tight, forcing companies to prioritise essential travellers and explore alternative routings. The phased restart underscores both Dubai’s resilience and the fragility of global mobility corridors in conflict zones.
UK triggers ‘emergency brake’ on study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan
The Home Office has frozen new Student visas — and, for Afghans, Work visas — from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan after a surge in asylum claims from holders of those routes. Universities warn of severe recruitment disruption while employers are advised to review talent pipelines. The measure, introduced under a new “emergency brake”, illustrates the UK’s readiness to make rapid, unilateral visa changes.
DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, Effective May 4
DHS published a March 3 Federal Register notice ending TPS for Yemen on May 4, 2026, eliminating protection and work authorization for about 9,500 Yemeni nationals. Employers must re-verify I-9s and employees must obtain another status or depart. The move raises operational and humanitarian concerns and could spark litigation. ([akamai-staging.justice.gov](https://akamai-staging.justice.gov/eoir/federal-register-notices-2026))
Poland repeals Ukraine-specific Special Act, shifting refugees to general migration regime
A bill published on 3 March 2026 repeals Poland’s Special Act for Ukrainian refugees. Existing PESEL UKR holders keep temporary-protection status only until 4 March 2027 and must verify identity with a valid passport by 31 August 2026. From 5 March 2026, new business activity and most immigration benefits shift to Poland’s general Foreigners Act, forcing employers to re-plan long-term work and residence strategies for Ukrainian staff.
Air France Grounds Middle-East Routes Until 5 March Amid Regional Airspace Closures
Air France has halted all services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh until at least 5 March, citing regional air-space closures tied to the Iran conflict. The grounding disrupts key business-travel corridors for French firms and forces exporters to seek alternative cargo routings. Mobility managers should activate contingency plans and monitor MEAE advisories.
USCIS Opens FY 2027 H-1B Registration Window with New Weighted Lottery and Possible $100K Surcharge
USCIS will accept FY 2027 H-1B cap registrations March 4–19 and introduce a weighted lottery that boosts selection odds for higher-wage roles. Selected employers may also face a new $100,000 supplemental fee, making budget forecasting and wage-level strategy essential for global-mobility programs. ([wolfsdorf.com](https://wolfsdorf.com/h-1b-cap-registration-opens-march-4-what-employers-and-hr-must-know/))
Austria issues highest-level travel warning for ten Middle-East countries
On 3 March 2026 Austria upgraded its travel advice for ten Middle-East states to the maximum Security Level 4. The move effectively bans non-essential travel, limits consular assistance, and obliges businesses to review staff deployments and insurance cover. Companies with regional operations must activate evacuation and remote-working plans, while travellers are urged to register with the Foreign Ministry’s crisis app. The decision underscores escalating regional instability and its knock-on effects on business mobility.
Switzerland and EU Sign “Bilaterals III” Package, Modernising Free-Movement Rules
Switzerland and the EU have signed the “Bilaterals III” package, a modernised set of treaties that restores legal certainty for the free movement of people, services and goods. Key points include the abolition of short-term assignment quotas, faster work-permit processing and a digital certificate for commuters. Businesses should prepare for new compliance timelines while watching a potential Swiss referendum.
Mass Cancellations Hit Larnaca Airport as Regional Tensions Disrupt Cyprus Air Connectivity
Larnaca Airport cancelled 51 flights on 3 March 2026 as regional drone strikes forced airlines to re-route or suspend operations. The sudden disruption stranded business travellers, stressed supply chains and underlined the need for robust contingency planning when routing staff via Cyprus.
Middle-East Conflict Triggers U.S. Embassy Closures and Visa Delays Across the Region
A March 3 Ellis Legal alert details widescale U.S. embassy closures, visa-appointment cancellations and airspace disruptions following new Middle-East hostilities. Business travelers face lengthy reroutes, while immigrants and students see TPS protections and Special Student Relief curtailed. Companies must activate duty-of-care and immigration-contingency plans. ([ellis.com](https://www.ellis.com/resources/middle-east-travel-advisory-visa-delays-march-2026))
Skilled workers alarmed as government considers doubling residence needed for UK settlement
Leaked Home Office proposals published on 3 March 2026 reveal plans to make Skilled Workers wait ten years, not five, before qualifying for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Employers warn of retention and cost impacts, while migrant groups threaten legal action if the rule is back-dated. Global mobility managers should model workforce scenarios in case the change proceeds.
India waives overstay penalties, offers free visa extensions for travellers stranded by Gulf airspace shutdown
India has suspended overstay fines and authorised no-fee visa extensions for foreigners whose short-term visas lapse during the 28 Feb–7 Mar disruption window caused by Middle-East flight cancellations. The measure shields tourists, business travellers and medical patients from penalties and gives companies breathing room to re-schedule staff travel without immigration risk.([timesofvisa.com](https://timesofvisa.com/news/india-free-visa-extensions-stranded-tourists/))