Check Visa Status with Passport Number

U.S. embassies throughout the Gulf have sent out clear instructions to citizens and visitors as the US government begins a partial shutdown since important budget legislation was not passed. The embassies have halted frequent updates and social media interactions, citing the funding breach, but will continue to provide visa and passport services for applicants and appointments that were already booked. According to similar advisories released by the embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, their official Facebook and Instagram pages would not be updated on a regular basis until further notice. 

The United States has introduced new H1B visa rules, increasing the application fee to $100,000, effective 21 September 2025. Doctors and medical residents may be exempt from this fee, as the US government is considering relief for healthcare workers due to staff shortages in rural areas. This hike in the fees has caused Indian IT stocks to fall for the third day in a row, as companies worry about rising costs to send skilled workers to the US. Most of the visa fee is paid by employers, which now comes to around Rs.90 lakh per employee. Every year, the US issues 65,000 H1B visas, plus 20,000 more for workers with higher degrees. The new fee rule will last for one year but could be extended if the US government decides it is in the country’s interest. 

With the ability to access more than 140 countries without a visa or with one upon arrival, UAE residents will have significant worldwide mobility in 2025. Not only do Emirati citizens benefit from the ease, but Indian citizens and other foreign passport holders who live in the United Arab Emirates also take use of the travel advantages that come with their resident status. A UAE resident visa makes it simple for visitors to visit many foreign countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. Whether for personal, commercial, or leisure travel, residents can travel more easily and avoid lengthy visa procedures due to this enhanced mobility. For Indian nationals residing in the United Arab Emirates, increased travel accessibility is also beneficial. Having an Indian passport and living in the UAE gives them access to a greater number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries. 

A report indicates that Indians are the UK’s largest student market with more than 15,000 student visas issued in the last quarter. The latest data show a 44% year-over-year increase, which is twice the size of the second-largest student population. Nearly 63,000 students applied for student visas in the second quarter of 2025. Despite higher rates of visa refusals and proposals for stricter compliance thresholds, there is a considerable increase in student visa applications by Indian students in 2025. 

Saudi Arabia introduces a grace period of 30 days for expired visit visa holders. Starting from 26 July 2025, individuals with expired visit visas get 30 days to leave the country legally, without any penalties. Within the grace period of 30 days, they can pay the fees and apply through Tawasul on Absher, the Ministry of Interior’s digital platform. All types of visit visas are eligible for this service, and any failure to do so within the 30-day window can result in penalties and even deportation bans.