Expat News

Qatar Airport Expansion 

Qatar's Hamad international Airport (DOH) in Doha is upgrading its facilities to self-boarding systems and designated chairs for ‘introverts’ to specialised services for the hearing challenged and a lush indoor tropical garden, with the aim to transform flight delays into a desirable experience. The new concourses, D and E, have been integrated into the existing terminal and feature advanced technology, including self-boarding gates, to improve passenger flow.

Iran Celebrates Ancient Fire Festival 

Iran’s fire festival known as "Chaharshanbe Souri" in Farsi, comes in the hours just before before Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year. To celebrate, people light bonfires, set off fireworks and send wish lanterns floating off into the night sky. Others jump over and around fires, chanting, "My yellow is yours, your red is mine," invoking the replacement of ills with warmth and energy. The fire festival also features an Iranian version of trick-or-treat, with people going door to door and being given a holiday mix of nuts and berries, as well as buckets of water. However, women remain sensitive about having their photographs taken who aren’t wearing Iran’s mandatory religious headscarf.

Expatriate Tax Burdens In US Get A New Focus

The tax plights of US taxpayers living abroad are gaining attention. While on the campaign trail in October 2024, President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate what he called "double taxation" on these individuals. Buoyed by Trump’s re-election, House Ways and Means Committee member Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act (H.R. 10468) two months later. LaHood, whose legislation seeks to apply residence-based taxation to US citizens living abroad, made it clear that he wants to work together with Democrats to ease those tax burdens. Republicans on the House Budget Committee are also interested. They are considering a menu of top budget options, and exempting non-resident US taxpayers from income tax happens to be one of them.

India Among Top Five Countries With Highest Visa Fees

If you are considering international travel, take note that Australia has emerged as the country with the highest visa fees, according to a study by expat insurance portal, William Russell, with India ranking fifth. Australia, known as ‘The Great Southern Land’, leads the list, closely followed by global heavyweights, such as the US, the UK, and Japan, securing the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively. Key factors, such as expat population, visa data, required vaccines and language proficiency tests were analysed by William Russell to identify countries with the most challenging immigration processes. India, with its low expat population (0.4 per cent), is deemed one of the most difficult countries to immigrate to, with an Employment visa cost of GBP 427 (INR 45,412).