US plans to increase H1B visa application fee

The Donald Trump administration is proposing a hike in the H-1B visa application fee to increase funding for the expansion of an apprentice programme, which trains American youths in technology-related activities, Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta told US lawmakers.

Testifying before a Congressional committee on an annual budget of the Department of Labour for the fiscal year 2020 beginning October 1, 2019, Acosta, however, did not give details of the proposed increase in H-1B filing fee and as to which categories of applicants it would be enforced on.

Read more on CNBCTV18

How NRIs can open NPS account online

NRIs can open a National Pension System (NPS) account. It provides tax breaks of up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Sec 80C and Rs 50,000 under Sec 80CCD(IB).

The NRI can open an NPS account online if he has a PAN card and a bank account.

Read the whole process here 

IDBI Bank launches paperless account opening facility for NRIs

IDBI Bank has launched the ‘NRI-Insta-Online’ account-opening process for NRIs residing in Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member countries, it said in a release.
Read the full story here

How to register as an NRI voter

With the Lok Sabha Polls now underway and people lining up in queues to cast their franchise, Non-Resident Indians are also feeling the need to ink their fingers and select their preferred candidate.

If you are an NRI, here's how you can add yourself to the list of voters for the Polls and guarantee your part in the democratic process.

More in Deccan Herald 

For RNOR, NRI, income earned abroad is not taxable in India

• Your residential status will have to be tested for each financial year separately and taxes filed accordingly. If you are an RNOR or an NRI, income earned outside India will not be taxable in India.
• Read more on livemint

Medical edu dept clarifies stand on NRI quota benefits

Rajasthan Medical education department issued a guideline clarifying its stand on who can avail the benefit of NRI quota in admissions in medical courses in the state. 

Read more at: TOI

Maharashtra is favourite destination for FDIs by NRIs

Maharashtra has emerged as the favourite destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) by NRIs in the last four financial years (2014-15- 2017-18) attracting ₹1,454 crore, which is 30 per cent of the total NRI investments of ₹4,820 crore in the country. Kerala and Gujarat received ₹902 crore and ₹515 crore respectively during the same period.

Read more on Business Line

Guideline For NRIs To File Taxes In India

For NRI population, unlike the regular resident Indians, rules and regulations differ to an extent and further there are some legalities and clauses that become tricky to comprehend. So, here is a quick ready reckoner for NRIs to review before filing their tax returns in India.
Read it on good returns