US Begins Review of Green Cards for Immigrants from 19 “High-Risk” Countries
The United States government has initiated a sweeping review of permanent resident permits (Green Cards) issued to immigrants born in or citizens of 19 countries classified as “high risk.” This new directive affects both existing Green Card holders and pending immigration applications from those countries. Immigration officers have been ordered to re-evaluate these cases, with […]
UK Introduces £925 Annual International Student Levy Starting 2028
The UK government has confirmed a new funding measure that will reshape how universities manage international enrolments. Beginning 1 August 2028, higher-education institutions in England will be required to pay a £925 levy for every international student enrolled per academic year. The levy will apply to all registered higher-education providers. However, institutions will receive an […]
Canada’s 2026 Student Visa Cap Won’t Change Much, Experts Warn
The government of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a 7% reduction in the 2026 target for study permits, setting the new cap at 408,000 permits. However, sector stakeholders caution this cut may have little real-world impact. That’s because actual permit-issuance volumes have already dropped sharply in the past two years — making […]
UK Study Visas Up 7% in 2025 — But Dependents Numbers Plummet
New data from the UK Home Office reveals a notable shift in the composition of international student visa metrics: while the number of main-applicant study visas rose in the latest cycle, the number of dependents accompanying students dropped sharply. In the year ending September 2025, there were 419,558 main study-visa grants — a 7 % […]
New Zealand Study Visas: Applications Dip But Approval Rates Surge
New data from Immigration New Zealand shows an interesting shift in 2025 for international students: fewer visa applications overall, yet a significantly higher success rate. Between January and October 2025, INZ processed about 55,251 study-visa applications — a drop of roughly 5.3% compared with the same period in 2024, when applications were at 58,361. Despite […]
U.S. Announces “Permanent Pause” on Migration From “Third World” Countries
The United States has declared a sweeping new immigration policy: a “permanent pause” on migration from all countries labelled as “Third World.” The move was announced by the U.S. president in a late-night social-media post, where he said the pause aims to allow the U.S. system to “fully recover.” Under the plan, all recent admissions […]
Shifting Trends: Europe & Asia Gain While North America Sees Drop in Student Enrolments
Universities in Canada and the United States are reporting notable downturns in new international student enrolments at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At the same time, institutions across Europe and parts of Asia are growing their international student numbers and gaining global market share. What’s happening? A significant majority of Canadian institutions say their undergraduate […]
Slovakia to Begin Global Visa Processing Through VFS Global From 2026
Slovakia has signed a five-year agreement with VFS Global to manage its visa application services worldwide starting in 2026. Under this new arrangement, VFS Global will handle visa submissions from 83 countries, expanding Slovakia’s global access and making the application process more streamlined for travellers. What Will Change in 2026? VFS Global will operate 159 […]
UK May Ban Visas for Countries That Refuse to Take Back Illegal Migrants
The UK government is planning to impose visa restrictions on nations that don’t cooperate with the return of their citizens who are being deported. The move is part of a tougher new policy announced by the Home Secretary. Under the plan, some countries could face a full suspension of visa issuance unless they agree to […]
U.S. Immigration Fee Increases Take Effect January 2026
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that new immigration filing fees will apply from January 1, 2026. These adjustments respond to inflation tracked between July 2024 and July 2025, enabling the agency to revise certain application costs as required by law. What’s Changing Several key filing fees are going up, including: […]