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11 Oct 2026
Australia skilled visa salary threshold Sydney harbour

Australia Lifts Skilled Visa Salary Floors for 482 and 186

Categories Immigration, Work Permits

The Australia skilled visa salary threshold rose on 1 July 2026, and it affects anyone sponsored on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visas. Erickson Immigration Group reports that the Core Skills Income Threshold is now AUD 79,499, up from AUD 76,515. This explainer sets out the numbers, how they are set, and what it means for workers and employers.

At a glance

The numbers

Under the figures reported by the law firm, the Core Skills Income Threshold rose from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,499, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold rose from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,717. Both apply to subclass 482 and 186 applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Khaleej Times repeats the same figures in its roundup of 2026 visa changes. Note that the source is a law firm rather than the government, so confirm the amounts with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

How the threshold is set

The thresholds are indexed every year under regulation 5.42A of the Migration Regulations, using Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings data. The firm says the 2026-27 figures use data for November 2025, are about 3.9% higher, and take effect automatically on 1 July with no new legislative instrument needed. The underlying earnings series comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Who it affects

The thresholds apply to the salary an employer offers a sponsored worker, on top of market-rate and other sponsorship requirements. Employers hiring overseas will need to budget for the new floor, and workers negotiating offers can use it as a minimum. The changes only apply to applications lodged from 1 July, so earlier lodgements follow the previous figures.

A worked example

Imagine a hypothetical Pakistani IT specialist, Hira, offered AUD 78,000 by a Melbourne employer for a role under the core skills pathway. Before 1 July that salary would have cleared AUD 76,515. For an application lodged now it falls below AUD 79,499, so the employer would need to raise the offer or the role would not qualify under that pathway. The example is for illustration only and does not account for market-rate checks.

If you are comparing destinations, read our coverage of Australia’s student visa reform and the UK rule changes, or run your profile through the visa eligibility checker.

Salary threshold FAQ

What is the new Core Skills Income Threshold?

AUD 79,499 for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, per Erickson Immigration Group.

What is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold now?

AUD 146,717, up from AUD 141,210.

Which visas does it cover?

The Skills in Demand subclass 482 and Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186.

How much did it rise?

About 3.9%, according to the firm’s reading of the indexation formula.

Where do I check the official figure?

On the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging an application.

More from us: the Australian student visa changes.

11 Oct 2026
duration of status rule US Capitol Washington

US Court Pauses Fixed-Term Student Visa Rule

Categories Immigration, Study Abroad

A US federal court has paused the duration of status rule change that would have given international students fixed admission periods. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the District of Massachusetts postponed the rule on 14 September 2026, one day before it was due to take effect. For now, F-1 students keep the existing “duration of status” system.

Contents

What the rule would have done

The Department of Homeland Security published the final rule in the Federal Register on 17 July 2026. It would replace open-ended “duration of status” for F students, J exchange visitors and I media representatives with a fixed admission period. For F and J holders that period would match the programme length, capped at four years, and people needing more time would apply to USCIS for an extension of stay. The text also proposes cutting the post-completion departure window from 60 to 30 days and limiting school transfers. DHS says the aim is stronger oversight and fraud prevention, and estimates annualised costs of roughly $443 million to $449 million, a figure that comes from the agency itself.

What the court decided

The case is Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. Department of Homeland Security. Per AILA, the court used a postponement under section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act rather than striking the rule down. It found the plaintiffs likely to succeed in arguing the rule was arbitrary and capricious, citing four problems: no reasoned cost-benefit analysis, too little consideration of alternatives, no meaningful reply to significant public comments, and no rational link to the stated security and fraud goals. AILA describes the relief as nationwide.

What it means for students today

AILA’s reading is that duration of status remains the working framework, the 60-day grace period still applies and no new Form I-539 extension requirement kicks in. The postponement is not permanent, so multi-year plans should not assume the old system is safe.

An example

Take a hypothetical Indian master’s student, Arjun, starting a two-year programme in January. Under the rule, he would have been admitted for the programme length and would have needed an extension if his studies ran longer. With the rule paused, his I-94 would still read “D/S”. If the rule is later reinstated, his planning around travel, a change of programme or OPT timing could change, so he should keep documents organised and speak to his school’s international office. This example is illustrative, not legal advice.

Where the case goes

AILA says the case continues on the merits. The government could seek review at the First Circuit, or DHS could address the court’s concerns through further rulemaking. We will report when that changes. Related reading: our piece on the H-1B fee ruling and the Australian student visa reforms. Not sure where to study next? Try the visa eligibility checker.

Duration of status: your questions

Is the fixed-term student visa rule in force?

No. A federal court postponed its effective date on 14 September 2026, according to AILA.

Who brought the case?

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which AILA says represents roughly 600 institutions.

Does the 60-day grace period still apply?

AILA says yes: the 60-day grace period stands while the rule is postponed.

Is the rule cancelled for good?

No. The court postponed it rather than vacating it, so the case continues and the government may appeal.

Who would the rule have covered?

F academic students, J exchange visitors and I foreign media representatives, per the Federal Register text.

More student-visa coverage: Australia’s student visa reform.

Photo: “Nicola since 1972” via Openverse, licensed CC BY.

11 Oct 2026
Canada low-wage LMIA freeze Regina Saskatchewan city view

Canada Extends Low-Wage LMIA Freeze to Six More Cities

Categories Canada, Immigration, Work Permits

Canada has widened its low-wage LMIA freeze to six more cities. According to CIC News, the freeze now covers Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge, and runs from 9 October 2026 to 7 January 2027. Employers in those areas cannot get new low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for non-exempt jobs during that period.

On this page

The six new cities

CIC News reports that 24 labour markets stay under the freeze from earlier rounds, while Kamloops and Chilliwack have been taken off the list. The six additions and the unemployment rates the outlet lists for them are Halifax (6.1%), Fredericton (6.2%), Kingston (6.3%), St. Catharines-Niagara (6.5%), Regina (6.7%) and Lethbridge (6.0%). The article says the list is next scheduled to be updated on 8 January 2027.

How the freeze works

The freeze applies to the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6% or higher. As CIC News describes it, a job counts as low-wage when it pays below 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage. The hourly cut-offs it lists include $36.92 in Ontario, $37.50 in Alberta, $38.40 in British Columbia, $34.62 in Saskatchewan, $31.96 in Nova Scotia and $31.73 in New Brunswick. The outlet says these figures apply to LMIAs received on or after 17 July 2026 and draw on Job Bank data.

In practice, an employer in a listed city offering a job below its province’s threshold cannot start a new hire or a renewal through the LMIA route while the freeze lasts. Jobs paying above the threshold are not caught by the low-wage freeze.

Who is exempt

CIC News lists several exemptions: primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and private households hiring nurses, childcare providers or personal support workers as in-home caregivers. Employers can also ask for case-specific exemptions for temporary, highly mobile roles such as fair, carnival or concert work.

A worked example

Consider a hypothetical Mexican cook, Laura, whose employer in Regina planned to renew her work permit through a new LMIA at a wage below Saskatchewan’s $34.62 line. Under the freeze as CIC News describes it, that employer could not start the LMIA while the pause lasts, so Laura’s plan would need another route, such as an employer-specific permit not tied to the LMIA stream, a wage offer above the threshold, or a different eligible employer. Her case is illustrative only; anyone in a similar position should confirm the facts with the employer and a regulated adviser.

One related change from August: CIC News notes that on 21 August 2026 Canada’s immigration department extended the concurrent-processing window for in-Canada work permit applications from 30 to 60 days. It also reports that workers who apply to extend before their permit expires may keep working under the old conditions while they wait, provided they stay in Canada.

What comes next

The next review of the affected-area list is scheduled for 8 January 2027, and cities can move on or off depending on local unemployment. Workers and employers should check the current list on the government’s refusal-to-process page before filing. For other recent changes, read our explainer on Canada’s personalised work permit processing times and the Ontario earnings-points pathway. If you are weighing options across countries, our visa eligibility checker can narrow them down. You can also read CIC News on personalised processing times.

Low-wage LMIA freeze: questions answered

What is the low-wage LMIA freeze?

It is a pause on processing low-wage LMIAs in Canadian cities with unemployment of 6% or higher, as reported by CIC News. It now runs from 9 October 2026 to 7 January 2027.

Which cities were added?

Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge were added, while Kamloops and Chilliwack were removed.

Does the freeze cancel my current work permit?

The reporting describes a limit on new LMIA-based hiring and renewals by employers, not the cancellation of permits already issued. Check your permit conditions and expiry date.

Which jobs are exempt?

CIC News lists primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing and residential care, and in-home caregiver roles in private households.

When is the list reviewed next?

The next update to the affected-area list is scheduled for 8 January 2027.

Related coverage: how personalised processing times work.

10 Oct 2026
Iraq dinar devaluation Baghdad

Iraq Devalues Dinar to 1,520 as Oil Revenue Slumps

Categories Business, World

Iraq has devalued the dinar, raising the official rate from 1,320 to 1,520 per US dollar after the cabinet approved the change on Tuesday 6 October 2026, according to Al Jazeera. Banks and exchange companies began selling dollars at the new rate on Wednesday. The Iraq dinar devaluation follows a collapse in oil exports linked to the war on Iran and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, the report says.

In this report

Why Baghdad did it

Oil pays more than 90% of the federal budget, Al Jazeera reports. Exports, mostly routed through Hormuz, fell by as much as 90% at one point and were 2.34 million barrels a day in August against a pre-war average of 3.6 million. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Iraq lost about $60bn in oil revenue, and Central Bank of Iraq reserves fell from about $106bn to roughly $80bn by late August. The 2027 budget plans spending of 217 trillion dinars (about $166bn) with a deficit above 40 trillion dinars (about $30bn). The central bank called the move a strategic step to steady finances.

The political backlash

Dozens of MPs said parliament was not told how or why the decision was made, and one called it “waging war on the poor”, per Al Jazeera. Parliament cancelled its Wednesday agenda to debate the issue, and the finance minister and central bank governor were due to appear on Thursday. The outcome of that session was not in the report.

What it means for households and traders

Imports cover much of Iraq’s food, medicine and industrial inputs, so a weaker dinar raises costs. Most Iraqis cannot buy dollars at the official rate and pay the parallel-market price, which rose after the change, widening the gap, according to the report. For an exporter such as a Vietnamese food producer selling into Iraq, a lower dinar value can make prices in local currency harder to sustain and raise payment risk, so contract currency and payment terms matter.

What to watch

Watch the parliamentary review, the gap between official and parallel rates, and oil flows. Broader markets are reacting to the same shock: investinglive reported on 5 October that Brent was near $102 and that G7 countries had announced a 100 million barrel emergency stock release. Our coverage: Gulf oil price shock and the Strait of Hormuz dispute.

Iraq dinar devaluation: questions

What is the new official rate?

1,520 dinars per dollar, up from 1,320.

When did it take effect?

Banks and exchange companies began selling dollars at the new rate on Wednesday 7 October 2026, per Al Jazeera.

Why was the dinar devalued?

Falling oil revenue after Hormuz disruption and a large budget deficit, according to the report.

Who opposes it?

Dozens of MPs, who say parliament was not consulted.

Will prices rise?

Al Jazeera reports imports become more expensive, which feeds through to food and medicine costs.

Related: US stocks slide as oil and yields rise.

10 Oct 2026
Japan visa fee increase Tokyo Shibuya

Japan’s Visa Fees Rose Fivefold: What to Know

Categories Visa Updates

Japan’s visa fees rose fivefold on 1 July 2026, the first increase in decades. Single-entry visas now cost 15,000 yen, up from 3,000, and multiple-entry visas 30,000 yen, up from 6,000, according to law firm EIG. The Japan visa fee increase was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at a press conference on 19 June 2026, the firm says. This is an explainer, as the change is already in force.

In this explainer

The new fees

Single-entry: 3,000 to 15,000 yen. Multiple-entry: 6,000 to 30,000 yen, an increase of 400% in each case. Khaleej Times says the rise is the first since 1978. Neither source says whether specific nationalities or visa categories are exempt, so applicants should confirm the fee with the Japanese embassy or consulate handling their case.

Related changes for business managers

Khaleej Times also reports a 30 million yen capital requirement for business manager visas, with a three-year grace period for existing holders to meet the new conditions. No date is given in that summary, so founders should check with Japan’s immigration authorities before relying on it.

Who feels it most

The fee is paid per application, so families, repeat visitors and those reapplying carry the largest cost. Consider a Filipino nurse applying for a work-related visa with a spouse and two children: even at the single-entry rate, four applications add up to far more than before. Employers and sponsors sometimes cover fees, which is worth asking about.

What to do next

Check the current fee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan site and your nearest mission before paying. Compare destinations with our visa eligibility checker. Other fee changes we covered include the US $750 expedited interview pilot.

Japan visa fees: questions

How much are Japan visa fees now?

15,000 yen for single-entry and 30,000 yen for multiple-entry visas, according to EIG.

When did the increase start?

1 July 2026.

Why did fees rise?

The reports cited do not explain the reasoning; check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement.

Are any applicants exempt?

The sources do not say. Confirm with the embassy or consulate.

Does this affect residence status fees?

The sources cover entry visa fees only and do not mention residence card fees.

More: ETIAS launch delayed to 2027.

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