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25 Oct 2026
Ministerial Direction 123

Australia’s Visa Character Test Tightens on 31 October

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

Australia’s new Ministerial Direction 123 takes effect on 31 October 2026 and changes how decision-makers weigh character when they consider refusing or cancelling a visa. It replaces Direction 110. Law firm summaries say it lowers the future-risk threshold, moves a person’s ties to Australia down the list of considerations, and adds a hatred and extremism ground. It targets character decisions, not routine skilled or student applications.

Contents

What Direction 123 replaces

A ministerial direction tells decision-makers how to weigh factors when the law gives them discretion. According to Clark Hill’s September APAC recap, Direction 123 replaces Direction 110 for character decisions under sections 501 and 501CA of the Migration Act. Separate directions, 121 and 122, set processing priorities for skilled visas from 19 September 2026, and those are a different matter from this one.

The main changes

Clark Hill lists these changes: primary considerations fall from five to four, ties to Australia become a secondary consideration, a new hatred and extremism character ground is added at section 501(6)(baa), and the future-conduct threshold moves from “would” or “will” to “might”. The definition of domestic and family violence is broadened to cover image-based abuse, stalking and breaching court orders. The sentence-weighting carve-out is removed, and the impact on Australian business interests is no longer a listed consideration.

AHC Lawyers, in its comparison of Direction 123 and 110, makes the same points and argues the new threshold lowers the Department’s burden of proof. That view comes from a law firm’s marketing article rather than the text of the direction, and the article does not say how pending cases are treated. Read the direction itself on the Department of Home Affairs site or ask a registered migration agent.

Who is and is not affected

Direction 123 applies when a decision-maker is already considering refusal or cancellation on character grounds. A holder with no character concerns does not face a new test simply because the direction exists. The people most exposed are those who have received serious criminal sentences, family violence orders or other adverse findings, and long-term residents who previously relied on their family and community ties.

A worked example

Consider a hypothetical case. Diego, a Mexican welder on a skilled visa, has no criminal record and a clean history. Nothing in Direction 123 changes his application. A different visa holder who has lived in Australia for decades and receives a serious conviction would find that long residence now carries less weight than it did under Direction 110. The difference lies in the facts of the case, not the nationality.

What visa holders can do

Keep records of any police checks, court outcomes and orders, and disclose them accurately in every application. Misleading answers can cause more harm than the underlying issue. If you hold a visa and have any adverse history, get advice before your next application or renewal. For students affected by other recent changes, see our report on Australia’s 2 October student visa rules, and use the visa eligibility checker to compare routes.

Employers sponsoring staff should note that the direction concerns the individual visa holder, not the sponsor. Even so, a sponsored worker facing a character decision can lose work rights quickly, which affects the business. Both law firms stress that outcomes depend on the specific facts, and that decisions made before 31 October may be handled under the earlier direction, though the sources we read do not confirm transitional detail.

Direction 123 questions

When does Ministerial Direction 123 start?

31 October 2026, replacing Direction 110, according to Clark Hill and AHC Lawyers.

Does it change the rules for ordinary skilled visa applications?

No. It applies to character-based refusal and cancellation decisions, not to standard eligibility criteria.

What does the move from ‘would’ to ‘might’ mean?

Law firms say it lowers the threshold for deciding that a person may engage in unacceptable conduct in the future.

Are ties to Australia still considered?

Yes, but as a secondary rather than a primary consideration, according to the law-firm summaries.

What new ground does it add?

A hatred and extremism character ground under section 501(6)(baa), according to Clark Hill.

Where can I read the direction itself?

On the Department of Home Affairs website, or ask a registered migration agent.

Sources

25 Oct 2026
New Zealand graduate work visa

New Zealand Graduate Work Visas Change on 16 November

Categories Study Abroad, Visa Updates, Work Permits

From Monday 16 November 2026, the New Zealand graduate work visa options change: a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens and the government widens eligibility for its Post Study Work Visa, with applications for both made through Enhanced Immigration Online. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced both changes. The new visa gives six months of open work rights, and the wider Post Study Work Visa now reaches more graduates holding diplomas, postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees.

Contents

The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa

INZ says the new visa gives graduates six months of open work rights to look for work and, where suitable, move to an Accredited Employer Work Visa. Eligible graduates hold a New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Level 5 to 7 qualification, studied full-time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand, that is not an English language, foundation or bridging course and does not already qualify them for a Post Study Work Visa. They need at least NZ$5,000 available to support themselves, a medical certificate and chest X-ray where required, and must never have held a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa or Post Study Work Visa.

The visa allows work under an employment agreement or contract for services but not business ownership. It cannot be extended or granted a second time. Holders cannot support a partner’s work visa or a dependent child student visa, although partners and children may apply in their own right.

Wider Post Study Work Visa eligibility

For the longer visa, INZ lists these groups as benefiting from 16 November: graduate diploma (Level 7) holders who also hold a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma (Level 8) graduates who may receive a one-year visa, and master’s (Level 9) graduates who may receive a three-year visa. Postgraduate diploma and master’s applicants need at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the qualification the visa is based on. Transferred credits, cross-credits and recognition of prior learning do not count toward the master’s for this purpose.

Only one Post Study Work Visa can be held per person. Holders can support partners and dependent children on visitor, work or dependent child student visas, if the requirements are met.

Filing windows and cut-offs

The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa must be applied for within three months of the student visa expiring. INZ’s own example is that a student visa which expired before 16 August 2026 would not qualify when applications open. Law firm Clark Hill’s September APAC recap adds that paper Post Study Work Visa applications end, with those filed by 15 November 2026 still processed. Treat that detail as the law firm’s reading and confirm it on the INZ site.

A worked example

Consider a hypothetical graduate. Maricel is a Filipino graduate finishing a Level 7 qualification that does not lead to a Post Study Work Visa. Under the new rules she could apply for the six-month visa within three months of her student visa ending, use that time to find an employer, and then explore an Accredited Employer Work Visa. She would need her funds evidence and medical documents ready before she applies. A neighbouring example: our report on Australia’s student visa changes shows how quickly neighbouring countries are reshaping post-study options.

What to do before 16 November

Check your qualification level and study length against the INZ lists, note when your student visa expires, and gather proof of funds and health documents. Create your Enhanced Immigration Online login in advance. If you are comparing study destinations, the visa eligibility checker can help you weigh post-study options before you pay tuition deposits.

New Zealand graduate visa questions

These answers rely on the INZ announcements cited above.

When does the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa open?

Applications open on Monday 16 November 2026 through Enhanced Immigration Online, according to Immigration New Zealand.

How long does the visa last?

Six months with open work rights, per INZ.

Can I get it twice or extend it?

No. INZ says holders cannot apply for a second visa or extend the first.

Who gets the three-year Post Study Work Visa?

Master’s (Level 9) graduates who meet the 30-week full-time study requirement in the master’s itself.

How much money do I need?

INZ says at least NZ$5,000 available to support yourself for the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa.

Can I run a business on this visa?

No. INZ says work must be for an employer under an agreement or contract for services, and business ownership is not allowed.

Sources

25 Oct 2026
USCIS deference proposal

US Proposes Ending Deference on Work Visa Extensions

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates, Work Permits

The USCIS deference proposal is the US Department of Homeland Security’s plan to end the rule that tells US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to defer to prior approvals when it reviews work-visa extensions. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on 14 October 2026 and would delete 8 CFR 214.1(c)(5). It is only a proposal: the current deference rule stays in force unless and until DHS issues a final rule. Public comments close on 13 November 2026.

In this report

What DHS proposes

Under the current regulation, when USCIS decides an extension petition on Form I-129 involving the same parties and the same facts as an earlier approval, it generally defers to that earlier decision. The exceptions are a material error, a material change, or new material information that hurts eligibility. DHS says removing the provision places the burden of proof squarely on the petitioner and leads to a fuller review. Officers could still consider a prior approval where relevant, but it would carry no automatic weight.

Law firm Manifest Law, in its summary of the proposal, lists H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E classifications among the extensions that could be affected. Eligibility standards for each category would not change. What changes is how much an officer may rely on what was already decided.

DHS’s own estimates

The figures below come from DHS’s notice and should be read as the agency’s claims, not independent findings. DHS says about 208,429 Form I-129 petitions a year, out of roughly 688,830, were eligible for deference on average between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. It estimates the change would raise the rate of requests for evidence (RFEs) by 2.9 percentage points, or about 6,044 additional RFEs a year, and says it found no corresponding change in denial rates. It puts added cost to petitioners at about $133,987 a year.

Manifest Law reports that DHS justifies the change partly with worksite-inspection data, citing fraud or noncompliance findings of 22.4% for H-1B extensions in fiscal years 2022 to 2025, against 16.8% in fiscal years 2018 to 2020 when deference did not apply. Those are DHS’s numbers, presented by an agency that has an interest in the outcome.

Who could be affected

The people most exposed are those on a long-running status with the same employer. Consider a hypothetical example. Arjun is an Indian software engineer on an H-1B whose employer files for a three-year extension with the same job duties. Today, USCIS would normally treat the first approval as the starting point. Under the proposal, an officer could ask him to prove again that the role is a specialty occupation, even though nothing changed. Employers and workers from every country use these categories, so the proposal is not specific to any one nationality.

What changes for employers and workers

The practical effect is likely to be more paperwork and more waiting. A timely filed extension can generally allow continued work while it is pending, and the regulation on work authorization sets limits on how long that lasts. A longer review leaves less of that window. Manifest Law’s advice is to file complete petitions with initial-level evidence and not to assume a prior approval will carry the case.

The proposal also arrives alongside other tightening on the same classifications. Tamara News has tracked the H-1B $100,000 fee extension and the proposed $70,000 OPT fee. If you are planning a move to the US on a work route, the visa eligibility checker can help you compare routes before you commit.

What happens next

Comments must be submitted through Regulations.gov under docket USCIS-2026-0529 by 13 November 2026, before midnight Eastern time. DHS must then review them before it can finalise, change or withdraw the proposal. The proposed text, as summarised by Manifest Law, does not explain how pending petitions would be treated at the effective date, so that is a question to watch in any final rule.

Questions on the deference proposal

Is deference to prior approvals already gone?

No. The proposal is not final. The current rule remains in effect until DHS issues a final rule.

When is the comment deadline?

13 November 2026, through Regulations.gov under docket USCIS-2026-0529.

Which visas could be affected?

Form I-129 extensions, including H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E classifications, where the parties and facts match an earlier approval.

How many petitions does DHS say are eligible for deference?

DHS estimates about 208,429 a year, based on a fiscal 2022 to 2025 average.

Will approval standards change?

No. The eligibility criteria for each classification stay the same. The proposal changes how much weight a past approval carries.

What should employers do now?

File complete extension petitions with fresh evidence and plan for possible requests for evidence, rather than relying on a past approval.

Sources

24 Oct 2026
Singapore skyline at dusk, where the Singapore work pass changes take effect October 29

Singapore Just Made Its Work Pass Process Less of a Headache

Categories Visa Updates, Work Permits

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower will roll out new Singapore work pass changes on October 29, 2026. The update reworks how employers and foreign workers submit work pass applications through the myMOM Portal. MOM first outlined the plan on May 20, 2026. An implementation update on October 20 confirmed the launch date.

A professional filing documents online, relevant to the Singapore work pass changes

What’s actually changing for Singapore work pass applicants

The biggest change is auto-fill. Applicants who already hold a Foreign Identification Number, known as a FIN, will see their passport details pre-populated. That only works if MOM already has valid passport data on file. First-time applicants without an existing FIN record still enter details by hand for now. MOM plans to extract passport data automatically from uploaded scans eventually. That feature is not live at launch. Until it arrives, agencies that handle high volumes of first-time applications will likely see less benefit from the update than those renewing passes for workers already in MOM’s system.

MOM also redesigned the application form itself. The agency says the new layout cuts down on manual data entry and makes the form easier to navigate. No new questions were added to the application. Document upload rules changed too. Applicants generally need to upload only the passport biodata page now. An amendment or observation page is required only when it changes identifying details, such as a corrected name or passport number.

Upload specifications are strict. Each page must be its own file, saved as JPG, PNG or PDF. Images need to be landscape and correctly oriented, or the system may reject them. The biodata page has to be uploaded before any other document.

Why MOM is rolling out the Singapore work pass changes now

MOM has not published a cost or time-savings estimate for the update. The stated goal is simpler. MOM wants to reduce repetitive data entry for returning applicants and tidy up a form that had grown unwieldy. Singapore depends heavily on foreign talent across its economy, from finance to construction. A smoother application system lowers friction for employers who file large numbers of work pass applications every year. The update also follows a broader push across Singapore’s public agencies to digitize routine paperwork and cut processing friction for both residents and foreign applicants.

The timing also matters. MOM first announced the changes back in May, giving employers and agents five months to prepare before the October 29 switch. That lead time suggests MOM wanted feedback and testing before a full rollout, rather than pushing a change through quickly.

What stays the same under the new process

Nothing about eligibility changes. Salary thresholds, qualification requirements and approval conditions remain exactly as they were. MOM did not create any new pass category as part of this update. Processing times have not been guaranteed to improve, despite the simpler form. Applications submitted before October 29 follow the existing process in full. Only applications filed on or after that date use the new auto-fill and upload rules.

That transition detail matters for anyone mid-application. An employer who started a submission in the old system before the cutover should expect to finish it under the rules that were in place when they began. They should not expect the format to switch partway through a single filing.

What applicants should do before October 29

Employers and agents filing multiple applications should check their saved passport records now, before the new system goes live. An outdated FIN record won’t auto-fill correctly. That mistake could slow a submission down rather than speed it up. Anyone preparing documents should also convert existing passport scans to the accepted formats in advance. A multi-page PDF that mixes formats may not upload the way the new form expects. Employers managing dozens of applications at once may find it worth building a short internal checklist, rather than relying on staff to remember the format rules case by case.

Agencies that regularly submit work pass applications are advising clients to test the new portal interface as soon as it opens. Waiting until a filing deadline forces the issue is a common and avoidable mistake. Confirming exactly which upload format the system accepts, rather than assuming compatibility, is the kind of small step that avoids a last-minute scramble once October 29 arrives.

More Asia work visa coverage

Work visa and permit rules are shifting across Asia this month. See our reports on Japan’s new residence permit fees, South Korea’s extended K-ETA exemption, and the status of the US $100,000 H-1B fee.

Singapore work pass changes: frequently asked questions

  • When do the Singapore work pass changes take effect? The new myMOM Portal process begins October 29, 2026.
  • What is the main change for applicants? Applicants with an existing FIN and passport details on file will have those details auto-filled on the application form.
  • Do first-time applicants get auto-fill too? Not yet. MOM plans to extract passport data from uploaded scans automatically, but that feature is not live at launch.
  • Did eligibility requirements change? No. Salary thresholds, qualification requirements and approval conditions are unchanged.
  • What document format does the new system require? JPG, PNG or PDF, with each page as its own file, uploaded in landscape orientation with the biodata page first.
  • Do applications filed before October 29 follow the new rules? No. Applications submitted before that date follow the existing process in full.

Sources consulted for this report

24 Oct 2026
International student reviewing documents related to UK student visa funds

UK Student Visa Costs Are Rising Nov 30 — Here’s How to Beat the Deadline

Categories Study Abroad, Uk, Visa Updates

The UK is raising how much money international students must show to qualify for a Student visa. Changes to UK student visa funds requirements set a new minimum for applications made on or after 30 November 2026. The government published the change on 3 September 2026. It came in a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules known as HC 584.

A student preparing documents, relevant to UK student visa funds requirements

What is changing in UK student visa funds requirements

Students applying for courses in London will need to show £1,570 per month, up from £1,529. The nine-month maximum rises to £14,130, up from £13,761. Outside London, the monthly figure rises to £1,203 from £1,171, with a nine-month maximum of £10,827, up from £10,539. The accommodation offset cap also rises in line with the London figure, moving from £1,529 to £1,570. That cap applies when a sponsor arranges housing on a student’s behalf.

The increases are modest in percentage terms, roughly 2.7% to 3%. Even so, the increase is real in cash terms. It adds several hundred pounds to the total an applicant must show before the Home Office grants a visa.

Why the date of application is what counts

The Home Office has stated plainly that the application date determines which maintenance figure applies. The date a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS, was issued does not matter. Neither does the course start date. Neither does the date shown on a bank statement. Submit on or before 29 November 2026, and an applicant gets assessed against the lower, current figures, even if the course itself starts well into 2027. Submit on 30 November or later, and the new, higher thresholds apply instead.

That distinction matters for planning. Take a prospective student who already holds a CAS for a course starting in early 2027. That student can still apply under the current, lower maintenance requirement. The application itself just needs to go in before the cutoff date. Waiting until after 30 November to submit that same application would require showing the higher amount instead.

Who the change affects

The new figures apply to the Student visa route. That route covers international students coming to the UK for degree-level and other eligible courses. Nationality makes no difference here. Every applicant on the route faces the same requirement, regardless of where they come from. The Home Office applies its maintenance-fund rules uniformly across every Student visa applicant.

What happens before 30 November

Students with an upcoming application should check which figure applies based on when they plan to submit, not when their course starts. Universities and visa advisers typically update their own guidance once a Statement of Changes like HC 584 takes effect. Even so, applicants should confirm the current threshold directly against Home Office guidance. Older published figures can lag behind rule changes by several weeks. A university’s own webpage is not always the most current source as a result.

Students who are unsure which figure applies can check Home Office guidance directly. They can also ask their university’s international office to confirm the current threshold before submitting.

Visa advisers also note a practical wrinkle worth planning around: bank statements used to prove maintenance funds must meet the Home Office’s own freshness and format rules, separate from the amount itself. An applicant who gathers the right documents early, rather than rushing them together just before the 30 November cutoff, reduces the risk of a refusal over a technicality rather than the funds themselves. That kind of avoidable refusal is especially costly for students on a tight timeline to a specific course start date, since reapplying can take weeks they may not have to spare. Advisers describe it as the single most preventable reason a strong application still gets turned down. It is also one of the simplest issues to fix, since it only requires planning ahead rather than meeting any additional financial threshold. With the 30 November deadline now firmly set, that planning window is shrinking fast for anyone who has not yet started gathering the right documents together.

More UK visa coverage

UK visa policy has shifted on several fronts this month. See our reports on the recent surge in UK student visa refusals, UK Erasmus+ visa rules for students and visitors, and the Hong Kong BNO visa settlement rules also introduced under HC 584.

UK student visa funds: frequently asked questions

  • When do the new UK student visa funds take effect? The higher maintenance fund requirements apply to applications made on or after 30 November 2026.
  • How much do London students need to show? £1,570 per month, or £14,130 for a nine-month course, up from £1,529 and £13,761.
  • How much do students outside London need to show? £1,203 per month, or £10,827 for nine months, up from £1,171 and £10,539.
  • Does the course start date determine which figure applies? No. The date the visa application is submitted determines which maintenance figure applies, not the course start date or CAS issue date.
  • Can I still apply under the current, lower figures? Yes, if the application is submitted on or before 29 November 2026, regardless of when the course itself begins.
  • Which immigration rule introduced this change? The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584, published 3 September 2026.

Official sources

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