Summary of Visa Policy Changes: What Has Changed for Student Visas in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia Since 2024

2026-09-26 · Application guides

Chronologically outline the major student visa policy changes in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia since 2024, indicating their status as in effect, upcoming, or under litigation: US: Narrowing of interview waivers, social media screening, and the new fixed-duration stay rule suspended by the court. UK: Taught master's students generally cannot bring dependents; the Graduate visa will be reduced to 18 months starting in 2027. Canada: Tightening of spousal work permits, exemption from co-op permits for internships, and increased financial requirements. Australia: GS replaces GTE, and the visa fee increases to 2,500 AUD.

Student visa policies have seen frequent changes recently: the U.S. has tightened interview and screening processes and introduced new rules to change the student status system; the UK has restricted dependents and shortened the Graduate Visa; Canada has tightened spousal open work permits and simplified co-op procedures; Australia has replaced the GTE with the Genuine Student requirement and increased visa fees. Much of the "past experience" is now outdated. This article organizes the major changes since 2024 by country and timeline, indicating which are already in effect, which are upcoming, and which are still in litigation.

1. United States

Date	Change	Status
June 2025	Comprehensive vetting for F, M, and J visa applicants, including publicly available online information; requires social media accounts to be set to "public"	Implemented
September 6, 2025	Nonimmigrant visa applicants must schedule interviews at embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or residence	Implemented
October 1, 2025	Interview waiver eligibility significantly narrowed; most applicants are now generally required to attend an in-person interview	Implemented
Published July 17, 2026	DHS final rule: Eliminates "Duration of Status" (D/S) in favor of a fixed period of admission of up to 4 years, and reduces the post-completion grace period from 60 to 30 days	Blocked by court

What is the current status of the new fixed period of admission rule?

This rule was originally scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. On September 14, a federal district court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the rule from taking effect. As of the time of this writing, the litigation is ongoing. F-1 students are still admitted under the original "Duration of Status" and retain the 60-day post-completion grace period.

A preliminary injunction is not a final judgment; it may be upheld or overturned later, and the rule could be revised and reissued. If it ultimately takes effect, undergraduates will not be able to transfer schools or change majors in their first year, and graduate students will not be able to change majors during their studies. Programs exceeding 4 years or those requiring STEM OPT may need to apply for separate extensions. See our article on the U.S. F-1 visa for details.

2. United Kingdom

Date	Change	Status
Courses starting from January 1, 2024	Dependents are generally only allowed for PhD or research-based postgraduate programs; the vast majority of taught master's students can no longer bring dependents	Implemented
2025	Physical visa documents (BRPs) are replaced by eVisas; requires creating a UKVI account to view	Implemented
June 1, 2026	The visa refusal rate threshold for sponsoring institutions is tightened from under 10% to under 5%	Implemented
January 1, 2027	The Graduate Visa is reduced from 2 years to 18 months (based on the application date; PhD graduates remain at 3 years)	Upcoming

For students graduating in 2026, applying for the Graduate Visa before the end of 2026 versus after 2027 will result in a six-month difference in duration. See our article on UK visas for details.

3. Canada

Date	Change	Status
January 21, 2025	Open work permits for spouses of students are now restricted to those enrolled in master's or doctoral programs of 16 months or longer, or designated professional degree programs	Implemented
July 29, 2025	Refusal letters for study permits and other temporary resident applications now automatically include the officer's detailed reasons for the decision	Implemented
November 3, 2025	Taiwan is removed from the designated panel physicians list (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau remain on the list)	Implemented
January 1, 2026	Master's and doctoral programs at public institutions no longer require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL)	Implemented
April 1, 2026	Post-secondary students completing mandatory co-op or internship placements as part of their program no longer need a separate co-op work permit	Implemented
September 1, 2026	Proof of funds requirement increased: CAD 23,448 per year for a single applicant outside Quebec (previously CAD 22,895)	Implemented

Additionally, Canada still has an overall cap on study permits, with allocations distributed by province. See our article on Canadian study permits for details.

4. Australia

Date	Change	Status
March 23, 2024	The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaces the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) criterion, using a set of targeted questions instead of the original 300-word statement	Implemented
July 1, 2026	Student visa application fee increased from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500	Implemented
2026 and 2027	The national planning level for international students is set at 295,000 for both years; visa processing priority is determined by institutional allocation	In progress

Additionally, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) generally conducts reviews of refused student visas based on written materials only, without holding a hearing. See our article on Australian student visas for details.

5. Hong Kong and Singapore

Hong Kong: Students enrolled in local degree programs currently benefit from temporarily relaxed working arrangements, subject to the conditions stated in the Immigration Department's approval letter. See our article on Hong Kong for details;
Singapore: For rules regarding Student's Passes, working while studying, and tuition grants, see our article on Singapore and the overview of work regulations for international students.

6. What These Changes Mean for You

Applying to the U.S.: Interviews are now almost entirely in-person, social media must be public, and you should schedule your interview as early as possible. Keep an eye on the litigation regarding the new fixed period of admission rule, and think long-term when choosing your major.
Applying to the UK: If you are pursuing a taught master's degree, you generally cannot bring dependents. If you plan to work in the UK after graduation, note that the Graduate Visa will be reduced to 18 months starting in 2027.
Applying to Canada: The proof of funds requirement has increased. If bringing a spouse, verify first whether your program qualifies for an open work permit. The procedures for program-required co-op placements have been simplified.
Applying to Australia: Factor the new visa fee into your budget. Answer the GS questions carefully and specifically. The earlier you submit your application, the faster it will be processed.

7. How to Keep Up with Policy Changes

Rely only on official sources. For the U.S., check the DHS "Study in the States" website, the Department of State, and U.S. embassies/consulates; for the UK, check GOV.UK; for Canada, check IRCC; for Australia, check the Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia.
Follow updates from your school's international student office. Many institutions promptly issue notifications regarding litigation updates on the new U.S. fixed period of admission rule.
Double-check before submitting your application. This article and any online content have a limited shelf life. Always refer to official websites for the regulations in effect on the day you apply.

Final Thoughts

Policy changes themselves are not scary; what is dangerous is making decisions based on outdated information. Treat this article as a "map of changes": understand what has already changed and what is currently changing, then verify the details on official websites. We will also update relevant articles as new policy developments occur.

For complete explanations of each regulation, you can search by stage in our comprehensive FAQ on visas.

Verification note: This article was compiled on September 26, 2026. All changes are sourced from our previously verified visa articles (Articles 41–47, 51–67) cross-checked against official sources. The injunction status regarding the new U.S. fixed period of admission rule was re-verified on September 26, 2026: the DHS rule FAQ page (updated August 31, 2026) has not yet been updated with the injunction information; the injunction details are based on notifications from international student offices at institutions such as The Ohio State University and Auburn University (issued September 21, 2026, with no mention of an appeal). The U.S. Department of State website uses CAPTCHA verification; requirements for interviews, appointment locations, and social media vetting are compiled from search summaries of its official website content; information regarding the Australian Administrative Review Tribunal is also compiled from search summaries of its official website content. Policies are subject to change at any time; please refer to the latest official information.

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