Immigration News Today – 23 October 2026 | Canada, Australia, UK, USA, New Zealand & Schengen
Daily visa & immigration update by Best Immigration Consultant (BIC), Jalandhar & Ludhiana.
🇳🇿 New Zealand Parent Resident Visa: new hybrid selection system (from 5 Oct 2026)
Immigration New Zealand has moved all valid Parent Resident Visa EOIs into one pool. About 90% will be picked in date order (queue) and about 10% by random ballot. The annual cap stays at 2,500 approvals, and selections are planned four times a year, with the first draw on 10 November 2026. EOIs no longer expire after two years. Instead, holders must submit a “Confirmation of EOI” form within six months of each two-year anniversary, or the EOI will be removed. Existing valid EOI holders do not need to do anything now.
Source: Immigration New Zealand
🇨🇦 Canada: Express Entry adds up to 150 CRS points for high-wage workers (from 3 Nov 2026)
IRCC is adding a new labour-market factor to Express Entry from 3 November 2026. It is worth up to 150 CRS points, or 140 with a spouse. Qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations will no longer need an LMIA. Candidates who want job-offer points must update their profiles before 3 November.
Source: IRCC – Canada.ca
🇦🇺 Australia: New student visa rules in force since 2 Oct 2026
Most international students can no longer bring dependants. Exceptions include PhD students, government-scholarship holders and ASEAN/Pacific nationals. Dependants must be included in the first application. Onshore course changes are now restricted. Working holiday and temporary employer visa holders can no longer apply for a student visa from inside Australia.
Source: The PIE News
🇬🇧 UK: Immigration Rules changes (HC 584) in force from 8 Oct 2026
The changes cover visitor rules, fee waivers, biometrics deadlines, the EU Settlement Scheme and Skilled Worker flexibility for certain individuals. Visitors attending permitted training no longer need to show it is unavailable in their home country.
Source: GOV.UK – HC 584
🇺🇸 USA: F-1/J-1 “duration of status” replaced by fixed admission period
A DHS final rule (effective 15 September 2026) ends open-ended “duration of status” for F-1 and J-1 students and sets a four-year admission limit. Students who need more time must apply to USCIS for an extension of stay. Students should check their admission dates carefully before travelling.
Source: US Federal Register (DHS)
🇳🇿 New Zealand: Visitor visas now online-only (from 1 Oct 2026)
Visitor, business visitor, parent & grandparent visitor, transit and several other visitor visas must now be filed through enhanced Immigration Online. Paper forms are no longer accepted for these categories.
Source: Business Standard
🇪🇺 Schengen: ETIAS still has no launch date; EES fully live
The EU has not announced an ETIAS start date and is not collecting applications. Any site asking for an ETIAS fee now is not official. The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
Source: European Commission – ETIAS | European Commission – EES
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Information compiled from public news sources for general awareness only. Always confirm with official government websites or a licensed consultant before applying.