Hitting industry headlines recently is the India-Canada diplomatic row, which has resulted in the pullout of visa services for Canadian nationals in India, an unprecedented move since the COVID-19 pandemic. How this will affect international students remains to be seen, but the international education sector is keeping its eyes peeled for further developments.
New UK visa fees on track, US-Vietnam cement $100M p’ship, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
From October 4, 2023, the UK will introduce increased visa fees including student visa rates, channeling funds into vital services and public sector pay hikes. The US and Vietnam have also solidified a strategic partnership with a $100 million commitment over two years from USAID to bolster Vietnam's digital economy readiness, strengthen higher education, and expand the skilled workforce.
Canada extends PGWP break, India-US mount virtual research institute, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
Canada has extended the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students studying online from abroad, while the United States has fortified its ties with India with the unveiling of the India-US Global Challenges Institute, a virtual platform for collaborative research among top higher education institutions.
US still top intl ed choice, Canada to amend foreign student counting, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
With approximately 350 languages spoken within its borders, the US stands out as one of the world’s most linguistically diverse nations, enhancing students’ interpersonal skills and preparing them for an increasingly globalized workforce. Thus it’s no longer surprising that it once again emerges as a top-of-mind among international students, per a new Study International report.
‘Integrity’ of Canada’s immigration system at risk, US student enrollments drop anew, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
Over the weekend in a CBC interview, Canadian immigration minister Marc Miller sounded the alarm on the “integrity” of the immigration system due to the skyrocketing number of international students entering the country. For context, Canada is on track to host about 900,000 international students this year – more than at any point in the country’s history.
US, India firms up bilateral ties through intl ed, housing issues risks student visa approvals in Canada, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
In the United States, the State Department launched a program at American universities for the benefit of Indian students. It unveiled a one-year master’s degree centered on fields that include artificial intelligence, wireless technology, and cyber security. The initiative is intended to strengthen educational ties between the nations.
US sued over H-1B visa denials, 500 int’l students in CA stuck in limbo, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
Nearly 70 Indian nationals and graduates are suing the US government over claims of H-1B visa rejections resulting from employer fraud. Not too far (geographically and situationally), chaos has ensued as Ontario’s Northern College retracts admission offers, leaving approximately 500 international students in disarray.
US study visa denials from global South, UK unis opt for foreign students over domestic applicants, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
In the United States, a report revealed the stark reality of the likelihood of denials for students processing their F1 visas from countries within the Global South, with African countries experiencing the highest rejection rates, followed by those from Latin America, and the Caribbean, much of Asia, and Oceania. The report intends to bolster the need for evidence-based, decision-making in visa adjudication.
Indians win and Africans lose in US student visa approvals, Canada funds immigrant services anew, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
As US student visa approval rates fall to 65% in 2022, Indian applicants emerge as the biggest winners, while separate research highlights the doubling of visa denials among aspirants from Africa and South America over the past decade. Canada allocates CA$10.5 million (US$7.9 million) to enhance pre-arrival settlement services for immigrants, while a new survey in the UK shows that three in four students say their higher education helped them secure their desired job. Meanwhile, more foreign students flock to Danish and Irish universities as Norway grapples with a drop in its non-European Education Area (EEA) student enrollment.
Int’l students in America hold up half the AI sky, CA program poaches high-skill foreigners from US, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
Our top headlines this week paint a picture of coming and going: Almost 50 percent of leading United States-based AI companies have founders who were once foreign students at American universities, while the Canadian government is bent on recruiting high-skilled foreigners working in the US by offering a special work permit for H-1B visa holders. In the United Kingdom,..
US immigration adds new STEM OPT fields; Quebec’s draw targets tech, engineering, health, education jobs; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
While other nations, including Canada, are scrambling to lure in highly-skilled foreign nationals, the United States opted to bolster its STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) program by expanding the eligibility to eight more qualified fields of study. The move targets to provide more opportunities for foreign students to gain practical work experience in the country.
Chinese student enrollment in US drops; Experts urge to rethink program amid CA’s foreign student record growth; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
There is a shift in the enrollment trend of foreign students in the United States as the total of Chinese enrollees declined by 8.6 percent, indicating lesser interest in the US as a preferred destination, while in contrast, Indian student numbers increased by 19 percent. Concerns about safety, gun violence, civil unrest, and visa restrictions contributed to the decline.
US SC strikes down Biden’s forgiveness plan; CA’s IRCC modified IELTS requirement for study permits; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
The United States Supreme Court strikes down the student loan forgiveness plan initiated by the Biden administration, stating that the government overstepped its authority in trying to initiate a costly debt relief without the approval of Congress.
US, India strengthen educational ties; Foreign students in CA lack job prospects; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
United States President Joe Biden and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the educational ties between the nations during the Prime Minister’s state visit to the US. Both leaders are expected to announce their collaborative initiatives in higher education, space exploration, and defense.
US reports of college cost confusion; CA offers reprieve to students victimized by fraud; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
The United States Government Accountability Office reported that an estimated 91% of colleges fail to tell students the actual cost of their education. Millions of students are uninformed of the full financial load they will face due to a lack of transparency, which may lead them to incur enormous debt.
US, top destination for Indian students; CA’s housing crisis urgently needs solutions; and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
The United States remains the preferred destination for Indian students seeking higher education overseas, with more than half opting to further their education in North America. Currently, there are over one million Indian students studying in 85 countries throughout the world. Aside from the US, most also flock to countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany.
US to prioritize int’l student visas, CA favors family reunification, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the intent to prioritize study visas for international students and emphasized, during his speech at NAFSA 2023, the government’s effort to expand international education in the country.
UK net migration deemed under control, CA speeds up family reunification applications, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted that migration was under control despite the increase in population as reported in the 2022 data of the Office for National Statistics. It showed a net migration of 606,000, a 164,000 rise from 2021. Sunak recognized the increase in figures and declared a desire to reduce them.
UK plans to curb visa rules for foreign students’ families, Canadian federal govt is turning away too many international students in Quebec and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
New immigration restrictions are being considered by the United Kingdom government as it plans to enact a rule that prohibits the majority of foreign students from taking their families into the nation. In Canada, the federal government is turning away a large number of international students admitted by universities in Quebec. Nearly half of applicants accepted who meet all standards have their study permits denied, which is contrary to the government's goals.
Int’l student enrollment in the US reaches pre-pandemic levels, Ukrainians to receive educational support in CA, and more in this week’s MSM Reporter
The number of foreign students enrolled in the United States has reached pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent report from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This 10.1 percent rise from the previous year signifies that the international education industry is back on track after the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.