Skills in Demand Salary Thresholds Indexed and Core Skills Occupation List Updated

What changed

The United States government has initiated the suspension of prominent technology firms, including Microsoft and Adobe, from a visa programme that facilitates permanent residency for skilled foreign workers. This measure, announced by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, stems from claims of visa fraud and aims to prioritise American employment. Concurrently, an investigation has commenced into alleged J-1 visa fraud involving several universities accused of undercutting US wages by employing international students. The policy came into effect immediately following the announcement on 8 October 2026, impacting the ability of these entities to utilise specific visa categories for foreign labour.

What changed

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Programme (OINP) has changed the scoring for Canadian work experience earnings history within its Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream's Expression of Interest (EOI) system. As of 5 October 2026, candidates who have earned CAD 80,000 or more in a single year during the last five years will receive 10 points. This update is automatically applied to all existing EOIs and aims to make the assessment process smoother for highly paid candidates in Ontario's workforce.

What changed

The Migration (LIN 20/158: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 introduces changes to the eligibility criteria for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa applicants in Australia. These amendments, which apply to certain classes of persons including doctoral students and family members, will be in force from 2 October 2026. The instrument revises existing provisions related to visa application arrangements and conditions for specified student cohorts.

What changed

The Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 introduces significant changes to the eligibility criteria for Subclass 500 (Student) visa applications. As of 2 October 2026, certain primary student visa holders must be outside Australia to apply for a new student visa, and secondary applicants will face new restrictions on applying from onshore. These amendments aim to tighten visa integrity by curbing repeated onshore applications and ensuring clearer eligibility for family unit members.