New South Wales Updates Skilled Occupation Lists for State Nomination Visas

What changed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated a proposed rulemaking to introduce substantial new fees for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 nonimmigrant students. This measure, announced on 8 October 2026, aims to enhance the integrity of the immigration system by deterring fraud and protecting the interests of U.S. workers. Under the proposal, an initial OPT application would incur a fee of $70,000, while any subsequent OPT would cost $30,000. Stakeholders have until 9 November 2026 to submit comments on these proposed changes.

What changed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now finalised its rule to end the automatic extension of Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) for specific groups of people who are not U.S. citizens, known as 'non-citizens', even if they have applied to renew their documents on time. This final rule, which takes effect on 14 October 2026, confirms changes first made in an interim rule published on 30 October 2025. The main aim is to improve the integrity of the benefits process and ensure that non-citizens are thoroughly vetted and screened before they are allowed to work for a new period or are given new EADs.

What changed

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) will launch a new Collective Agreement Scheme on 1 January 2027, enabling the hiring of foreign employees at a reduced minimum annual salary threshold of DKK 322,000, provided the employment is under a collective agreement. Companies must obtain certification to utilise this scheme, which is exclusively available to citizens from 16 specified countries. Applications for company certification are expected to open in early December 2026.

What changed

On 13 October 2026, the Victorian Government announced new service fees for people applying for state nomination under its skilled migration programme for 2026–27. These fees will apply at two stages: when you register your interest (called a Registration of Interest, or ROI) and when you apply for nomination. These changes affect two types of Australian skilled visas: the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), which leads to permanent residence, and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), which is a temporary visa allowing you to live and work in a regional area with a pathway to permanent residence later on.