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US ELT numbers moving toward pre-pandemic norms

If you look at English Language Teaching (ELT) numbers in the United States year-over-year, it is easy to draw very different conclusions due to the significant fluctuations in student numbers leading up to – and of course during – the COVID-19 pandemic. It

Trump administration orders a pause on new student visa interviews

Journalists at Politico have obtained a US State Department cable sent to all US diplomatic posts on 27 May 2025. Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the cable orders all US embassies and consular sections to suspend the scheduling of

New Zealand enters peak visa processing window

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is circulating an advisory to let students and stakeholders know that the country "is in a peak processing period for student visa applications." The guidance continues, "During peak periods, applications may take longer to process. It is

US funding freeze affecting both American and international exchange students and major US scholarship funders

Due to the Trump administration’s ongoing funding freeze affecting several prominent international education grant programs in the US, over 10,000 students and professionals participating in international exchanges – some American, some from other countries – have had their funding withdrawn. They

Survey highlights the disruptive effects of visa delays on international students

New survey findings from global international education services firm INTO show that many students are experiencing visa processing delays so significant that study abroad plans are being disrupted. The 2024-25 INTO Arrival survey was conducted among 2,261 international students from over

European destinations attracting more international students amid continuing housing challenges

Many European countries have welcomed more students than ever over the past few years (e.g., Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Ireland). International students are drawn to quality education and to lower tuition relative to the leading destinations of Australia, Canada, UK,

Canada aims for more international Francophone students across the country

France remains the top destination in the world for international students to learn French and to study in French, with Canada in second place. Most students go to Canada for English-language programmes, but for several reasons, demand could rise significantly for

Canada announces international student enrolment cap levels for 2025

The Canadian government has just released information about its target caps for study permit issuance for 2025, and a breakdown of how those targets will be distributed across the country according to the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) formula introduced in 2024.

US moves to ease visa processing backlog in India

The United States Mission to India announced recently that US diplomatic posts in the country have opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. US immigration officials report processing "record numbers" of applicants at

Canadian immigration ministry releases list of college programmes eligible for post-study work permits

On Friday afternoon, 4 October, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a number of important details for the new rules governing Canada's post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility. The 4 October update follows the additional restrictions introduced by IRCC on 18

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