Global Visa & Immigration Updates – 19/05/2026

World Visa Academy — Daily Global Visa and Immigration Update Date: 19/05/2026

New Zealand

Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota Ballot Being Drawn Tomorrow

What it means: The ballots for the Pacific Access Category Resident Visa and Samoan Quota Resident Visa will be drawn on 20 May 2026. The results will be published by 29 May 2026. This year up to 1,100 Samoan, 250 Tongan, 250 Fijian, 75 Kiribati and 75 Tuvaluan citizens may be invited to apply for residence. The minimum income requirement for those applying with dependent children will be NZD 55,404.96 a year from 30 April 2026.

Impact: The ballot draw happens tomorrow. If you have clients from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati or Tuvalu who registered before April 30, tell them to watch the Immigration New Zealand website by May 29. Selected registrants have exactly 8 months from their invitation letter to apply for residence. Missing that window means waiting until next year. Brief them now so they are not unprepared when results land.

Thailand

60 Day Visa Exemption Under Official Review — Conflicting Government Sources Creating Confusion Today

What it means: As of May 2026, official Thai government sources are showing inconsistent information regarding the permitted visa-exempt stay period. Some official Thai sources now list a 30-day visa-exempt stay period while others still mention 60 days. Currently in May 2026, tourists from 93 eligible countries can stay up to 60 days under the visa exemption scheme. However the Thai government is preparing to propose a reduction of the stay period back to 30 days in the near future. No implementation date has been announced and the current 60-day exemption is still valid. Thai authorities have stated that travelers will receive adequate notice before any changes take effect.

Impact: This confusion in official government sources is happening right now today. Prepare for the possibility that immigration officers may apply a 30-day visa-exempt stay period. Consider advising clients to apply for a Tourist Visa in advance if a longer stay is important for their travel plans. The safest advice today is this: clients planning stays longer than 30 days in Thailand should apply for a proper Tourist Visa before travelling rather than relying on the visa exemption. Do not let clients make non-refundable long stay bookings based on the current 60-day rule until a final official decision is announced.

Canada

Express Entry Reform Consultation Closes in 5 Days, Next Draw Confirmed for May 25

What it means: The federal government's consultation on reforms to the Express Entry system runs until May 24, 2026. The proposed changes could alter how candidates are selected including possible tweaks to the CRS and a greater focus on economic outcomes such as wages and job demand. The expected next draw is May 25, 2026, typically conducted at regular two-week intervals on a Wednesday. The CRS cutoff is expected to remain close to the last recorded level of 514 for CEC. French language draws have run as low as CRS 393.

Impact: Two things this week. May 24 is the last day to submit views on Express Entry reform. Share the consultation link with clients today. May 25 draw is 6 days away. Every client profile between CRS 380 and 516 must be updated right now. Do not wait.

United States

75 Countries Still Blocked from Immigrant Visas with No End Date in Sight

What it means: Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State paused all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of 75 countries including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and many others across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. No end date has been announced. The freeze remains in effect until modified or lifted by the government.

Impact: If you have clients from any of the 75 affected countries waiting for an immigrant visa to the United States, their cases are in an indefinite hold with no timeline. Tourist, student and work visas continue but face heightened scrutiny. The only responsible advice is to start exploring serious alternative pathways. Canada, UK, Australia, Germany and Portugal all remain open with structured pathways.

United Kingdom

Immigration and Asylum Bill Progressing Fast Through Parliament

What it means: The landmark Immigration and Asylum Bill announced in the King's Speech on May 13 is actively being debated. A new appeals body will replace the current immigration tribunal. Article 8 family rights are being narrowed specifically to spouses, parents and children. The most commonly used human rights arguments to stop deportations are being deliberately restricted in law.

Impact: Clients with pending UK asylum cases, deportation risk or active tribunal appeals need qualified legal representation urgently. This bill is moving fast. Skilled Worker and student visa clients are unaffected for now but the overall direction of UK immigration is getting tighter.

Australia

Student Visa Processing Tiered, Offshore Skilled Migration at Decade Low

What it means: In Australia, May 2026 sees the continuation of revised student visa processing rules under Ministerial Direction 115. Applications are being prioritised across three tiers influencing how quickly students receive decisions. Only 55,110 offshore skilled migration places are available this year with 70 percent reserved for people already inside Australia. Points test full rewrite lands in December 2026.

Impact: Student clients must know their processing speed depends entirely on which tier their institution falls under. Offshore skilled applicants face their toughest competition in a decade. Starting applications now before the new points test adds uncertainty in December is the right call.

Germany

Humanitarian Routes Shrinking, Skilled Worker Routes Remain Open

What it means: Germany is quietly closing its humanitarian immigration doors under the current conservative-led government. Long-established legal routes such as official resettlement plans and humanitarian admissions are increasingly being removed. Integration courses are being scaled back. However Germany's Skilled Immigration Act remains fully intact and continues to actively welcome qualified professionals.

Impact: Clients seeking asylum or humanitarian routes in Germany face a much harder environment today than two years ago. Clients with genuine job offers or recognized qualifications however still have strong and well-structured options. Focus your Germany conversations on the skilled worker route not the humanitarian one.

Malaysia

EP Appeal Window Still Just 14 Days, June 1 Salary Deadline 13 Days Away

What it means: Since May 15, Employment Pass rejections give employers only 14 days to file an online appeal. After that the right to appeal is permanently gone. Category 1 EP minimum salary doubles to RM 20,000 from June 1, now just 13 days away.

Impact: Any EP rejection must reach your desk within 48 hours. Check every Category 1 EP holder salary in Malaysia today. June 1 is closer than it feels.

Saudi Arabia

Hajj Peak Days This Week, Makkah Fully Locked Down

What it means: Hajj falls approximately May 25 to 30. Makkah is completely closed to anyone without an official Hajj permit. Being caught inside Makkah on any other visa means SAR 20,000 fine, deportation and a 10 year ban. Umrah resumes around June 10.

Impact: No permit means no Makkah. Any client asking for help doing Hajj on a tourist visa gets a firm no.

Latin America

Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba and Others Still Frozen for US Immigrant Visas

What it means: Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and multiple other Latin American and Caribbean nations remain on the US immigrant visa freeze list that has been active since January 21, 2026 with no end date. This affects all green card processing done through US consulates in the region.

Impact: Latin American clients seeking US permanent residency face an indefinite wait with no clarity on when this freeze ends. This is the moment to have serious conversations about Canada, Spain, Portugal and other European pathways that remain fully open and actively welcoming Latin American professionals.

Africa

Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya and Dozens of Others Frozen for US Immigrant Visas

What it means: The majority of African nations including Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Gambia, Togo and many others remain on the US immigrant visa freeze that has been in force since January 21 with no announced end date.

Impact: African clients with long-standing US immigrant visa cases are in indefinite limbo. The most constructive thing a consultant can do right now is redirect these clients toward serious alternative pathways. Canada has active category draws for healthcare, trades and French language speakers. The UK Skilled Worker route has no lottery. Germany is actively recruiting across many sectors. Portugal's Golden Visa still provides a European residency pathway with a points-based citizenship option. Help your African clients understand they have real options beyond the US.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from other countries worldwide today.

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

Today's briefing covers countries across six continents and the pattern is clear. The United States has frozen immigrant visa pathways for nationals of 75 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East with no end date. This is the single biggest structural shift in global immigration in decades and most of those clients are still waiting and hoping rather than exploring alternatives. The consultants who will build long-term reputation and real revenue this year are the ones who sit down with every frozen US case client this week and have an honest conversation about Canada, UK, Australia, Germany and Portugal as genuine and fully functioning alternatives. Do not wait for the US freeze to lift. Nobody knows when or if it will. Help your clients move forward on pathways that are actually open today.