World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa & Immigration Update

Date: 22/08/2026


Country Wise Summary

Canada

Update – Express Entry

What it means

IRCC's 18 August Express Entry round invited 1,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates at a Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff of 523, the highest CEC score of 2026 and a sharp break from the 514 to 518 range that had held since April. The jump happened because IRCC cut the round size by two thirds compared with the 3,000 invitations issued in the previous CEC draw on 5 August, which meant only the highest ranked candidates in the pool cleared the cutoff. A separate French language proficiency round the next day, 19 August, issued 5,000 invitations at a much lower CRS of 399.

Impact

Consultants with CEC candidates sitting between 500 and 522 should not assume their profile is close to an invitation, since a single change in round size just added seven points to the cutoff overnight. Clients with strong French ability and a CRS score above 399 should be reminded that category based draws remain a faster route into the pool right now than the general CEC stream.

Canada

Update – Processing Times

What it means

IRCC's 19 August update to temporary residence processing times showed lengthening waits in several categories compared with the 12 August figures. The clearest increases were for US super visa applications and for visitor visa applications from Pakistan, both up by at least two weeks, while visitor record extensions filed from inside Canada remain elevated at 316 days. Pakistan based work permit applications moved the other way, improving by five weeks in the same update.

Impact

Consultants with US resident clients applying for a super visa to bring parents or grandparents to Canada should build the longer wait into travel planning now. Clients in Pakistan applying for a work permit can expect a faster outcome than a few weeks ago, but visitor visa applicants from Pakistan should expect the opposite, so check the specific category rather than assuming Pakistan processing has moved in one direction across the board.

China

Update – Visa-Free Transit And Hainan Entry

What it means

China's National Immigration Administration confirmed on 20 August that citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam are now covered by both the 240 hour visa-free transit program and Hainan's 30 day visa-free entry policy. The transit program now covers 57 countries and the Hainan policy covers 61, letting eligible travellers move through mainland China or enter Hainan for tourism, business, family visits, and similar short-term purposes without a visa.

Impact

Consultants with Vietnamese or Kyrgyz clients transiting through China to a third country, or travelling directly to Hainan, should confirm they now qualify for visa-free entry under these expanded lists rather than applying for a standard visa. Clients from either country planning multi-city China itineraries beyond a simple transit should still check whether their specific route and stay length fit within the 240 hour transit rules.

Vietnam

Update – Electronic Identification

What it means

Vietnam issued Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP on 13 August, removing the previous requirement that only holders of a Temporary Residence Card or Permanent Residence Card could register for a personal VNeID electronic identification account. From 28 September, any foreign national who has legally entered or is legally residing in Vietnam can apply for one, and the decree also removes the old distinction between Level 1 and Level 2 accounts. This closes a gap that had blocked some company legal representatives, those without a TRC or PRC, from registering the organizational VNeID that has been required for immigration filings since June.

Impact

Consultants with clients acting as legal representatives for a Vietnam registered company who were previously stuck because they could not get a personal VNeID should flag that this barrier clears from 28 September. Clients on any legal visa or permit type should be told they will soon be able to register for VNeID even without a residence card, simplifying access to government portals for future filings.

Peru / Mexico

Active Alert – Visa Requirement Under Review

What it means

At a bilateral meeting on 19 August, the first since the two countries restored diplomatic relations on 7 August, Peru formally asked Mexico to remove the visa requirement it imposed on Peruvian nationals in 2024. Mexico's government responded that it would evaluate the request rather than commit to a timeline. Mexico had introduced the visa citing a rise in Peruvians entering the country and then engaging in activity beyond tourism, with inconsistent documentation cited as a concern.

Impact

Consultants with Peruvian clients who need to transit through or travel to Mexico should continue advising them to apply for the Mexican visa as normal, since no change has been confirmed. This is a request under evaluation, not an approved policy change, so avoid telling clients a visa waiver is imminent until Mexico issues an official decision.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Oceania today.

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

When a processing time update moves in different directions for the same country, as with today's Canada figures showing Pakistan work permits speeding up while Pakistan visitor visas slow down, always check the specific application category rather than repeating a single headline number to every client from that country.