World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa & Immigration Update

Date: 01/09/2026

Country Wise Summary

Canada

Big Alert – Hong Kong Permanent Residence Pathways

What it means

Canada's two dedicated permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents, known informally as the lifeboat scheme, stopped accepting new applications from 31 August. Stream A for graduates of Canadian post secondary institutions and Stream B for those with Canadian work experience both closed as scheduled after being introduced in 2021. IRCC has confirmed it will continue processing every application filed on or before 31 August under standard procedures, but no new files will be accepted through either stream from today onward.

As of 30 June, IRCC had received about 30,315 applications covering 48,560 people, of which more than 8,600 applications covering 13,485 people had been approved. Applicants already in the pipeline can continue holding an open work permit under a parallel public policy that runs until May 2029.

Impact

Consultants with Hong Kong nationals who did not submit before yesterday's deadline should tell them the dedicated pathway is now closed and move the conversation to alternative options such as Express Entry, provincial nominee programs, or the Canadian Experience Class, none of which offer the same recognition of the Hong Kong situation. Clients who did file before the deadline should be reassured their case will be processed and should also confirm eligibility for the open work permit route to maintain status while waiting.

United States

Active Alert – Immigrant Visa Interviews And Adjustment Of Status

What it means

The State Department's worldwide pause on immigrant visa interviews, first reported on 25 August, is now widely linked to preparation for a new DHS public charge policy that takes effect for adjustment of status applications on 18 September. USCIS has confirmed there is no pause on adjustment of status adjudications within the United States. Applicants scheduled for consular interviews abroad continue to receive cancellation notices with no rescheduled date, while USCIS domestic processing carries on as normal.

Impact

Consultants should now advise consular processing clients that the pause is likely to remain in place at least through the 18 September policy change, and possibly longer while officers are trained on the new standard. Clients pursuing adjustment of status inside the United States should file before 18 September where possible, since the new public charge framework will apply to any case pending or filed on or after that date.

Japan

Upcoming – Residence Permits And Permanent Residence

What it means

Japan's Cabinet formally approved the new residence permit fee ordinance on 25 August, with the Immigration Services Agency publishing the final transitional rules on 28 August. From 1 October, permanent residence applications will cost 200,000 yen, roughly 1,250 US dollars, up from 10,000 yen, a twenty fold increase. Change of status and extension applications move from a flat 6,000 yen to a tiered structure ranging from 10,000 yen for stays of up to three months to 75,000 yen for permits of five years or more, with online filings priced slightly lower. Applications filed on or before 30 September will remain subject to the current fee schedule regardless of when a decision is issued.

Impact

Consultants with clients holding a Japanese work, family, or long term visa should assess whether any renewal, status change, or permanent residence application can be filed before 30 September to lock in the current, much lower fee. This is a rare and clear cut opportunity to save clients real money simply through timing, particularly for permanent residence filings where the fee gap is most extreme.

Saudi Arabia

New – Work Visa Quotas

What it means

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced on 26 August a revised work visa quota system through the Qiwa platform that ties foreign recruitment capacity to Saudization performance from the moment of company formation. Businesses operating for less than two years are now capped at five work visas total. Companies over two years old can access up to 50 visas, submittable in a single application or over multiple filings within the same week. Companies enrolled in the Establishment Programme are subject to a separate two visa framework. The changes replace earlier rules that treated all employers the same regardless of company age or Saudization compliance.

Impact

Consultants advising employers setting up new operations in Saudi Arabia should reset workforce planning around the five visa ceiling for the first two years, and factor local Saudi hires in from day one rather than assuming Saudization can be addressed later. Established employers approaching foreign hiring at scale should verify their Nitaqat band before promising candidates a specific timeline.

Vietnam

Upcoming – Employer Compliance

What it means

Vietnam's Decree No. 283/2026/ND-CP, issued 15 July, takes effect in nine days on 10 September. It introduces standalone administrative penalties for employers who fail to notify authorities, notify late, or submit incomplete notifications about foreign employees, including cases where a worker holds a notification exemption but works across more than one province for the same employer. Organizations face fines generally double those applied to individuals, and there are new specific penalties for using forged or altered documents to obtain a work permit or work permit exemption.

Impact

Consultants with employer clients in Vietnam should complete a full compliance review this week rather than waiting for the effective date. Employees moving between provinces under a single employer deserve particular attention, since this is one of the most easily missed notification triggers under the new decree.

Hong Kong SAR

Update – Visa-Free Access

What it means

The reciprocal visa-free arrangements between Hong Kong and both Nicaragua and the Solomon Islands took effect on 26 August. Hong Kong SAR passport holders can now visit either country for up to 30 days without a visa, and nationals of both countries can enter Hong Kong on the same terms. The two additions bring the total number of destinations offering visa free or visa on arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders to 178.

Impact

Consultants with Hong Kong SAR passport holding clients planning business or leisure travel to either country can confirm the new visa free arrangements are now live. Clients from Solomon Islands or Nicaragua planning short visits to Hong Kong can enter without prior visa approval, though standard travel document checks still apply.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from Europe, Australia, the Middle East beyond Saudi Arabia, Africa, or South America dated specifically to the past few days that have not been covered in prior editions.

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

When a fee increase or policy change is set for a specific date weeks away, as with Japan's 1 October fee revision and the US 18 September public charge rule, always identify which clients would benefit from filing under the current rules and act on those cases first. Timing based savings and protections are one of the few opportunities where consultant expertise can save a client thousands of dollars without any change to the underlying case.