Hello, readers! Sage here.

November 2025 has brought an avalanche of migration policy news, making it one of the most volatile periods for international mobility this year. Across the board—from Washington to Westminster—governments are pivoting toward more restrictive and selective immigration models.

If you are currently applying for a green card in the US, hoping to settle in the UK, or planning to study in Canada, pay close attention to these three major updates.

🇺🇸 United States: The Reshaping of Admissibility

The focus of recent US announcements is primarily on making it significantly harder to transition from temporary status to Permanent Residency (Green Card) by expanding the grounds for inadmissibility.

1. Public Charge Rule Reinstatement Proposed

This is the most critical update for many applicants.

• The Proposal (Nov 17, 2025): The DHS proposed rescinding the 2022 rule and adopting a much broader interpretation of the “Public Charge” ground of inadmissibility.
• The Impact: The new policy would allow adjudicators to consider a wider range of past or future means-tested public benefits. This effectively lowers the threshold for denial, making it much more difficult for low-income immigrants to obtain a green card.

2. Tax Credits Reclassified (Nov 20, 2025)

The Treasury Department announced plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits (like the Earned Income Tax Credit) as “federal public benefits.”

• The Impact: This move is set to bar many immigrants with U.S. work authorization (including DACA and TPS recipients) from receiving these benefits.

3. TPS Terminations & Fee Increases

• TPS Ended: Terminated for Burma (Myanmar) (Nov 24) and South Sudan (Nov 5).
• EAD Renewals: Automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) have ended for many categories, creating a risk of work lapses.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom: The End of the 5-Year Settlement Path

The UK government announced the “biggest overhaul of the legal migration model in 50 years” on November 20, 2025.

1. Permanent Settlement Period Doubled

The general qualification period for permanent settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR) will be doubled to 10 yearsfor many new migrants.

• Extreme Cases: Migrants deemed reliant on benefits could face a 20-year wait for settlement.

2. Selective Exceptions

The government has created exceptions for Key Workers:

• Skilled Frontline Public Service Workers (Nurses & Doctors) will retain the faster 5-year pathway.
• High-Rate Taxpayers will also retain the 5-year path.

This clearly signals the UK’s preference for economically self-sufficient and public service-focused migrants.

💡 Sage’s Reality Check

The “Nurse” Privilege is Real The UK government just drew a line in the sand: Nurses wait 5 years. Everyone else waits 10-20 years.

If you are working as a Care Assistant and studying for your nursing exams, you cannot afford to wait.Upgrade your status now. Use our [Medical-Surgical Study Guide] to pass your exams, register as a Nurse, and lock in your 5-year settlement path before rules tighten further.

🇨🇦 Canada: Tamping Down Temporary Residents

Canada’s announcements focus on internal stability and transitioning existing workers to permanent status rather than importing new ones.

1. Temporary Resident Admissions Cut

Canada plans to reduce the total number of new temporary resident admissions (workers and students):

• 2025: 673,650 admissions
• 2026: 385,000 admissions (Target)

This includes a near 50% reduction in new international student admissions for 2026.

2. Permanent Residency Focus Shifts

The proportion of Economic Class immigrants (healthcare workers, trades) is set to increase to 64%.

• The Message: Canada is prioritizing transitioning the large pool of temporary workers and students already in the country into permanent residents before admitting new arrivals.

🎓 Sage’s Final Insight

The overarching theme of migration policy in late 2025 is selection and retention.

Countries are not necessarily closing their borders, but they are dramatically increasing the “cost” (financial, time, and benefit-related) to gain permanent status for all but the most highly skilled applicants.

In this new era, being “average” is risky. Being a registered, highly skilled professional is your only safety net.