Stay up to date with the latest developments in international education with EdNews! Each month, we bring you essential updates on campus openings, relocations, mergers, new programs, team announcements, promotional opportunities for Edvisor agencies, and all the relevant news in the field of international education.
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New at CLA San Francisco: TechTalk Package for Ambitious Learners!
U.S. Student Visa Interviews Are BackāBut Expect Stricter Screening
New Zealand Launches Upgraded Student Visa System This August
Canada Updates PGWP-Eligible Programs for Non-Degree Students
Edvisor Launches New Loyalty Program to Reward Agency Performance
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š California Language Academy šµ Edvisor ID: cla |
š California šļø TechTalk |
California Language Academy is excited to introduce the TechTalk Package, a brand-new, two-week program at its San Francisco campus, created for students aged 16 and up who want to improve their English while exploring the world of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology.
San Francisco isnāt just a city; itās the global hub of the tech industry. This program offers students the chance to boost their language skills while exploring one of the most dynamic business environments in the world.
What makes the TechTalk Package stand out is its unique combination of English language learning and real-world business experiences. Students will join business-focused classes with other international learners and take part in exclusive tech and entrepreneurship-related activities like company visits, university lectures, hands-on workshops, and more.
One of the highlights is a full-day guided tour of Silicon Valley, including stops at Apple Park, GooglePlex, the Computer History Museum, and other iconic sites.
ā 12 hours/week of English classes
ā Business electives (IT, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & more)
ā 4 afternoon cultural & tech activities per week
ā Full-day Silicon Valley tour
ā Customized certificate upon completion
July 28
August 18
September 22
January 5, 2026
š° US $150 application fee + $1,299 for 2 weeks
Optional add-ons: ESL 18 upgrade, CLA Sutter accommodation, airport transfer
This is a fantastic short-term opportunity for tech-minded students to strengthen their English while experiencing the spirit of Silicon Valley firsthand.
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š Australian Institute of Language šµ Edvisor ID: ainsl |
š Melbourne šļø New Team Member |
The Australian Institute of Language (AIL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alyne Lopes as the new Country Marketing Manager for Brazil.
Alyne stepped into the role in May 2025, bringing fresh energy and valuable experience to lead AILās marketing and partnership efforts throughout the Brazilian market. She takes over the responsibilities previously held by Felipe FogaƧa, continuing his great work and building new opportunities for growth in the region.
With a solid background in international education and a deep understanding of Latin American markets, Alyne is well-positioned to support AILās expansion and strengthen relationships with partners across Brazil.
Based locally and working closely with the Melbourne team, she plays a key role in connecting AILās campus, located in the heart of Melbourneās CBD, with agencies and stakeholders throughout the region.
Her approach is grounded in strategic outreach, collaborative partnerships, and a strong commitment to student success.
The team at AIL is excited to have Alyne on board and looks forward to all the new connections and initiatives ahead!
The U.S. has announced the resumption of student visa interviews (F, M, and J visas) following a temporary global pause that began on May 27. The suspension was put in place while authorities finalized new vetting procedures, specifically focused on applicantsā online and social media activity.
Under the new guidance, all student and exchange visa applicants will now be required to make their social media profiles public so that consular officers can conduct a more thorough review as part of the application process.
Embassies have been instructed to assess applicantsā online presence for any signs of:
Hostility toward American values, institutions, or society
Support or promotion of terrorist organizations or antisemitic violence
Political activism that may raise national security concerns, with specific reference to support for Hamas
These factors wonāt automatically disqualify a candidate, but they will prompt further investigation to determine if the applicantās intentions align with the conditions of a non-immigrant visa.
The State Department has confirmed that embassies and consulates will gradually begin offering appointments again, but also acknowledged that processing times may increase due to the added complexity of the new screening process. Thereās no official word yet on whether additional resources will be allocated to speed things up.
To manage demand, embassies have reportedly been encouraged to prioritize applications to institutions where international students make up 15% or less of the total enrollment.
The recent pause drew criticism from education stakeholders, who warned that prolonged delays could severely impact students hoping to begin programs this fall. Advocacy groups pushed for urgent action, prompting the reinstatement of interviews this week.
Starting August 18, all student visa applications for New Zealand will be processed through a new online platform, as part of a broader digital transformation by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
The enhanced system, called ADEPT, is the latest milestone in a seven-year modernization initiative called Our Future Services, which aims to deliver faster, more transparent, and user-friendly immigration experiences for both applicants and staff.
According to INZ, the new student visa application process was developed in close collaboration with international students, immigration advisors, and the education sector, with a focus on streamlining approvals and improving communication.
From August 18, all new student visa applicants will be automatically redirected to the new ADEPT platform.
Applications submitted on or before August 17 will continue under the current system.
Any draft applications not submitted by August 17 can still be completed until September 17, 2025, but only within the old system.
The new platform promises:
Simpler forms
Faster processing times
Clearer status updates
Expanded self-service tools to help applicants stay informed
Despite the upcoming transition, INZ strongly encourages students not to delay their applications if theyāre ready to apply now. The current recommendation remains: apply at least three months before your planned travel date.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant update to the list of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible programs for international students enrolled in non-degree courses at publicly funded institutions.
Introduced in November 2024, the policy links PGWP eligibility for non-degree students to specific fields of study aligned with long-term labour shortages in Canada. To qualify, students must complete a program in one of these eligible fields and meet language requirements.
As of June 25, 2025, IRCC has updated the official list of eligible programs, adding 119 new fields of study across sectors such as health care, education, and skilled trades. At the same time, 178 programs were removed, as they are no longer associated with occupations facing long-term shortages.
In total, 920 programs now fall under the six broad eligible categories:
Agriculture & agri-food
Education
Health care & social services
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Skilled trades
Transport
Importantly, IRCC confirmed that students who applied for a study permit before June 25 will still be eligible for the PGWP based on the list in effect at the time of their application, even if their field has since been removed.
Note: These changes only apply to non-degree programs. Students enrolled in a bachelorās degree or higher at a public institution remain eligible for a PGWP regardless of their field of study.
For the complete list of currently eligible programs, IRCC has made the updated information available online.
Edvisor has officially introduced Edvisor Rewards, a new loyalty program designed to recognize agency partners for their ongoing activity on the platform. The initiative rewards agencies with points for key actionsāsuch as processing student payments and selling insurance through Edvisorās integrated toolsāwhich can then be redeemed for student scholarships offered by participating schools.
More than just a perk system, Edvisor Rewards aims to strengthen the collaboration between agencies and schools by turning daily operations into tangible benefits for students. With scholarships provided directly by schools, the program enhances accessibility and support across the entire student journey.
The launch of this program aligns with Edvisorās recent product updates, including its global payment solutions and in-platform insurance tools, both of which help agencies streamline their operations and better serve their clients, all in one place.
The rewards program operates on a tiered model, Classic, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, where the level of activity each quarter determines an agencyās tier and corresponding reward multipliers. A dedicated Rewards Calculator on the programās landing page allows users to estimate their potential earnings and see what benefits are available at each level.
With this initiative, Edvisor reinforces its mission to drive shared growth between agencies and schools, rewarding daily work with real, trackable value.
Agencies can now register for the program and explore all available benefits on the Edvisor Rewards page.