August 2025 Brings Big Education & Immigration Changes for Indians
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The August 2025 immigration update has brought light to many crucial changes that Indian students, professionals, and travellers must be aware of. From tuition fee hikes in England to visa discounts, US Immigration fee changes and new skilled based rules in Saudi Arabia, here is what is in store for August 2025 and beyond.
University Fees in England Rise From August 1, 2025
Starting from August 1, the undergraduate tuition fee in England is set to rise to GBP 9,535 per year, putting an end to the fee freeze which was in place since 2017. This rise of GBP 285 would affect both domestic students and PR holders in the UK.
To further address the affordability concerns, the UK government has also planned to increase maintenance loans for students. The increased tuition fee structure depends on university’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rating and its access and participation plan (APP):
| Tuition Fee (in GBP) | Category |
|---|---|
| 9,535 | TEF and APP Present |
| 9,275 | No TEF, But APP is Present |
| 6,355 | TEF Present but No APP |
| 6,185 | No TEF and APP |
The discounted fees apply for short term courses, sandwich placements, and study abroad programs, however the international students' tuition fees remain independently set by universities.
Read Next: eVisa Now Mandatory for International Students, Skilled Workers in UK
UK to Train 60,000 in Construction
As part of the GBP 600 million Skill Investment initiative the UK government has started a new foundation apprenticeship in construction, backed by GBP 40 million fund allocation.
Starting from August 2025, this program is expected to benefit Indian origin youth in the UK by helping them enter skilled trades through vocation training under the Youth Guarantee Scheme.
Overview of Latest US Visa Bulletin (August 2025)
According to the latest US visa bulletin the updates are as follows:
- EB - 2 India: No change
- EB - 3 Skilled & Other Workers: Moved ahead by 1 month
- EB - 5 Unreserved (India): Advanced by 6.5 months
- EB - 1: Still in backlog state for India (cut off current at February 15, 2022)
New US Immigration Form Fees Effective From July 22, 2025
The USCIS has introduced revised fees as part of the H.R.1 law, which was effective from July 22, 2025 and the application that are submitted after August 21, 2025 without the updated fees will be rejected. A note to major fee changes is mentioned as:
- Asylum (I-589): USD 100 (initial) + USD100 per year while pending
- Work Permit (I-765): USD 550 (first time), USD 275 (for renewal)
- TPS (I-821): Increased from USD 50 to USD 500
- SIJ (I-360): USD 250
Also Read: New US Visa Waiver Guidelines for Indian Applicants Starting September 2
Saudi Arabia Introduces Skill Based Permit System
Starting from August 3, 2025 Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory that all new foreign hires be classified under a skill based work permit system which applies to all new arrivals. The new classifications include:
- High Skill
- Skilled
- Basic
Factors used for classifications include:
- Educational qualifications
- Relevant years of work experience
- Technical training
- Current wages
- Age of the worker
Saudi remains as a prominent destination for Indian skilled workers with currently 2.65 million Indians employed in the country. Assessment would be carried out via the Qiwa Digital Platform and the new recruits would be mapped to nine groups including professionals, clerks, sales workers, machine operators, agricultural workers, etc.
Explore Your Immigration Options with GetGIS Dedicated Assistance
August 2025 marks significant momentum in global education and immigration policies in many major destinations, impacting both students and professionals alike. Let GetGIS help you navigate these immigration complexities ensure a successful visa process and immigration.
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