Australia raised post‑study work visa fees and tightened adjudications for applicants from South Asia as Canberra implemented new measures to counter perceived “non‑genuine” student inflows; grant rates fell sharply for applicants from India, Nepal and Bangladesh and the temporary graduate visa fee doubled to A$4,600. Officials framed the steps as integrity measures, but analysts warn the policy risks shrinking a key revenue and talent pipeline. In the U.S., a wrongfully deported student opted not to return after a high‑profile case highlighted immigration enforcement risks for international learners. The confluence of costlier visas, tougher entry scrutiny and deportation cases is reshaping institutions’ recruitment strategies and financial models that relied on mobile international cohorts. Colleges are now weighing contingency recruitment, alternative partnerships and localized delivery as they manage revenue and workforce implications of a more restrictive global mobility environment.