docs/features/account-registration.md

@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ anyone may sign up, confirm their email, and then be approved by a studio admin
 before the account can be used. Both modes coexist — invites keep working when
 open registration is on.
 
+A studio admin can also generate a **group invite link** — a multi-use, tokenised
+link with an explicit expiry date (e.g. for a newsletter). Anyone with the link
+may register while it is valid, regardless of the registration mode: they supply
+their own email, must confirm it, and are then **approved automatically** —
+group-link signups never enter the Pending Students queue.
+
 ## Registration Modes
 Stored in the `us_registration_mode` option (default `invite`), toggled from
 **Studio Settings → Registration**:
@@ -59,14 +65,16 @@ confirmation token's SHA-256 hash is stored; the token expires after 48h
 | Column             | Type             | Notes                                                  |
 |--------------------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
 | `id`               | BIGINT UNSIGNED  | Primary key                                            |
-| `email`            | VARCHAR(191)     | Invited email address                                  |
+| `email`            | VARCHAR(191)     | Invited email address; empty string for group links     |
 | `token`            | VARCHAR(64)      | SHA-256 hash of the token embedded in the registration link (raw token is never stored) |
 | `role`             | VARCHAR(32)      | Role granted on acceptance (default `us_student`)       |
-| `status`           | VARCHAR(20)      | `pending` / `accepted` / `revoked`                     |
+| `kind`             | VARCHAR(10)      | `personal` (single-use, per email) or `group` (multi-use link) |
+| `status`           | VARCHAR(20)      | `pending` / `accepted` / `revoked` (group links stay `pending` until revoked/expired) |
 | `invited_by`       | BIGINT UNSIGNED  | WordPress user ID of the studio admin who invited       |
-| `accepted_user_id` | BIGINT UNSIGNED  | The created user's ID once accepted; NULL while pending  |
+| `accepted_user_id` | BIGINT UNSIGNED  | The created user's ID once accepted; NULL while pending / for group links |
 | `created_at`       | DATETIME         | Insertion time                                         |
-| `accepted_at`      | DATETIME         | When accepted; NULL while pending                      |
+| `accepted_at`      | DATETIME         | When accepted; NULL while pending / for group links     |
+| `expires_at`       | DATETIME         | Explicit expiry (end of the chosen day); set on every group link, NULL for personal invites (which expire 14 days after creation) |
 
 ## Policy Acceptance Scope
 Policies declare **when** they must be accepted via `us_policies.acceptance_scope`:
@@ -88,11 +96,19 @@ recorded in `us_policy_acceptances` with `registration_type = account` and
 4. The applicant opens the emailed `?us_confirm=<token>` link → email confirmed, studio admins notified.
 5. Studio admin approves under **Students → Pending Students** → pending flags cleared, student emailed; they can now log in and book. Rejection deletes the account.
 
+## Flow (group invite link)
+1. Studio admin opens **Invites** and generates a **group link**, choosing the expiry date (required; the link stops working at the end of that day). The link is shown **once**, like personal invite links.
+2. Anyone opens the link while it is pending and unexpired — in **any** registration mode — and the form collects an **editable email**, display name, password, and the signup policies.
+3. On submit the account is created pending with the auto-approve marker (`RegistrationStatus::markPending($userId, autoApprove: true)`, meta `us_auto_approve`) and a confirmation email is sent. The invite row is **not** marked accepted — the link remains usable by others.
+4. Opening the `?us_confirm=<token>` link confirms the email and **approves the account immediately** (`EmailConfirmationHandler`): no admin heads-up, no Pending Students entry; the student gets the "approved" email and the page shows a "ready to use" notice (`?us_confirmed=ready`) with a sign-in link.
+5. The link can be revoked at any time from the Invites page.
+
 ## Admin Interface
 **Invites** in wp-admin (`manage_students`, studio admin only):
 - Select the **registration page** (the page hosting `[us_student_register]`), stored in the `us_registration_page_id` option; invitation links point there (falling back to the home page if unset)
 - Invite an email (creates a pending invite; the link is displayed once, at creation only)
-- List pending invites (email + invited date); revoke an invite
+- Generate a **group invite link** with a required expiry date (link displayed once)
+- List pending invites (email or "Group link", created + expiry dates); revoke an invite
 
 **Pending Students** — submenu under Students (`manage_students`), only relevant in `self_approval` mode:
 - "Awaiting approval" (email confirmed) — approve or reject

src/Auth/EmailConfirmationHandler.php

@@ -55,6 +55,21 @@ class EmailConfirmationHandler {
 		RegistrationStatus::confirmEmail( $userId );
 
 		$user = get_user_by( 'id', $userId );
+
+		// Group invite link signups skip the admin review queue: confirming the
+		// email approves the account on the spot, so the student can sign in
+		// immediately instead of waiting for a studio admin.
+		if ( RegistrationStatus::isAutoApprove( $userId ) ) {
+			RegistrationStatus::approve( $userId );
+
+			if ( $user instanceof \WP_User ) {
+				$this->mailer->sendApproved( $user );
+			}
+
+			wp_safe_redirect( add_query_arg( 'us_confirmed', 'ready', $base ) );
+			exit;
+		}
+
 		if ( $user instanceof \WP_User ) {
 			$this->mailer->notifyAdminsPending( $user );
 		}

src/Auth/Invite.php

@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ class Invite {
 	public const STATUS_ACCEPTED = 'accepted';
 	public const STATUS_REVOKED  = 'revoked';
 
+	/** Single-use invite addressed to one email. */
+	public const KIND_PERSONAL = 'personal';
+
+	/** Multi-use shareable link (e.g. for a newsletter) with an explicit expiry. */
+	public const KIND_GROUP = 'group';
+
 	/**
 	 * All valid invite statuses.
 	 *
@@ -43,6 +49,8 @@ class Invite {
 		public readonly ?int $acceptedUserId = null,
 		public readonly ?string $acceptedAt = null,
 		public readonly ?string $createdAt = null,
+		public readonly string $kind = self::KIND_PERSONAL,
+		public readonly ?string $expiresAt = null,
 		public readonly ?int $id = null,
 	) {}
 
@@ -56,27 +64,44 @@ class Invite {
 			acceptedUserId: Val::intOrNull( $row->accepted_user_id ),
 			acceptedAt:     Val::stringOrNull( $row->accepted_at ),
 			createdAt:      Val::stringOrNull( $row->created_at ?? null ),
+			kind:           '' !== Val::string( $row->kind ?? '' ) ? Val::string( $row->kind ) : self::KIND_PERSONAL,
+			expiresAt:      Val::stringOrNull( $row->expires_at ?? null ),
 			id:             Val::int( $row->id ),
 		);
 	}
 
+	public function isGroup(): bool {
+		return self::KIND_GROUP === $this->kind;
+	}
+
 	public function isPending(): bool {
 		return self::STATUS_PENDING === $this->status;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Whether the invite was created more than {@see EXPIRY_DAYS} ago, measured
-	 * against the supplied current `Y-m-d H:i:s` timestamp. An invite with no
-	 * known creation time is treated as not expired.
+	 * Whether the invite has expired, measured against the supplied current
+	 * `Y-m-d H:i:s` timestamp. An explicit `expires_at` (set on every group
+	 * link) wins; otherwise a personal invite expires {@see EXPIRY_DAYS} after
+	 * creation. An invite with neither timestamp is treated as not expired.
 	 */
 	public function isExpired( string $now ): bool {
+		$current = strtotime( $now );
+		if ( false === $current ) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if ( null !== $this->expiresAt ) {
+			$expires = strtotime( $this->expiresAt );
+
+			return false !== $expires && $current > $expires;
+		}
+
 		if ( null === $this->createdAt ) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
 		$created = strtotime( $this->createdAt );
-		$current = strtotime( $now );
-		if ( false === $created || false === $current ) {
+		if ( false === $created ) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -101,10 +126,12 @@ class Invite {
 			'email'            => $this->email,
 			'token'            => $this->token,
 			'role'             => $this->role,
+			'kind'             => $this->kind,
 			'status'           => $this->status,
 			'invited_by'       => $this->invitedBy,
 			'accepted_user_id' => $this->acceptedUserId,
 			'accepted_at'      => $this->acceptedAt,
+			'expires_at'       => $this->expiresAt,
 		];
 	}
 }

src/Auth/InviteRepository.php

@@ -18,13 +18,15 @@ class InviteRepository {
 				'email'            => $invite->email,
 				'token'            => $invite->token,
 				'role'             => $invite->role,
+				'kind'             => $invite->kind,
 				'status'           => $invite->status,
 				'invited_by'       => $invite->invitedBy,
 				'accepted_user_id' => $invite->acceptedUserId,
 				'created_at'       => current_time( 'mysql' ),
 				'accepted_at'      => $invite->acceptedAt,
+				'expires_at'       => $invite->expiresAt,
 			],
-			[ '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%d', '%d', '%s', '%s' ]
+			[ '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%d', '%d', '%s', '%s', '%s' ]
 		);
 
 		return $this->db->insert_id;

src/Auth/RegistrationController.php

@@ -67,6 +67,26 @@ class RegistrationController {
 			}
 		}
 
+		if ( 'group_invite' === $action ) {
+			$expiresAt = $this->normalizeExpiry( sanitize_text_field( Val::string( wp_unslash( $_POST['expires_at'] ?? '' ) ) ) );
+
+			if ( null !== $expiresAt ) {
+				$rawToken = wp_generate_password( 32, false );
+
+				$this->invites->insert(
+					new Invite(
+						email:     '',
+						token:     Invite::hashToken( $rawToken ),
+						invitedBy: get_current_user_id(),
+						kind:      Invite::KIND_GROUP,
+						expiresAt: $expiresAt,
+					)
+				);
+
+				return $this->registrationLink( $rawToken );
+			}
+		}
+
 		if ( 'revoke' === $action ) {
 			$inviteId = absint( Val::int( $_POST['invite_id'] ?? 0 ) );
 			if ( $inviteId > 0 ) {
@@ -78,6 +98,23 @@ class RegistrationController {
 		return '';
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Validate a submitted group-link expiry date (strict `Y-m-d`, today or
+	 * later) and expand it to the end of that day; null when invalid or past.
+	 */
+	private function normalizeExpiry( string $date ): ?string {
+		$day = \DateTimeImmutable::createFromFormat( '!Y-m-d', $date );
+		if ( false === $day || $day->format( 'Y-m-d' ) !== $date ) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		if ( $date < Val::string( current_time( 'Y-m-d' ) ) ) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		return $date . ' 23:59:59';
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Build the registration URL for a raw invite token.
 	 */

src/Auth/RegistrationPage.php

@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ class RegistrationPage {
 	/** Success signal: a self-signup was created and must confirm their email. */
 	private const RESULT_CONFIRM = 'confirm';
 
+	/**
+	 * Success signal: a group-link signup was created and must confirm their
+	 * email — confirming approves the account immediately (no admin review).
+	 */
+	private const RESULT_CONFIRM_GROUP = 'confirm_group';
+
 	public function __construct(
 		private InviteRepository $invites,
 		private PolicyRepository $policies,
@@ -56,7 +62,7 @@ class RegistrationPage {
 
 		if ( isset( $_POST['us_register'] ) && check_admin_referer( 'us_student_register' ) ) {
 			$result = $this->handleSubmit( $invite, $open );
-			if ( in_array( $result, [ self::RESULT_INVITE, self::RESULT_CONFIRM ], true ) ) {
+			if ( in_array( $result, [ self::RESULT_INVITE, self::RESULT_CONFIRM, self::RESULT_CONFIRM_GROUP ], true ) ) {
 				$successType = $result;
 			} else {
 				$error = $result;
@@ -128,8 +134,9 @@ class RegistrationPage {
 			return esc_html__( 'Please choose a password of at least 8 characters.', 'unsupervised-schedular' );
 		}
 
-		// The email is fixed by the invite when there is one; self-signups supply it.
-		if ( $inviteValid ) {
+		// The email is fixed by a personal invite; group-link signups and
+		// self-signups supply their own.
+		if ( $inviteValid && ! $invite->isGroup() ) {
 			$email = $invite->email;
 		} else {
 			$email = sanitize_email( Val::string( wp_unslash( $_POST['email'] ?? '' ) ) );
@@ -169,7 +176,7 @@ class RegistrationPage {
 
 		$this->recordAcceptances( $policyForms, (int) $userId );
 
-		if ( $inviteValid ) {
+		if ( $inviteValid && ! $invite->isGroup() ) {
 			$this->invites->markAccepted( (int) $invite->id, (int) $userId );
 
 			wp_set_current_user( (int) $userId );
@@ -178,15 +185,19 @@ class RegistrationPage {
 			return self::RESULT_INVITE;
 		}
 
-		// Self-approval: hold the account pending, email a confirmation link, and
-		// do NOT log the user in — they must confirm and be approved first.
-		$rawToken = RegistrationStatus::markPending( (int) $userId );
+		// Group-link signups and self-signups both stay pending until they
+		// confirm their email; the group link is multi-use so it is never marked
+		// accepted. A group signup auto-approves on confirmation — no admin
+		// review — while a self-signup then waits for studio approval.
+		$autoApprove = $inviteValid && $invite->isGroup();
+
+		$rawToken = RegistrationStatus::markPending( (int) $userId, $autoApprove );
 		$user     = get_user_by( 'id', (int) $userId );
 		if ( $user instanceof \WP_User ) {
 			$this->mailer->sendConfirmation( $user, $this->confirmUrl( $rawToken ) );
 		}
 
-		return self::RESULT_CONFIRM;
+		return $autoApprove ? self::RESULT_CONFIRM_GROUP : self::RESULT_CONFIRM;
 	}
 
 	/**

src/Auth/RegistrationStatus.php

@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ class RegistrationStatus {
 	public const META_CONFIRM_TOKEN     = 'us_email_confirm_token';
 	public const META_CONFIRM_EXPIRES   = 'us_email_confirm_expires';
 
+	/**
+	 * Set on accounts created via a group invite link: confirming the email
+	 * approves the account immediately instead of queueing it for admin review.
+	 */
+	public const META_AUTO_APPROVE = 'us_auto_approve';
+
 	/**
 	 * Hours a self-signup email-confirmation link stays valid after the account
 	 * is created. Limits the window in which a leaked link can be redeemed.
@@ -45,8 +51,10 @@ class RegistrationStatus {
 	/**
 	 * Put a freshly created user into the pending state and issue an email
 	 * confirmation token. Returns the raw token to embed in the emailed link.
+	 * With `$autoApprove` (group invite links) confirming the email approves
+	 * the account immediately — no admin review step.
 	 */
-	public static function markPending( int $userId ): string {
+	public static function markPending( int $userId, bool $autoApprove = false ): string {
 		$rawToken = wp_generate_password( 32, false );
 
 		update_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AWAITING_APPROVAL, '1' );
@@ -57,6 +65,10 @@ class RegistrationStatus {
 			gmdate( 'Y-m-d H:i:s', time() + self::EMAIL_CONFIRM_EXPIRY_HOURS * 3600 )
 		);
 
+		if ( $autoApprove ) {
+			update_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AUTO_APPROVE, '1' );
+		}
+
 		return $rawToken;
 	}
 
@@ -78,12 +90,21 @@ class RegistrationStatus {
 		delete_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AWAITING_APPROVAL );
 		delete_user_meta( $userId, self::META_CONFIRM_TOKEN );
 		delete_user_meta( $userId, self::META_CONFIRM_EXPIRES );
+		delete_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AUTO_APPROVE );
 	}
 
 	public static function isAwaitingApproval( int $userId ): bool {
 		return '1' === Val::string( get_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AWAITING_APPROVAL, true ) );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether confirming this account's email should approve it immediately
+	 * (group invite link signups).
+	 */
+	public static function isAutoApprove( int $userId ): bool {
+		return '1' === Val::string( get_user_meta( $userId, self::META_AUTO_APPROVE, true ) );
+	}
+
 	public static function emailConfirmed( int $userId ): bool {
 		return '1' === Val::string( get_user_meta( $userId, self::META_EMAIL_CONFIRMED, true ) );
 	}

src/Schema.php

@@ -186,11 +186,13 @@ class Schema {
                 email            VARCHAR(191)    NOT NULL,
                 token            VARCHAR(64)     NOT NULL,
                 role             VARCHAR(32)     NOT NULL DEFAULT 'us_student',
+                kind             VARCHAR(10)     NOT NULL DEFAULT 'personal',
                 status           VARCHAR(20)     NOT NULL DEFAULT 'pending',
                 invited_by       BIGINT UNSIGNED DEFAULT NULL,
                 accepted_user_id BIGINT UNSIGNED DEFAULT NULL,
                 created_at       DATETIME        NOT NULL,
                 accepted_at      DATETIME        DEFAULT NULL,
+                expires_at       DATETIME        DEFAULT NULL,
                 PRIMARY KEY (id),
                 UNIQUE KEY token (token),
                 KEY email (email),

templates/admin/invites.php

@@ -66,6 +66,23 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
         <?php submit_button(esc_html__('Generate Invitation Link', 'unsupervised-schedular')); ?>
     </form>
 
+    <h2><?php esc_html_e('Group Invite Link', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></h2>
+    <p class="description"><?php esc_html_e('Generate a shareable link (e.g. for a newsletter). Anyone with the link can register until it expires: they enter their own email and must confirm it, but no admin approval is needed afterwards.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
+    <form method="post">
+        <?php wp_nonce_field('usc_invite_action'); ?>
+        <input type="hidden" name="usc_action" value="group_invite">
+        <table class="form-table">
+            <tr>
+                <th><label for="expires_at"><?php esc_html_e('Expires on', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></label></th>
+                <td>
+                    <input type="date" name="expires_at" id="expires_at" required min="<?php echo esc_attr((string) current_time('Y-m-d')); ?>">
+                    <p class="description"><?php esc_html_e('The link stops working at the end of this day.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
+                </td>
+            </tr>
+        </table>
+        <?php submit_button(esc_html__('Generate Group Link', 'unsupervised-schedular')); ?>
+    </form>
+
     <h2><?php esc_html_e('Pending Invites', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></h2>
 
     <?php if (empty($pendingInvites)) : ?>
@@ -74,8 +91,9 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
         <table class="wp-list-table widefat fixed striped">
             <thead>
                 <tr>
-                    <th><?php esc_html_e('Email', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
-                    <th><?php esc_html_e('Invited', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
+                    <th><?php esc_html_e('Invite', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
+                    <th><?php esc_html_e('Created', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
+                    <th><?php esc_html_e('Expires', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
                     <th><?php esc_html_e('Actions', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></th>
                 </tr>
             </thead>
@@ -84,7 +102,7 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
                 <?php foreach ($pendingInvites as $invite) : ?>
                     <tr>
                         <td>
-                            <?php echo esc_html($invite->email); ?>
+                            <?php echo $invite->isGroup() ? esc_html__('Group link', 'unsupervised-schedular') : esc_html($invite->email); ?>
                             <?php if ($invite->isExpired($now)) : ?>
                                 <span class="us-invite-expired" style="color:#b32d2e;">— <?php esc_html_e('expired', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></span>
                             <?php endif; ?>
@@ -92,6 +110,9 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
                         <td>
                             <?php echo esc_html((string) $invite->createdAt); ?>
                         </td>
+                        <td>
+                            <?php echo esc_html($invite->expiresAt !== null ? (string) mysql2date('M j, Y', $invite->expiresAt) : '—'); ?>
+                        </td>
                         <td>
                             <form method="post" style="display:inline;">
                                 <?php wp_nonce_field('usc_invite_action'); ?>

templates/frontend/register-page.php

@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
  * @var string $token Raw invite token from the request (only its hash is stored).
  * @var bool   $canRegister
  * @var bool   $open   Whether open (self-approval) registration is enabled.
- * @var string $successType '' | 'invite' (created + logged in) | 'confirm' (check email).
- * @var string $confirmResult '' | '1' (email confirmed) | 'expired'.
+ * @var string $successType '' | 'invite' (created + logged in) | 'confirm' (check email) | 'confirm_group' (check email; auto-approved on confirm).
+ * @var string $confirmResult '' | '1' (email confirmed, awaiting approval) | 'ready' (confirmed + auto-approved) | 'expired'.
  * @var string $loginUrl Where the post-confirmation sign-in link points.
  * @var string $error
  * @var list<array{policy: \Unsupervised\Schedular\Policy\Policy, version: \Unsupervised\Schedular\Policy\PolicyVersion}> $policyForms
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
         <p class="us-success"><?php esc_html_e('Your account has been created and you are now logged in.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
     <?php elseif ($successType === 'confirm') : ?>
         <p class="us-success"><?php esc_html_e('Your account has been created. Check your email for a link to confirm your address — once you do, a studio admin will review and approve your account.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
+    <?php elseif ($successType === 'confirm_group') : ?>
+        <p class="us-success"><?php esc_html_e('Your account has been created. Check your email for a link to confirm your address — once you do, your account is ready to use.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
+    <?php elseif ($confirmResult === 'ready') : ?>
+        <p class="us-success"><?php esc_html_e('Thanks — your email is confirmed and your account is ready to use.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
+        <p><a href="<?php echo esc_url($loginUrl); ?>"><?php esc_html_e('Sign in to your account', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></a></p>
     <?php elseif ($confirmResult === '1') : ?>
         <p class="us-success"><?php esc_html_e('Thanks — your email is confirmed. Your account is now awaiting studio approval; we will email you when it is ready.', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></p>
         <p><a href="<?php echo esc_url($loginUrl); ?>"><?php esc_html_e('Sign in to your account', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></a></p>
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@ if (! defined('ABSPATH')) {
 
                 <p>
                     <label for="us-reg-email"><?php esc_html_e('Email', 'unsupervised-schedular'); ?></label>
-                    <?php if ($inviteValid && $invite !== null) : ?>
+                    <?php if ($inviteValid && $invite !== null && ! $invite->isGroup()) : ?>
                         <input type="email" id="us-reg-email" value="<?php echo esc_attr($invite->email); ?>" readonly>
                     <?php else : ?>
                         <input type="email" name="email" id="us-reg-email" autocomplete="email" required>

tests/Unit/Auth/EmailConfirmationHandlerTest.php

@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace Unsupervised\Schedular\Tests\Unit\Auth;
 
 use Brain\Monkey\Functions;
+use Mockery;
 use Unsupervised\Schedular\Auth\EmailConfirmationHandler;
 use Unsupervised\Schedular\Auth\RegistrationController;
 use Unsupervised\Schedular\Auth\RegistrationMailer;
+use Unsupervised\Schedular\Auth\RegistrationStatus;
 use Unsupervised\Schedular\Payment\StudioSettings;
 use Unsupervised\Schedular\Tests\Unit\TestCase;
 
@@ -22,9 +24,84 @@ class EmailConfirmationHandlerTest extends TestCase
     protected function tearDown(): void
     {
         unset($_REQUEST['action']);
+        $_GET = [];
         parent::tearDown();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Stub everything maybeConfirm() needs for a valid token belonging to user
+     * 9, with wp_safe_redirect throwing so the redirect URL can be asserted.
+     *
+     * @param bool $autoApprove Whether user 9 carries the auto-approve marker.
+     */
+    private function stubConfirmContext(bool $autoApprove): void
+    {
+        $this->stubMode(StudioSettings::MODE_INVITE);
+        Functions\when('is_admin')->justReturn(false);
+        Functions\when('sanitize_text_field')->returnArg();
+        Functions\when('get_permalink')->justReturn('http://wp/register/');
+        Functions\when('add_query_arg')->alias(static fn (string $k, string $v, string $u): string => $u . '?' . $k . '=' . $v);
+        Functions\when('get_users')->justReturn([9]);
+        Functions\when('get_user_meta')->alias(static function (int $id, string $key) use ($autoApprove) {
+            if ($key === RegistrationStatus::META_CONFIRM_EXPIRES) {
+                return '2030-01-01 00:00:00';
+            }
+            if ($key === RegistrationStatus::META_AUTO_APPROVE) {
+                return $autoApprove ? '1' : '';
+            }
+            return '';
+        });
+        Functions\when('update_user_meta')->justReturn(true);
+        Functions\when('delete_user_meta')->justReturn(true);
+        Functions\when('wp_safe_redirect')->alias(static function (string $url): void {
+            throw new \RuntimeException('redirect:' . $url);
+        });
+
+        $_GET['us_confirm'] = 'rawtoken';
+    }
+
+    public function testConfirmAutoApprovesGroupLinkSignupWithoutAdminReview(): void
+    {
+        $this->stubConfirmContext(true);
+
+        $user = Mockery::mock(\WP_User::class);
+        Functions\when('get_user_by')->justReturn($user);
+
+        $mailer = Mockery::mock(RegistrationMailer::class);
+        $mailer->shouldReceive('sendApproved')->once()->with($user)->andReturn(true);
+        $mailer->shouldNotReceive('notifyAdminsPending');
+
+        $handler = new EmailConfirmationHandler(new StudioSettings(), $mailer);
+
+        try {
+            $handler->maybeConfirm();
+            self::fail('Expected a redirect');
+        } catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
+            self::assertStringContainsString('us_confirmed=ready', $e->getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    public function testConfirmWithoutAutoApproveNotifiesAdminsAndStaysPending(): void
+    {
+        $this->stubConfirmContext(false);
+
+        $user = Mockery::mock(\WP_User::class);
+        Functions\when('get_user_by')->justReturn($user);
+
+        $mailer = Mockery::mock(RegistrationMailer::class);
+        $mailer->shouldReceive('notifyAdminsPending')->once()->with($user)->andReturn(true);
+        $mailer->shouldNotReceive('sendApproved');
+
+        $handler = new EmailConfirmationHandler(new StudioSettings(), $mailer);
+
+        try {
+            $handler->maybeConfirm();
+            self::fail('Expected a redirect');
+        } catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
+            self::assertStringContainsString('us_confirmed=1', $e->getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
     private function handler(): EmailConfirmationHandler
     {
         return new EmailConfirmationHandler(new StudioSettings(), new RegistrationMailer());

tests/Unit/Auth/InviteRepositoryTest.php

@@ -34,16 +34,40 @@ class InviteRepositoryTest extends TestCase
                 Mockery::on(static function (array $d): bool {
                     return $d['email'] === '[email protected]'
                         && $d['token'] === 'tok123'
+                        && $d['kind'] === Invite::KIND_PERSONAL
                         && $d['status'] === Invite::STATUS_PENDING
-                        && $d['invited_by'] === 2;
+                        && $d['invited_by'] === 2
+                        && $d['expires_at'] === null;
                 }),
-                ['%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%d', '%d', '%s', '%s']
+                ['%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%d', '%d', '%s', '%s', '%s']
             );
         $this->db->insert_id = 5;
 
         self::assertSame(5, $this->repo->insert(new Invite('[email protected]', 'tok123', invitedBy: 2)));
     }
 
+    public function testInsertPersistsGroupKindAndExpiry(): void
+    {
+        Functions\expect('current_time')->with('mysql')->andReturn('2026-06-02 09:00:00');
+
+        $this->db->shouldReceive('insert')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(
+                'wp_us_invites',
+                Mockery::on(static function (array $d): bool {
+                    return $d['email'] === ''
+                        && $d['kind'] === Invite::KIND_GROUP
+                        && $d['expires_at'] === '2026-08-31 23:59:59';
+                }),
+                Mockery::type('array')
+            );
+        $this->db->insert_id = 6;
+
+        $invite = new Invite('', 'tok456', invitedBy: 2, kind: Invite::KIND_GROUP, expiresAt: '2026-08-31 23:59:59');
+
+        self::assertSame(6, $this->repo->insert($invite));
+    }
+
     public function testFindByTokenReturnsInvite(): void
     {
         $this->db->shouldReceive('prepare')

tests/Unit/Auth/InviteTest.php

@@ -95,6 +95,52 @@ class InviteTest extends TestCase
         self::assertFalse($invite->isAcceptable('2026-06-02 09:00:00'));
     }
 
+    public function testGroupInviteHonoursExplicitExpiry(): void
+    {
+        $invite = new Invite(
+            '',
+            'tok',
+            createdAt: '2026-06-01 09:00:00',
+            kind: Invite::KIND_GROUP,
+            expiresAt: '2026-08-31 23:59:59'
+        );
+
+        self::assertTrue($invite->isGroup());
+        // 19 days after creation — past the personal 14-day window, but the
+        // explicit expiry governs.
+        self::assertFalse($invite->isExpired('2026-06-20 09:00:00'));
+        self::assertTrue($invite->isAcceptable('2026-06-20 09:00:00'));
+
+        self::assertTrue($invite->isExpired('2026-09-01 00:00:00'));
+        self::assertFalse($invite->isAcceptable('2026-09-01 00:00:00'));
+    }
+
+    public function testExplicitExpiryWinsOverCreationWindowForPersonalInvites(): void
+    {
+        $invite = new Invite('[email protected]', 'tok', createdAt: '2026-06-01 09:00:00', expiresAt: '2026-06-02 23:59:59');
+
+        // One day old (inside the 14-day window) but past its explicit expiry.
+        self::assertTrue($invite->isExpired('2026-06-03 09:00:00'));
+    }
+
+    public function testFromRowDefaultsKindWhenColumnMissing(): void
+    {
+        $invite = Invite::fromRow((object) [
+            'id'               => '5',
+            'email'            => '[email protected]',
+            'token'            => 'tok123',
+            'role'             => RoleManager::STUDENT,
+            'status'           => Invite::STATUS_PENDING,
+            'invited_by'       => null,
+            'accepted_user_id' => null,
+            'accepted_at'      => null,
+        ]);
+
+        self::assertSame(Invite::KIND_PERSONAL, $invite->kind);
+        self::assertFalse($invite->isGroup());
+        self::assertNull($invite->expiresAt);
+    }
+
     public function testHashTokenIsDeterministicSha256(): void
     {
         $hash = Invite::hashToken('raw-token');
@@ -109,7 +155,7 @@ class InviteTest extends TestCase
     {
         $arr = (new Invite('[email protected]', 'tok', id: 1))->toArray();
 
-        foreach (['id', 'email', 'token', 'role', 'status', 'invited_by', 'accepted_user_id', 'accepted_at'] as $key) {
+        foreach (['id', 'email', 'token', 'role', 'kind', 'status', 'invited_by', 'accepted_user_id', 'accepted_at', 'expires_at'] as $key) {
             self::assertArrayHasKey($key, $arr);
         }
     }

tests/Unit/Auth/RegistrationPageTest.php

@@ -123,6 +123,79 @@ class RegistrationPageTest extends TestCase
         self::assertSame('confirm', $this->submit(null, true));
     }
 
+    public function testGroupInviteCreatesPendingAutoApproveAccountEvenWhenClosed(): void
+    {
+        $_POST = [ 'password' => 'password123', 'display_name' => 'Ada', 'email' => '[email protected]' ];
+
+        Functions\when('is_email')->justReturn(true);
+        Functions\when('email_exists')->justReturn(false);
+        Functions\when('wp_insert_user')->justReturn(42);
+        Functions\when('is_wp_error')->justReturn(false);
+        Functions\when('wp_generate_password')->justReturn('rawtok');
+        // confirmUrl internals
+        Functions\when('get_option')->justReturn(0);
+        Functions\when('home_url')->justReturn('http://home.test/');
+        Functions\when('add_query_arg')->alias(static fn (string $k, string $v, string $u): string => $u . '?' . $k . '=' . $v);
+
+        // The auto-approve marker must be set alongside the pending metas.
+        $metas = [];
+        Functions\when('update_user_meta')->alias(static function (int $id, string $key, $value) use (&$metas): bool {
+            $metas[$key] = $value;
+            return true;
+        });
+
+        $user = Mockery::mock(\WP_User::class);
+        Functions\when('get_user_by')->justReturn($user);
+
+        $this->ctx['mailer']->shouldReceive('sendConfirmation')->once()->with($user, Mockery::type('string'));
+        // The link is multi-use: never marked accepted, and no auto-login.
+        $this->ctx['invites']->shouldReceive('markAccepted')->never();
+        Functions\expect('wp_set_auth_cookie')->never();
+
+        $invite = new Invite(
+            email: '',
+            token: 'hash',
+            createdAt: '2024-01-01 00:00:00',
+            kind: Invite::KIND_GROUP,
+            expiresAt: '2024-02-01 23:59:59',
+            id: 9
+        );
+
+        // Registration mode is invite-only (open = false): the group link still works.
+        self::assertSame('confirm_group', $this->submit($invite, false));
+        self::assertSame('1', $metas['us_auto_approve'] ?? null);
+    }
+
+    public function testGroupInviteRendersEditableEmailField(): void
+    {
+        $_REQUEST = ['us_invite' => 'raw-token'];
+        Functions\when('is_user_logged_in')->justReturn(false);
+        Functions\when('sanitize_key')->alias(static fn ($v) => strtolower((string) $v));
+        Functions\when('wp_login_url')->justReturn('http://home.test/wp-login.php');
+        Functions\when('wp_nonce_field')->justReturn('');
+        // Invite-only mode: only the group link grants access to the form.
+        $this->ctx['settings']->shouldReceive('openRegistrationEnabled')->andReturn(false);
+
+        $invite = new Invite(
+            email: '',
+            token: 'hash',
+            createdAt: '2024-01-01 00:00:00',
+            kind: Invite::KIND_GROUP,
+            expiresAt: '2024-02-01 23:59:59',
+            id: 9
+        );
+        $this->ctx['invites']->shouldReceive('findByToken')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(Invite::hashToken('raw-token'))
+            ->andReturn($invite);
+
+        $html = $this->ctx['page']->render([]);
+
+        self::assertStringContainsString('<form', $html);
+        self::assertStringContainsString('name="email"', $html);
+        self::assertStringNotContainsString('readonly', $html);
+    }
+
     public function testClosedModeWithoutInviteReturnsError(): void
     {
         $result = $this->submit(null, false);

tests/Unit/Auth/RegistrationStatusTest.php

@@ -42,10 +42,41 @@ class RegistrationStatusTest extends TestCase
         Functions\expect('delete_user_meta')->once()->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_AWAITING_APPROVAL);
         Functions\expect('delete_user_meta')->once()->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_CONFIRM_TOKEN);
         Functions\expect('delete_user_meta')->once()->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_CONFIRM_EXPIRES);
+        Functions\expect('delete_user_meta')->once()->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_AUTO_APPROVE);
 
         RegistrationStatus::approve(7);
     }
 
+    public function testMarkPendingWithAutoApproveSetsMarkerMeta(): void
+    {
+        Functions\when('wp_generate_password')->justReturn('rawtoken');
+
+        Functions\expect('update_user_meta')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_AWAITING_APPROVAL, '1');
+        Functions\expect('update_user_meta')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_CONFIRM_TOKEN, hash('sha256', 'rawtoken'));
+        Functions\expect('update_user_meta')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_CONFIRM_EXPIRES, \Mockery::type('string'));
+        Functions\expect('update_user_meta')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(7, RegistrationStatus::META_AUTO_APPROVE, '1');
+
+        self::assertSame('rawtoken', RegistrationStatus::markPending(7, true));
+    }
+
+    public function testIsAutoApproveReadsMeta(): void
+    {
+        Functions\when('get_user_meta')->alias(static function (int $id, string $key) {
+            return $key === RegistrationStatus::META_AUTO_APPROVE ? '1' : '';
+        });
+
+        self::assertTrue(RegistrationStatus::isAutoApprove(7));
+        self::assertFalse(RegistrationStatus::isAwaitingApproval(7));
+    }
+
     public function testAwaitingApprovalAndEmailConfirmedReadMeta(): void
     {
         Functions\when('get_user_meta')->alias(static function (int $id, string $key) {