China's New K Visa Beckons Foreign Tech Talent as U.S. Hikes H-1B Fee

Reuters

U.S. & China flags.

China has launched a new visa scheme designed to attract foreign science and technology graduates, a move analysts say could bolster Beijing’s position in its strategic competition with Washington.

The so-called K visa, which came into effect this week, allows young foreign STEM graduates to live and work in China without a prior job offer — a marked contrast to the United States’ H-1B system, which requires employer sponsorship and faces new $100,000 annual fees announced by the Trump administration earlier this month.

“The symbolism is powerful: while the US raises barriers, China is lowering them,” Reuters quoted US-based immigration lawyer Matt Mauntel-Medici.

Although China already has a strong pool of local engineers, the new programme is part of a wider effort to project openness to global investment and talent at a time when U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions are weighing on its economic outlook.

Analysts say the scheme could appeal to Indian STEM graduates — the largest beneficiaries of the US H-1B system — although language barriers, political tensions between Delhi and Beijing, and China’s opaque rules on permanent residency may temper enthusiasm.

Despite these uncertainties, the policy is seen as a strategic signal. “If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

The visa is the latest in a series of steps by Beijing to open sectors to foreign investors and expand visa waivers, even as Western nations adopt more restrictive immigration policies.

Source: Reuters



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