Beijing introduces the K-visa, easing entry for skilled foreigners as Trump’s tougher US visa rules drive global professionals eastward.

China has launched a new K-visa aimed at attracting foreign technology professionals, in what analysts say is a strategic move to compete with the United States in the global race for innovation and talent.

The K-visa, rolled out last month, comes as part of Beijing’s broader effort to strengthen its technological edge and fill a growing skills gap at home. The new scheme coincides with mounting uncertainty over the US H-1B program following tighter immigration policies under President Donald Trump.

“(The) K-visa for China (is) an equivalent to the H-1B for the US,” said Srinivasagopalan, who is intrigued by China’s working environment and culture after her father worked at a Chinese university a few years back. “It is a good option for people like me to work abroad.”

Unlike the existing R-visa for foreign professionals, the K-visa loosens entry requirements — allowing applicants to apply without a confirmed job offer.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s decision to raise H-1B visa fees for skilled foreign workers to $100,000 for new applicants is discouraging many international students and professionals from seeking opportunities in the US

“Students studying in the US hoped for an (H-1B) visa, but currently this is an issue,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian master’s student of international relations at Sichuan University.

China’s ruling Communist Party has prioritized global leadership in advanced technologies, pouring vast subsidies into research and development in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and robotics.

“Beijing perceives the tightening of immigration policies in the US as an opportunity to position itself globally as welcoming foreign talent and investment more broadly,” said Barbara Kelemen, associate director and head of Asia at security intelligence firm Dragonfly.

Despite high unemployment among Chinese graduates — with nearly 18% of jobseekers aged 16–24 out of work — the government insists the new policy is essential to bridging critical skills shortages. For decades, China has suffered a “brain drain” as its best students stayed in the US and Europe after graduation.

That trend, though not fully reversed, is shifting. More professionals, including Chinese-Americans and top scientists, are relocating to China. Fei Su, a chip architect at Intel, and Ming Zhou, a senior engineer at Altair, were among those who accepted teaching positions in China this year.

Interest is also rising from outside China. “Many skilled workers in India and Southeast Asia have already expressed interest about the K-visa,” said Edward Hu, immigration director at Newland Chase in Shanghai.

Still, not all are enthusiastic. “The current job market is already under fierce competition,” said Zhou Xinying, a 24-year-old postgraduate student in behavioral science at Zhejiang University. While foreign professionals could help “bring about new technologies,” Zhou added, “some Chinese young job seekers may feel pressure due to the introduction of the K-visa policy.”

Kyle Huang, a 26-year-old software engineer in Guangzhou, echoed similar concerns, saying the new visa “might threaten local job opportunities.”

However, a commentary by state-backed outlet Shanghai Observer argued the policy would ultimately strengthen the economy, noting that “as China advances in areas such as AI and cutting-edge semiconductors, there is a gap and mismatch between qualified jobseekers and the demand for skilled workers.” (ARISE NEWS)