Move FM Global News

BEIJING, China: China’s new visa programme aimed at attracting foreign tech workers launches this week, a move seen as boosting Beijing’s efforts to compete with Washington just as the U.S. imposes new hurdles on skilled migration.

While China has no shortage of local engineers, the “K visa” is designed to project an image of openness to foreign talent and investment at a time when trade tensions and U.S. tariffs weigh on its economic outlook. The visa allows entry, residence, and employment without a job offer, a significant contrast to the U.S. H-1B system.

“The symbolism is powerful: while the U.S. raises barriers, China is lowering them,” said Iowa-based immigration attorney Matt Mauntel-Medici.

The K visa, announced in August, targets young foreign graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Immigration experts say its biggest draw is the lack of employer sponsorship, long considered one of the most challenging obstacles to securing a U.S. H-1B visa.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would require companies to pay US$100,000 annually for each H-1B worker, a move likely to deter applicants. The U.S. program already caps visas at 85,000 per year and allocates them by lottery.

“The U.S. has definitely shot itself in the foot on H-1Bs, and the timing is exquisite for China’s K visa,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

India, which accounted for 71 percent of H-1B beneficiaries last year, could be a key source of applicants. “It’s an appealing alternative for Indian STEM professionals seeking flexible, streamlined visa options,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian student at Sichuan University.

Still, the K visa faces hurdles. Chinese government guidelines list only vague requirements on age, education, and work experience. There is no clarity on permanent residency, family sponsorship, or financial incentives, and China rarely grants citizenship to foreigners.

Language is another barrier. Most Chinese tech firms operate in Mandarin, and political tensions between Delhi and Beijing could limit the flow of Indian applicants. “China will need to ensure Indian citizens feel welcome and can do meaningful work without Mandarin,” said Feller.

China’s talent drives have traditionally targeted overseas Chinese, offering subsidies and bonuses of up to 5 million yuan ($702,200). Those programmes have successfully lured back scientists amid growing U.S. scrutiny of Chinese researchers.

But foreign workers remain scarce: fewer than 1 percent of China’s population are immigrants, compared with 15 percent in the U.S. “Asian countries like China don’t rely on immigration,” said one Chinese STEM graduate heading to Silicon Valley, expressing doubts about the new visa’s reach.

Analysts say even modest uptake could matter. “If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology,” Feller said.