【Text by Observer Net, Wang Yi】Starting from October 1, China will officially launch a new visa program to attract overseas science and technology talents, which has made many foreign media recall the recent policies of the Trump administration in the United States that tightened the H-1B visa policy. They have all expressed their comments that while the United States is continuously imposing restrictions on foreign talents, China is "lowering the threshold" to attract talents.

Reuters, based in the UK, stated on September 29 that in the context of the US tightening its visa policies, global talents are actively seeking alternative solutions, and this move by China helps enhance its competitiveness in the global high-tech field.

On August 14, China announced the "Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations on the Entry and Exit of Foreigners of the People's Republic of China," which stipulates that starting from October 1, a new K visa category will be added to the general visa categories. This visa is issued to foreign young scientific and technological talents who have graduated from well-known universities or research institutions abroad in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with corresponding academic degrees (bachelor's degree and above), or who are engaged in relevant professional education and research work at these institutions.

The UK's "Independent" newspaper reported on September 25 that this is the first major expansion of the Chinese visa system since the establishment of 12 regular visa categories in the "Regulations on the Entry and Exit of Foreigners of the People's Republic of China" in 2013. The eligibility criteria for the new visa have been roughly determined, but specific details have not been released yet. According to the information already published, the Chinese K visa allows foreign graduates to enter China for study and work without first obtaining a job opportunity, research arrangement, or local sponsorship.

The report pointed out that this indicates China's determination to compete for talent in the global technology competition.

"This has strong symbolic significance: when the US continues to impose restrictions, China is lowering the threshold," said Matt Mauntel-Medici, an immigration lawyer from Iowa, USA, to Reuters.

On September 19, President Trump of the United States signed an announcement, significantly increasing the fees paid by companies for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000, claiming that this measure aims to ensure that the United States brings in high-skilled, irreplaceable talents.

After the announcement was released, many foreign workers in the US were worried about being unable to re-enter the country after the new rules take effect, so they had to shorten their vacations. People also expressed disappointment on social media about the "decline of American appeal."

Michael Feller, chief strategist of the Melbourne-based consulting company "Geopolitical Strategy," commented, "The US seems to be digging its own grave on the H-1B visa issue, and the timing of the introduction of the Chinese K visa is truly excellent."

A foreign student from Southeast University in China attending the graduation ceremony in June 2025. Visual China

Immigration experts analyze that the main attraction of the Chinese K visa lies in not requiring employer sponsorship, which has long been considered one of the biggest obstacles in applying for an H-1B visa.

The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa in the United States, typically valid for three years, extendable to six years, allowing U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals to fill positions where suitable domestic talent is difficult to find, mainly used by U.S. tech companies to attract highly educated foreign talents. However, this visa requires employer sponsorship and uses a lottery system, with only 85,000 spots available each year. The new $100,000 fee may further hinder first-time applicants.

Reuters reported that India has long been the largest beneficiary of the U.S. H-1B visa, accounting for 71% of approved visas last year.

India's New Delhi Television reported on the 22nd that "in the chaos of Trump's H-1B visa, China has opened its doors to global talents through the K visa," and this latest move is part of China's efforts in recent years to simplify visa rules to promote international exchanges.

"Today's India" more sharply criticized Trump's new regulations as a "suicidal policy," criticizing it for damaging its long-term capabilities for short-term gains, pushing global STEM talents into China's arms, while China, which invests in long-term capacity building, "once again seized the opportunity."

Deepa Ollapally, a research professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University in the United States, said when talking about the Trump administration's visa regulations and the Chinese K visa, "In the end, this is a failed proposal for the United States."

The Independent stated that the visa policies of the two major economies form a sharp contrast: the US is tightening, while China is relaxing, and this diametrically different approach will certainly reshape the global competition for technical talents.

Reuters noted that China has taken a series of measures to promote foreign investment and tourism, opening up more areas to overseas investors, and granting visa exemptions for citizens of most European countries, Japan, and South Korea. The Independent expects that the number of foreign tourists visiting China this year will increase by more than 30% in the first half of the year.

Reuters pointed out that China already has a large number of domestic talents. Although the country is unlikely to rely on large-scale immigration like Western countries in the short term, analysts say, "If China can attract even a small portion of global tech talents, its competitiveness in the high-tech field will be higher."

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