HONG KONG: China's bid to attract global tech talent is gaining momentum and drawing comparisons to America's famous H-1B program.

Beijing's newly launched K-visa, introduced last month, is designed to lure science and technology professionals from around the world. The move comes as the U.S. tightens immigration rules under President Donald Trump, creating uncertainty for skilled foreign workers seeking opportunities in American tech hubs.

"The K-visa for China is an equivalent to the H-1B for the U.S.," said Vaishnavi Srinivasagopalan, an Indian IT professional who has worked in both countries. "It's a good option for people like me to work abroad."

Unlike China's existing R-visa for foreign experts, the K-visa has looser requirements — applicants don't need a job offer before applying. The goal is to make China more competitive in attracting global tech talent, particularly at a time when the U.S. has raised H-1B visa fees to US$100,000 for new applicants.

"Students studying in the U.S. hoped for an H-1B visa, but currently this is an issue," said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian graduate student in Sichuan, noting that stricter American policies are pushing many to look elsewhere.

China's Communist Party has made leadership in advanced technologies a national priority, pouring money into AI, semiconductors, and robotics. Analysts say Beijing sees U.S. immigration restrictions as an opening.

"Beijing perceives the tightening of immigration policies in the U.S. as an opportunity to position itself as welcoming foreign talent and investment," said Barbara Kelemen of Dragonfly, a security intelligence firm.

China's domestic job market, however, tells a different story. Youth unemployment is near 18 percent, and many graduates already face tough competition. While policymakers argue that foreign workers can help fill a skills gap in cutting-edge fields, not everyone is convinced.

"The job market is already under fierce competition," said Zhou Xinying, a postgraduate student at Zhejiang University. Foreign professionals could "bring about new technologies," she said, but some local jobseekers "may feel pressure due to the introduction of the K-visa policy."

China still faces challenges in attracting top international talent. The country's language barrier, strict internet controls, and limited residency pathways remain deterrents. Only around 711,000 foreign workers lived in China as of 2023.

"The U.S. still leads in research and has the advantage of using English widely," said David Stepat, a Singapore-based consultant. "There's also still a clearer pathway to residency."

Some professionals are intrigued but cautious. Nikhil Swaminathan, an Indian H-1B visa holder in the U.S., said he might have considered China's K-visa "if not for the difficult relationship between India and China."

Experts say the U.S. may lose some talent to Europe or the UK, but not yet to China. "China will need to do far more than offer convenient visa pathways to attract the best," said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.