Concerns Rise in India Over China's New Tech Visa Amid Job Competition Fears

Mon Oct 20 2025 09:16:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

China's recently introduced K visa, aimed at attracting tech professionals, has sparked backlash in India as locals express concerns about competition over jobs amid an already struggling job market.

China's K visa, which targets foreign talent in STEM fields, has drawn attention and concern following its announcement in August, particularly from India where many skilled workers hold H-1B visas. Public backlash in China reflects fears that foreign professionals will increase job competition in a country that traditionally attracts few immigrants. State media attempts to promote the visa as part of a global talent strategy have not quelled the public's insecurities regarding their job market and the implications of foreign worker influx.

When China first announced a new visa targeting foreign professionals in science and technology in August, it largely went unnoticed.

However, the K visa, which went into effect on Wednesday, was thrust into the public spotlight last week, when an Indian outlet referred to it as China's H-1B - a reference to the US visa for skilled workers that was recently targeted by Donald Trump. Indians dominate the H-1B programme, comprising over 70% of recipients in recent years.

This comparison prompted widespread concern among the Chinese public, who fear that newly available benefits for foreigners may exacerbate competition in a sluggish job market that traditionally has not attracted many foreign professionals.

The ambiguity surrounding whether the visa enables foreigners to work in China or merely simplifies their access into the country has led to significant criticism across Chinese social media. We have so many bachelor's degree holders, not to mention even more with master's and doctoral degrees. We already have a surplus of domestic talent - and now you're bringing in foreign college graduates? remarked one user.

Another contributor expressed frustration over recent programs that intensified local competition among graduates, suggesting that the advantages of foreign nationals could overshadow domestic achievements.

The backlash has been so intense that state media outlets like the Global Times and People's Daily have intervened to mitigate public fears. They advocate the K visa as an opportunity for a more open China, countering accusations that the visa is simply a tool for immigration.

The K visa aims to facilitate exchanges in education, science and technology, and business activities for individuals in STEM fields. It does not mandate local employment backing, granting more flexibility in terms of entry and duration of stay.

Despite the official narrative that seeks to present the K visa as a chance for China to attract global talent, skepticism remains among local citizens about its true intentions and implications for job competition.

China is positioning itself as an alternative destination for foreign talent at a time when the U.S. is tightening its immigration policies. The K visa's introduction coincides with a surge in application fees for H-1B visas, sparking upheaval in countries like India, which supply a significant number of skilled workers to the U.S.

While the initiative reflects China's ambition to become a hub for international talent, the recent feedback highlights a domestic concern regarding perceived favoritism towards foreigners and reinforces existing anxieties amid a challenging job landscape.