Do Chinese netizens worry that Indians will take their jobs through the K-visa?

China News -- As U.S. Sharply Hikes H-1B Visa Fees to $100,000, China’s Talent-Attracting K Visa Set to Launch Oct 1 – Sparking Public Debate

While the U.S. government has drastically increased H-1B visa fees to $100,000 (approximately SGD 128,900), China’s K visa—designed to attract foreign young sci-tech talents—is set to take effect on October 1. The two countries’ talent policies have drawn attention from international media and sparked controversy among the Chinese public.

On August 14, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on its official website the addition of the "K visa" to its general visa categories, which is issued to foreign young sci-tech talents entering China. Compared with the existing 12 types of general visas, the K visa offers holders greater convenience in terms of entry frequency, validity period, and duration of stay. After entering China, holders can engage in exchanges in fields such as education, science and technology, and culture, as well as entrepreneurship and business activities.

Just weeks after China unveiled the K visa, the U.S. government announced a massive $100,000 application fee for H-1B work visas.

The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to hire foreign employees with specialized expertise from abroad. Previously, application fees—including the basic filing fee and anti-fraud fee—ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. Under the new rules, all new H-1B applications submitted after September 21 will generally require a $100,000 fee.

Statistics show that Indians will be the most affected by this visa fee hike; they accounted for 71% of U.S. H-1B visa approvals last year, while Chinese nationals ranked second at 11.7%.

Feller, chief strategist at a GEOpolitical consulting firm, told Reuters that the U.S. adjustment to H-1B fees is "shooting itself in the foot," while the timing of China’s K visa announcement is "exquisite."

When asked about the issue at a regular press conference on September 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China would not comment on U.S. visa policies. He then shifted focus, stating: "China welcomes outstanding talents from all industries and fields around the world to come to China, settle down here, jointly promote the continuous progress of human society, and achieve the development of their own careers."

Indian media have also covered the divergent talent policy trends of China and the U.S. extensively, viewing China as "opening its doors wider." India Today reported that Indian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) talents and students face a harsh reality: the U.S., once the default destination for many to build their careers, is becoming increasingly hostile, while China’s doors are more open than ever before.

The Times of India noted that the U.S. visa fee hike has raised concerns among IT professionals and enterprises. Against this backdrop of uncertainty, China’s K visa—dubbed "China’s version of the H-1B visa"—has made headlines. The report pointed out that the K visa is flexible and does not require employer sponsorship.

According to NIA’s announcement, the K visa only has specific requirements for age, educational background, or work experience, but does not require applicants to have a domestic employer or inviter in China. The application process will also be more streamlined. In contrast, the H-1B visa not only requires employer sponsorship but is also subject to a lottery system with an annual cap of 85,000 slots.

Palki Sharma, an Indian female anchor nicknamed "Hyperthyroidism Sister" by Chinese netizens, reported on China’s launch of the K visa on Indian online media outlet First Post.

After Indian media reports were reposted by Chinese media, some Chinese netizens expressed concern: "Are Indians eyeing job opportunities in China?" Some netizens stated, "We don’t welcome Indians here," while others used discriminatory terms to refer to Indians.

Lu Kewen, a Weibo influencer with nearly 1.88 million followers, posted that China should be cautious about issuing K visas to foreigners. "China must never become an immigrant country. Whoever turns China into what Europe is today will be a sinner in history."

According to NIA’s interpretation of the new visa policy in August, the K visa is issued to foreign young sci-tech talents who have graduated from renowned domestic or foreign universities or research institutions in STEM fields, obtained corresponding academic degrees (bachelor’s or above), or engaged in relevant professional education or scientific research work at such institutions. However, specific criteria and requirements will be published on the websites of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad.

At a press conference on Monday, September 29, Guo Jiakun reiterated: "For specific matters regarding K visa applications, please pay attention to relevant information to be released soon by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad."

The policy’s requirement of a "bachelor’s degree or above" has led some Chinese netizens to question: "Are foreign undergraduates really that good?" A military blogger named "Fei Mianhua Xu" commented that the policy currently lacks a clear list or certification standards for "renowned universities or research institutions," and further details need to be monitored. "If the threshold is too low and relevant provisions are unclear, it will create huge room for human manipulation."

Additionally, the policy’s provision that "no domestic employer or inviter is required" has led netizens to argue that foreigners enjoy "super-national treatment," as Chinese citizens must first find a job in a specific city to obtain household registration (hukou) there.

On Zhihu, a Chinese Q&A platform, some users shared guides on how to submit legal review suggestions to the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. On Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), a social media and e-commerce platform, netizens also posted complaints about the new visa policy. Some Xiaohongshu users shared screenshots showing they had submitted complaints about the K visa (left), while others mocked the policy by posting edited images of "Indians in China" (right).

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of China’s state-run Global Times, posted multiple comments on Weibo about the issue on Monday. He said it is normal for many people to oppose the K visa even before its implementation, given the current poor global economic situation and job scarcity.

He argued that China will not "allow a large number of low-skilled immigrants to enter." "I believe the entire diplomatic system and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world have heard the concerns on China’s internet. They have no intention of letting a group of incompetent people in to add to the pressure on China’s already tight job market."

He also tried to reassure netizens, stating: "Indian universities and research institutions are not as good as China’s, so Chinese embassies and consulates in India ‘should not easily issue K visas to Indian graduates in principle.’"

Hu Xijin believes that the number of foreigners coming to China is not too high, but rather not enough—it has not yet returned to 2019 levels. "China currently has more than 10 types of visas. Adding a K visa specifically for foreign young talents will hardly lead to an uncontrolled influx of foreigners into China."

From a foreign perspective, China’s K visa still lacks many key details. For example, there are no clear official provisions on whether talents will receive financial incentives, whether China has sufficient job opportunities, whether visa holders will get employment support, or whether the government will provide policies for long-term/residential permits or family sponsorship.

A Reuters report pointed out that unlike the U.S., China rarely grants citizenship to foreigners. The U.S. currently has over 51 million immigrants, accounting for 15% of its total population; in contrast, the number of foreigners in China is only about 1 million, less than 1% of its population.

The U.S.-based New York Times also noted that while China’s policy stance gives the impression of moving toward greater openness, it still faces numerous challenges in attracting foreign talents. Language barriers, political and cultural differences, and extremely limited paths to permanent residency are all deterrents.

The report stated that some Indian analysts believe simplified visa procedures are not enough to convince Indian talents to abandon the U.S. for China. Many Indians choose the U.S. for an overall lifestyle, not merely because they obtained a visa.

On the other hand, the foreign talents China has attracted in recent years have mainly been experts. As one of the countries with the largest number of STEM graduates globally, what China truly needs or wants may not just be more outstanding young talents, but top-tier experts who can fill key gaps in its development.

There is no doubt that China is demonstrating an open attitude through its K visa policy. However, whether a large number of outstanding STEM young talents from India or other countries will come to China remains uncertain. To some extent, the concerns of some Chinese netizens about "job stealing" may be premature.