China trying to ‘snatch’ IT workers from US with its new visa

China’s government has made global leadership in advanced technologies a top priority, Euronews writes.

Vaishnavi Srinivasagopalan, a skilled Indian IT professional who has worked in both India and the United States, has been looking for work in China. Beijing’s new K-visa program targeting science and technology workers could turn that dream into a reality.

The K-visa rolled out by Beijing last month is part of China’s widening effort to catch up with the US in the race for global talent and cutting edge technology. The new Chinese visa was introduced in contrast to the American H-1B program. The H-1B is a type of non-immigrant visa in the United States that allows American companies to hire foreign professionals.

The “K-visa for China is an equivalent to the H-1B for the US,” said Srinivasagopalan. “It is a good option for people like me to work abroad.”

As noted, stricter US policies toward foreign students and scholars under Trump, including the raising of fees for the H-1B visa for foreign skilled workers to $100,000 for new applicants, are leading some professionals and students to consider going elsewhere.