Why China’s H-1B-like K visa has sparked backlash amid job woes at home

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China’s much-publicised K visa, dubbed by many as the country’s version of the US H-1B visa, has triggered a wave of criticism on Chinese social media, with users questioning its timing amid a slowing economy and high youth unemployment.

According to PTI, the visa, aimed at attracting foreign professionals in science and technology, was due to take effect on October 1 but has yet to be implemented, as Chinese embassies abroad remain closed until October 8 for National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.

Announced in August, the K visa seeks to promote exchanges between Chinese and international young professionals, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on September 29. However, online backlash has grown, with many netizens arguing that prioritising foreign talent when the domestic job market is struggling sends the wrong signal.

China’s youth unemployment rate is estimated at around 19 per cent, with about 12 million graduates entering the workforce every year. “Why are foreign bachelor’s degree holders seen as ‘tech talent’ while our own graduates can’t find jobs?” one user wrote on Weibo, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

State news agency Xinhua said the K visa offers greater convenience than existing visa types, including longer stays and multiple entries, and does not require a domestic employer invitation.

Critics have questioned the value of a STEM bachelor’s degree as a criterion for top talent, with some viewing the policy as unfairly favouring foreign graduates over those who finish their studies in China, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

Many have suggested that a lack of employer sponsorship could raise the risk of fraud and trigger an influx of low-quality applicants. “It is already difficult to thoroughly scrutinise domestic educational credentials, and with the introduction of the K visa, a supply chain of visa agencies will quickly form around it and help foreigners get the visa,” one user posted on the Chinese social media Weibo platform as cited by news agency PTI. “How much manpower and resources will it take to thoroughly vet each application and make sure it is true?”

Another commenter asked: “Does this policy imply that our education system is inferior to that of other countries? “Why is it that young people in China with bachelor’s degrees struggle to find good jobs and are forced to pursue master’s degrees, while foreign bachelor’s degree holders are considered ‘tech talent’?” The user called for equal treatment between foreign and home-grown graduates, with a master’s degree as the minimum requirement for K-visa applicants, the Post reported.

But critics warn that introducing a foreign-friendly visa amid record unemployment risks widening resentment at home — turning what Beijing hoped would be a symbol of global openness into a lightning rod for discontent.

*With Agency Inputs