China has announced a new ‘K Visa’ category within its revised regulations for foreign entry and exit. This visa, set to launch on October 1, 2025, is specifically aimed at attracting young and highly skilled professionals with STEM backgrounds from both domestic and international sources. The goal is to provide holders with greater operational freedom, differing from the US H1-B visa in its potentially more accessible terms.
Notably, the US government, through an executive order, mandated a $100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas. China’s K Visa initiative is presented as an alternative, especially for South Asian talents, as the US has become more restrictive in terms of visa applications.