According to Mehr reporter; While Beijing seeks to open the country’s doors to foreign professionals by introducing a new visa called “K” and facilitate the process of entry, education and employment of elite forces, the United States under the administration of Donald Trump, with a more conservative approach, has practically made it more difficult for skilled workers to migrate by increasing the cost of the “H-1B” visa and imposing new restrictions.
These two orientations are not just executive decisions, but the reflection of two different governance philosophies in the knowledge-based economy.
China is using elite migration as a lever to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and self-sufficiency. technologically while America, by focusing on protecting its domestic labor market, risks the gradual erosion of its historical advantage in attracting global talent. In such a scene where human capital has as much strategic value as physical capital, immigration policy is a tool of soft power and competition technologically It has become between two superpowers.
China’s new policy: “K” visa and global talent attraction strategy
Since the first day of October, China has started implementing the “K” visa; A visa specifically designed to attract graduates and professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Unlike traditional visas that required a job offer or local sponsorship, the “K” visa allows applicants to enter China without a job offer and work at universities, research centers and companies. technologically Be engaged in work or research. The move is the first major overhaul of China’s visa regulations in more than a decade and is a clear sign of Beijing’s determination to compete globally for scientific talent.
From a political point of view, this action is considered complementary to China’s general trend in the last decade, which has focused on the internationalization of the scientific environment and increasing the attractiveness of the country’s technological ecosystem. The Chinese government has increased the arrival of foreign tourists by more than 30% in 2025 and has allowed visa-free entry for 75 countries. According to many experts, these data indicate a broader effort to redefine China’s image from a first-immigrant country to an attractive destination for the global elite.
United States: New restrictions and increase in the cost of “H-1B” visas
On the other hand, the American government, led by Donald Trump, pursues stricter immigration policies. The increase in the cost of the H-1B visa to $100,000 in recent months has hit tech companies and startups hard. This visa was one of the main ways for foreign specialists to enter America, which played an important role in the growth of Silicon Valley and the development of technological innovation. But with this decision, the path for the entry of young and talented forces, especially from developing countries, has been severely limited.
Experts such as Barbara Coleman from the security analysis company “Dragonfly” believe that China’s goal in introducing the “K” visa is to counter these restrictive American policies. He warns that the new H-1B visa restrictions will weaken America’s long-term competitiveness in areas such as artificial intelligence and technological innovation. Deepa Olapalli, a professor at George Washington University, also considers this policy to be a kind of strategic self-defeating for America, which destroys the country’s historical advantage in attracting the world’s top talents.
Differences in talent management philosophy
While America is closing the gates to foreign skilled labor, China is establishing itself as an emerging destination for global talent by opening up new avenues for education and work. This approach is not only a tool to improve China’s technological power, but also a key element in the broader geopolitical competition between the two powers. With more than 3.5 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates annually and a 45% share of science and technology students in the university population, China has a huge domestic capacity in this area, but now it is looking to combine this domestic capacity with international talent to give a double boost to its national innovation.
From a symbolic point of view, the “K” visa is considered a turning point in China’s international image. In other words, a country that was once concerned about brain drain is now in a position of competing to attract foreign elites. This development reflects Beijing’s emerging self-confidence in the field of new technologies, where it sees itself as a major producer of science and technology, not just a consumer.
Geopolitical implications and the future of talent competition
According to experts, the contrasting policies of China and the United States can change the direction of the global flow of talent. If the United States fails to reverse the migration path of skilled workers, China has the opportunity to take advantage of this gap and strengthen its comparative advantage in areas such as artificial intelligence, chips and biotechnology. However, experts warn that cultural factors, language and institutional differences are still serious obstacles to the widespread attraction of Western talent to China.
Despite these limitations, Beijing is clearly designing a long-term strategy to become a global hub for scientific talent, using tools like the K visa. At the same time, the restrictive policies in America show that the competition for global elites will soon go beyond the economic and technological stage and will be promoted to the level of national security and geopolitical influence.
summary
The confrontation between the immigration policies of China and the United States can be considered as one of the main geopolitical competition scenes of the 21st century; A battle that is not on the battlefield or business, but in the field of attracting and retaining human talent. China is seeking to cement its position as a future technology power by opening new avenues to attract foreign professionals, especially in the fields of advanced science, engineering and digital technology. Using smart immigration policies and support mechanisms for innovators, this country is trying to form a global network of elites around its scientific and industrial centers.
In contrast, the United States is in danger of losing its historical advantage in the talent competition by imposing new restrictions and costly policies on the entry of skilled workers. The consequence of such a process goes beyond economic borders and can lead to the redrawing of the global power map; Because in the knowledge-based world, a country that can attract and keep the best minds will dominate the path of technological progress, innovation and ultimately global political power. The talent competition in this sense can be even more decisive than the arms or trade competition and determine the future direction of the international order.
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