Overview

• The K-visa took effect on October 1, but embassy website checks indicated application channels and key rules were not yet fully available.
• Officials have signaled eligibility for young STEM graduates from renowned institutions and no employer sponsorship requirement, while work rights, duration, and family provisions remain unclear.
• Online discussion surged to roughly half a billion views within two days, with criticism tied to high youth unemployment and some xenophobic commentary targeting potential Indian applicants.
• Party and state media defended the policy as facilitating the work and life of foreign talent and countering a reported domestic skills gap, stressing it should not be equated with immigration.
• The rollout comes as the U.S. increases H-1B costs and tightens rules, and analysts see Beijing positioning the visa to compete for global science and technology talent.