Under the new rules, young graduates — in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM — no longer need backing from a local employer and can enjoy more flexibility in terms for entry frequency and duration of stay. The keyword “K-visa” — as China’s new visa category is called — was among the top searches on social media site Weibo for days, before chatter about National Day traffic jams pushed it off the charts as millions hit the road for a week-long holiday.
Chinese social media users argue that the new visa tilts the playing field toward foreign graduates at the expense of those educated in China. Others on Weibo warned that without employer sponsorship, the program could invite fraudulent applications and open the door to a surge in arrivals from developing countries, piling pressure on an already strained labor market.
