US Immigration Shift Spurs Global Competition for Skilled Workers
Several countries, including South Korea, the UK, Germany, and China, are seizing the moment to attract top global talent after a major change in US visa policy. Last Friday, US President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas — a program heavily used by tech companies to hire foreign engineers and scientists.
This move has shaken the US tech industry, which depends largely on skilled workers from India and China. Since taking office, Trump has taken a strict stance on immigration, and this visa fee is his most significant change to temporary employment programs so far.
Now, countries hit hard by a brain drain are moving quickly. South Korea’s Presidential Chief of Staff, Kang Hoon-sik, said on Monday that he has asked ministries to look for ways to benefit from the US visa changes.
UK, Germany, China Join the Race for Global Talent
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reviewing plans to reduce visa fees for high-skill workers. According to the Financial Times, these proposals were already in discussion, but Trump’s visa hike gave them new urgency.
In Germany, the digital industry is also eyeing the opportunity. Bernhard Rohleder, head of the digital association Bitkom, said the new US policy could help Europe attract elite tech professionals.
China has announced a new K Visa category, starting October 1, aimed at STEM talent. This visa will allow foreign experts to live, study, and work in China without first securing a job or research offer. The Chinese foreign ministry welcomed the global talent pool but didn’t directly comment on the US move.
South Korea Aims to Reverse Talent Exodus with K-Tech Pass
South Korea has been facing a steady loss of AI experts, especially to the United States. A report by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry shows the country ranked 35th out of 38 OECD nations in net AI talent flow in 2024, with a loss of 0.36 AI experts per 10,000 people.
To counter this, South Korea introduced the K-Tech Pass in 2024. It targets engineers from the world’s top 100 universities and plans to issue 1,000 visas by 2030.
These international moves mark a turning point in the global race for skilled tech workers, as countries aim to build innovation-led economies while the US tightens access.
