After City Lockdowns in China, Immigration Inquiries Surge... Is the 'Brain' Drain Beginning?

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] According to a report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 18th, the number of Chinese people seeking immigration opportunities has surged since China implemented its 'Zero-COVID' policy, including city lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19. Especially among key professionals, including those in the IT sector, there is a noticeable trend of departure, raising concerns that the Chinese government's plan to become a 'science and technology powerhouse' may be impacted.

SCMP cited the Baidu Index, which tracks Chinese social media platforms, reporting that the keyword 'immigration' surged 400 times in April this year compared to the previous year. A similar increase was observed on WeChat, China's leading messenger app. SCMP stated, "In recent months, inquiries related to immigration in China have surged, particularly noticeably since March when the Omicron variant emerged in Shanghai."

According to estimates by Japan's Nomura Holdings, approximately 373 million people across 45 cities in China have been subject to direct or indirect lockdowns in various forms since April. SCMP forecasted, "The large-scale departure of skilled professionals is expected to impact China's timeline to become the world's leading science and technology powerhouse within 20 years, as outlined by President Xi Jinping at a high-level meeting last September."

In the past, President Xi highlighted the Greater Bay Area, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Macau, urging the development of world-class research institutes and innovation platforms.

Guo Sizhe, a partner at Yingzhong Law Firm specializing in immigration and overseas study consulting services, explained, "Since the end of March, interest in immigration has doubled not only among high-net-worth individuals but also among professionals," adding, "Last month, the number of clients surged so much that we haven't been able to take weekends off." He added, "Just this morning, I received four immigration consultations from professional clients."

Partner Guo particularly noted growing interest in the U.S. EB-1 visa, which applies to fields such as science, arts, education, business, and athletics. He elaborated, "Many clients are engineers from large IT companies like Huawei, employees of technology firms, and executives in the pharmaceutical industry."