Zhang Weiyong of Elite International, Honored as “2025 Forbes China Educational Industry Selection - Influential Person in International Education”

On December 15, 2025, the Forbes China Educational Industry Summit, themed “Educating for the Future, Enlightening with Intelligence,” grandly commenced in Beijing. As a prestigious annual event renowned for its credibility and influence in China’s education sector, this year’s summit gathered leading educators, authoritative experts, and industry elites from across the nation under one roof to collectively explore the industry’s cutting-edge trends.

Zhang Weiyong, Founder and CEO of Elite International, was honored with the title of “2025 Forbes China--Influential Person in International Education” in recognition of his long-term dedication and innovative breakthroughs in facilitating educational exchanges in the United States for middle-aged groups. Centered around the flagship program "Elite U.S. Visiting Scholar J1 Visa Program," he pioneered the integrated road-map of [U.S. Accompanying Study + Work + Green Card], establishing himself as a benchmark figure in this specialized niche.

The award aims to honor outstanding practitioners in the field of international education who demonstrate sustained service capabilities, industry leadership, and benchmark value. Zhang Weiyong's recognition not only marks high acclaim for his personal professional achievements but also reaffirms Elite International’s leading position in Sino-U.S. educational exchanges and services for mid-career professionals and families, further solidifying its brand image as a “trusted international education service provider.”

Zhang Weiyong pioneered the comprehensive solution of "Midlife U.S. Relocation & Fast-Track Green Card Acquisition," which successfully addresses the long-standing challenge of "excessively long green card waiting periods" in the U.S. immigration landscape. This approach effectively resolves the core pain points in international education planning for middle-aged families. By delving deep into the U.S. visa system and focusing on the critical needs of "middle-aged groups facing visa difficulties," he has led Elite International in exploring a “lawful, compliant, and dignified” family-oriented pathway to the United States. This model not only enables children to study in the U.S. but also opens legal avenues for parents to pursue entrepreneurship and employment, ultimately helping families settle and thrive in America.

In promoting Sino-U.S. educational exchanges and fostering people-to-people friendship, Zhang Weiyong has also achieved remarkable results. The extensive service-oriented and public welfare activities he has spearheaded have earned high recognition and acclaim from both China and the United States. He has been appointed as a “National Cultural Envoy for Foreign Friendship” by the State Guest Ceremonial (Special Supply) Foreign Affairs Management Center. Additionally, he was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled “Compliant Visa Strategies for Entrepreneurs Pursuing Development in the United States” at the 27th Harvard China Forum. The logical framework he shared for the rational use of visas has assisted many entrepreneurs, who previously worked illegally on tourist visas, in successfully transitioning to long-term legal visas. Some companies have further achieved compliance upgrades in the visa status of their executive teams.

Mr. Zhang Weiyong was invited to attend the 27th Harvard China Forum and delivered a keynote speech titled “Compliant Visa Strategies for Entrepreneurs Pursuing Development in the United States.”

The recent news report about "nearly 500 South Korean workers being arrested for illegal employment at a U.S. battery plant" further underscores Zhang Weiyong’s precise grasp of the underlying logic of U.S. visa and immigration planning, as well as his forward-thinking strategic vision. His professional expertise has increasingly earned the admiration and respect of entrepreneurs expanding overseas. In recognition of his significant contributions to China-U.S. educational exchanges and his influence in the industry, Zhang Weiyong was also invited to attend the 2025 inauguration ceremony of U.S. President Donald Trump. During the event, he engaged in in-depth discussions with many senior U.S. officials, university presidents, and international entrepreneurs, working to build bridges for advancing China-U.S. educational cooperation and fostering goodwill between the peoples of both nations.

Against the backdrop of an increasingly younger demographic trend in the overseas study market, Elite International strategically focuses on the unique needs of mid-career families. These clients are typically at relatively stable career stages and share dual goals of planning their children’s education and advancing their families’ international development. However, they often face multiple barriers—such as age constraints, time commitments, and financial considerations—in practical processes like accompanying their children to the U.S. and navigating visa applications.

To address these specific needs, Zhang Weiyong and his team adhere to the principle of ”targeted services and empowering families in their international development.” Focusing on two core services—the U.S. J-1 Visiting Scholar Program and immigration planning—they provide customized, one-stop solutions for mid-career families, characterized by their “lawful, compliant, and dignified” approach to U.S. relocation planning. Among these, the J1 Visiting Scholar Visa service stands as a core strength—this visa permits spouses to legally work and children to attend public schools tuition-free, truly achieving "one application enables the entire family to relocate together," significantly reducing the overall cost of international development for families.

“The demand for relocating to the United States among mid-career professionals and middle-class families spans multiple dimensions, including career, education, and lifestyle. Tailoring reasonable U.S. visa solutions and precisely matching high-quality American resources are the keys to our service,” Zhang Weiyong stated in an interview. Elite International is committed to providing fully customized professional support—from background assessment and document preparation to post-arrival settlement—based on each client’s specific circumstances, ensuring the solution is seamlessly aligned with the family’s overall objectives.

Since its establishment in 2022, Elite International has successfully assisted over 800 families in achieving their goals of relocating to the United States. While maintaining a high success rate and strong client satisfaction, the firm has built a powerful brand reputation within the mid-career relocation community. Its founder, Mr. Zhang Weiyong, is acclaimed in international education circles as the "Godfather of U.S. Visiting Scholars Program."

This Forbes recognition not only affirms Zhang Weiyong’s personal influence in the industry but also serves as the best reward for Elite International team’s consistent focus on its niche market and commitment to high-quality services. Zhang Weiyong stated that honor also brings responsibility. Moving forward, he will continue to lead the team in deepening its focus on Sino-U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, as well as supporting the global development of mid-career families. By continuously optimizing services and integrating resources, he aims to help more Chinese families steadily realize their international development aspirations and contribute to the advancement of Sino-U.S. educational and cultural exchanges as well as people-to-people friendship.