TP-Link Applies for Exemption, Claiming to be a U.S. Company, CEO Spent Millions on Immigration Visa
As a wireless router brand with a very high market share in the United States, TP-Link is attempting to persuade the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant it an exception through lobbying. The company hopes to be exempted from the recently implemented ban on foreign-made routers to maintain the normal operation of its U.S. business. In its communication with regulators, TP-Link emphasized that it is currently a U.S. company headquartered in Irvine, California.
The company warned that a complete ban on its products would cause a serious supply shock to the entire U.S. wireless router market.
The latest regulatory documents show that TP-Link met face-to-face with FCC-related committees last week.
The core purpose of this meeting was very clear: to strive for exemption qualifications so that the brand can avoid the strict restrictions on overseas-manufactured communication equipment.
Tracing its history, TP-Link was founded in Shenzhen, China in 1996. Although it established a U.S. branch to be responsible for North American business as early as 2008, for a long time, its ownership and daily operations remained closely linked to Chinese companies.
In 2024, TP-Link underwent a major restructuring of its global architecture. Its U.S. branch and all non-Chinese businesses were merged into a new entity headquartered in California. The company claims that its non-Chinese businesses have achieved complete organizational separation in terms of equity, governance, R&D, and supply chain.
However, U.S. regulators remain skeptical about whether this separation is thorough enough.
Related reports indicate that TP-Link's current CEO and co-founder is still a Chinese citizen, although he is applying for a U.S. fast-track immigration visa for high-net-worth individuals.
Regarding the current market stock, the FCC has provided a temporary exemption arrangement. Router products that have already been authorized for sale in the United States can continue to receive necessary software and firmware updates, including security patches and compatibility fixes, until March 1, 2027.
The establishment of this grace period is designed to avoid security risks for existing users due to sudden policy changes. However, in the long run, whether TP-Link can completely escape the shadow of the ban still depends on the U.S. government's final determination of the company's attributes and supply chain security after its restructuring.