I am currently trying to decide whether I should apply for PhD or MA programs. I am an international student who graduated from an American college with an academic background in Chinese politics, Asia-Pacific security, and US-Asia relations. I will be happy either becoming a professor or working at a think tank, with a slight preference toward the latter. I have read through several of the posts in the forum suggesting that an MA program is more tailored for future policy wonks. However, given the fact that I am a foreign national and need visa sponsorship to be able to work legally for any employer, should I go through PhD training just to "play it safe" since sponsorships at think tanks can be quite hard to obtain even with a masters degree? When I say it is hard, I do not really know how hard it is, but all the foreign nationals I know who hold masters degrees unanimously experience great difficulty in nailing down positions at think tanks. It might well be the case that their credentials are not strong enough, but I do suspect for good reasons that their need for sponsorship worked against their candidacy. Will obtaining a PhD ameliorate the hiring situation? I'd be most grateful to receive any insider advice!