Visa regulations and labour market restrictions: implications for Indian immigrant women in the United States

Divya Ravindranath ()
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Divya Ravindranath: Washington University in St Louis

The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 2017, vol. 60, issue 2, No 6, 217-232

Abstract: Abstract This article documents the everyday experiences of Indian immigrant women living in the US on H4 visa – given to dependents of H1B visa holders, that disallows them from entering the labour market. The study is located within the framework of ‘gender and international immigration’ and uses a qualitative research approach to understand how visa regimes that bestow unequal rights on the primary and dependent visa holders shape the immigration experience, and have a bearing on the personal well-being, socialization processes and career graphs. The findings from open-ended interviews point out that the H4 visa affects women’s confidence and idea of self-worth, constrains them financially, disables them in social settings, and provides no opportunities to build economic or human capital and skill sets.

Keywords: H4 visa; Indian immigrant women; Dependent visa; Immigration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s41027-017-0095-y

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