Indian Immigrants in the US
By Gaurav Kaushik
America, viewed as a land of opportunity, has a large immigrant population made up of the English, African, French, Spanish, Indian, Chinese and several other cultures. Many aspiring Indians have always regarded America as a dream destination for better education, employment, and money-making opportunities.
As of 2011, Indian-origin immigrants totaled 1.9 million and represented the third-largest immigrant population in the U.S., next only to Mexico and China. Amazing statistics from the Migration Policy Institute show that the number of Indians in USA increased by more than 150 times since 1960, when Indian immigrants represented about 0.5 percent of the total immigrant population of 9.7 million. Indian immigrants are more concentrated in the working age compared to overall immigrants. Over 29 percent of employed Indian-origin men were placed in IT occupations and 19 percent of employed women worked in management, finance and business sectors.
The U.S. remains the most sought-after destination for Indian students due to the prevalent perception that U.S. institutions offer the most esteemed and valuable qualifications and credentials. Statistics show that the U.S. attracts over half of all Indian students going abroad to study. In 2011, India ranked second as the country of origin for foreign students in U.S. higher learning institutions, next only to China.
As Indian immigrants mostly arrive on employment-based visas, their standard of living is generally above the federal poverty line when compared to the overall foreign-born population. This has also led many an Indian immigrant to appreciate the independence and comfort they experience in the U.S. For example, it is common for a U.S. middle-class person to own a car or live in an air-conditioned home, an uncommon thing in the Indian middle-class lifestyle. Similarly, Indian expats in the U.S. note that you can go about your passions rather than being sized up or restrained by social implications.
Indians form the largest origin group of non-immigrants, i.e., temporary workers, students, exchange visitors, diplomats and accompanying family members. In 2011, about 47 percent of Indian immigrants were naturalized U.S. citizens, a little higher than the 45 percent share of the overall immigrant population. Additionally, over 46 percent of Indian-born Green Card holders were eligible to naturalize in 2012.
The Indian community in USA has a positive opinion of Americans, viewing them as hard-working, inventive and honest. In fact, a 2005 survey showed that favorable opinion of the U.S. in India is higher than in other countries.
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