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ShareSudhir Shah, an expert on US immigration laws, recentlypropounded a new theory on immigration in his doctorate thesis submitted to the Mumbai University.
He explains to DNA that his theory negates the early notion that 'a push from homeland and a pull by a foreign land' works as a factor that drives aspirants to emigrate.
He says socio-economic factors of various countries compel their authorities to form legislation and these immigration policies become a backbone for the trends in human migrations.
Is 'Chalo US' possible today in the wake of recession that hit the US?
'Chalo US' remains a perennial attraction and in fact this is the right time to enter the US. There is a flip side to recession, everything has become cheaper and aspirants who can enter the US markets right now and sustain themselves can benefit from that. Moreover, recession can never be permanent; it is a temporary crisis which is in its last phase, according to the US economists and politicians. The US has endured a worse recession in 1939; however, within 10 years, it bounced back as the one of leading economic powers on the global stage.
Has there been a decline in number of Indian students going to the US?
A significant decline of 15% has been noted in the flow of students bound for the US. However, this decline has not affected genuine students wanting to take advantage of the US education system, which is undoubtedly the best. This decline has happened only in relation to the students who are prospective emigrants and want to use student visas to sneak into the US.
They are backing out because they feel that, in the present circumstances, even if they invest in a US degree, they may not be able to earn on the campus. The US authorities always wanted to curb such an inflow and recession has helped them in streamlining the influx of Indian students.
There has been a steep fall in the number of H1B visas, on which the maximum number of Indian techies went to the US...
In the wake of the slowdown, the US authorities initiated new measures that include the denial of certain business incentives to firms hiring skilled immigrant workers on H1B visas. That shrunk the number of H1B visas. But no microscopic measures were announced on the L1 visa (another type of business visa). The maximum number of L1 visas was granted to Indians in 2008, and the number is still on the rise. Another option is the Eb5 investor category visa, which has started luring Indians.
Has recession hit the number of aspirants wanting to seek information on the US immigration process?
There has been a remarkable dip in the number of aspirants coming for US visa consultations. However, that is not because of recession. The inquiries have diminished because the number of unscrupulous and unauthorised advisors on US immigration has increased, and such people misguide aspirants.
For example, spouses of green card or H1B visa holders, who have to generally wait for a few years before they can join their partners, are being advised to apply for student visas. This is a fraud according to the US immigration authorities. Many couples have been denied an entry to the US for that very reason, and their dreams have been shattered forever.
