A comparative analysis of the migration and integration of Indian and Chinese immigrants in the United States

Abstract

Indian and Chinese nationals comprise two of the largest foreign-born nationality groups in the United States - and are growing rapidly. Indian and Chinese immigrants tend to enter the United States through skilled migration channels - either pursuing further education, or entering on temporary work visas for specialty occupations - and go on to enjoy higher employment rates and higher median household incomes than the US-born population. Despite these successes, these groups still face some integration challenges, like cultural integration and English language proficiency. Immigrant integration services in the United States are relatively decentralized, with crucial services provided by a wide array of actors. Federal funds are usually directed and supplemented by state and local government actors; who then work closely with civil society organizations, including Indian and Chinese diaspora groups, to provide support in areas like social services, language training, credential recognition, and naturalization assistance. Meanwhile, India and China are starting to expand their diaspora engagement activities to include integration services at destination.