- One of the most common refrains being heard from the majority of children growing up would be to proudly proclaim, and sometimes innocently, to go to the United States of America to settle down. The twinkling and dreamy eyes would reveal how children were so engrossed in their thought processes to move out to their future destination. Yes, the melting pot of a country made up of citizens from different countries held the attraction of providing not only good living standards but also a sense of pride among those who were migrating permanently to the USA. The lure of the USA hasn’t dimmed much despite India as a country taking giant steps in overall growth as compared to the years immediately after the independence.
PC: Boundless immigration
- The lifestyle on offer, the education standards available, the employment opportunities, and the general belief that the USA is a country of dreams offering everything possible under the earth to fulfill led millions of Indians to leave the confines of their homes. This hasn’t stopped even as India proudly stands as the fifth-largest economy in the world. The clamour to get a permanent resident-ship in the USA continues and it is the ultimate realization for the majority of overseas Indians. As reported recently, US President Biden greenlighting a big change in US immigration policy, which can benefit upwards of half a million immigrants, should be big news for India. Not only big but this must also be construed as some cheerful news for the immigrant Indians.
- To qualify for the program, an immigrant without legal status must have lived in the US for 10 years and be married to a US citizen as of 17th June 2024. Applicants can then get a Green Card, a temporary work permit, and eventual citizenship without having to leave the US first. Such openness to immigration is also why the US remains the most powerful economy in the world. An analysis by the American Immigration Council shows that immigrants paid over $500 billion in US taxes in 2021: they account for 22.2% of entrepreneurs, 22.8% of STEM workers, and 15.2% of nurses. So, the US President deserves to be applauded for the move. The same analysis also points out that India was the source of 6% of immigrants to the US, the second after Mexico at 24%.
PC: India Today
- This is no surprise. India ranked first in the global remittance charge in 2023, with Indians working abroad sending back home a whopping $125 billion. India finds itself in a sweet spot. It has a huge population of young people at a time when many developed nations are in population decline. Thus, India can send millions of young workers to countries facing a severe labor shortage. GOI takes pride in the Indian diaspora, viewing them as a strategic economic and soft power resource. But the process can be strengthened further if GOI creates a post of minister for emigration. This would streamline the process of Indian emigration by helping match skilled and semi-skilled Indian labor with global employers. It’s a win-win situation for both the USA and India.
