Understanding Choices and Decision-making: Dependent Spouses in International Migration

The India–US migration corridor is one of the most prominent pathways for skilled migration in India. Every year thousands of skilled individuals emigrate to the US for work on H1B visa. There is a parallel migration of spouses of such visa holders on an H4 visa, a dependent visa which restricts several financial as well as non-financial freedom of an individual. The paper dwells on understanding why educated and independent women choose to migrate on a dependent visa and the choice baskets available to them. Given the choices available, how are the decisions concerning migration on dependent spouse visas undertaken?