The transition of legal status among Korean immigrants in the United States: immigration story, challenges, and mental health

This study provided a new perspective on the challenges encountered by Korean immigrants, focusing on the differences in obtaining their primary legal status and transitioning to their current legal status. We showed the importance of assessing the effects of change in legal status on the psychological well-being of Korean immigrants by looking into the immigrants' experiences of racism and discrimination and analyzing the immigrants' mental inconsistencies of their expectations versus reality. These findings open the way for future research on Asian immigrants in the U.S. and contribute to the development of U.S. immigration policies.