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J Cross Cult Gerontol (2015) 30:319331 DOI 10.1007/s10823-015-9268-7
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Yeon-Shim Lee1 & Anoshua Chaudhuri2 & Grace J. Yoo3
Published online: 13 August 2015# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015
Abstract With the growth in engineering/technology industries, the United States has seen an increase in the arrival of highly skilled temporary migrant workers on H1B visas from various Asian countries. Limited research exists on how these groups maintain family ties from afar including caring for aging parents. This study explores the experiences and challenges that Asian H1B workers face when providing care from a distance. A total of 21 Chinese/Taiwanese, Korean, and Indian H1B workers participated in in-depth qualitative interviews. Key findings indicate that despite distance, caring relationships still continue through regular communications, financial remittances, and return visits, at the same time creating emotional, psychological, and financial challenges for the workers. Findings highlight the need for further research in understanding how the decline of aging parents health impacts the migrants adjustment and health in the United States.
Keywords Asian H1B migration . Care provision . Financial/Psychological distress . Transnational caregiving
Background
Since the 1970s, the San Francisco (SF) Bay Area, California, in the United States (U.S.) has seen an increase in the migration of highly skilled workers from various Asian countries
* Yeon-Shim Lee
Anoshua Chaudhuri
Grace J. Yoo [email protected]
1 School of Social Work, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, HSS 216,
San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
2 Department of Economics, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
3 Department of Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
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320 J Cross Cult Gerontol (2015) 30:319331
who are attracted by high wages, better career opportunities, and higher living standards. Workers who arrive on an H1B visa are Bnonimmigrant aliens [..] in specialty occupations of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment...