Full Citation
Title: Using the “Green Card Marriage” to Model Demand for United States Immigrant Visas
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2017
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI:
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: In this paper, I investigate demand for United States immigrant visas. I use the “Green Card Marriage” as my measure of demand for immigrant visas. Using the American Community Survey, I identify individuals who marry in they same year that they immigrate to the United States as Green Card marriage participants. I find that demand for spousal immigrant visas is significantly associated with economic conditions, indicating that marriage decisions between foreign-born individuals and United States citizens are often influenced by desire to immigrate to the United States on the part of the foreignborn spouse. I find evidence that wage and unemployment rate are central determinants of the demand for spousal immigrant visas from a country. Curiously, it seems that individuals are more likely to immigrate on a spousal visa if the wage in their country is higher and unemployment is higher, while also being more inclined to immigrate if the wage in the United States is higher and unemployment is lower. The increased rate of immigration may be indicative of cost barriers to migration. In addition to the effects of economic conditions on immigration to the United States, I find that countries with qualities that facilitate either contact or cultural compatibility with the United States are likely to send more spousal visa immigrants. Together, the results of this paper indicate that spousal visas are currently used as a vehicle for economically motivated immigration to the United States.
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Ricketts, Amelia
Institution: Pierson College, Yale University
Department: Economics
Advisor:
Degree:
Publisher Location:
Pages:
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Family and Marriage, Migration and Immigration
Countries: