US visa squeeze puts brakes on Indians' search for spouses

H-IB uncertainty makes marriage to compatriots in the US less attractive

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Ms Sidhi Sharma had wanted to marry an Indian citizen with a high-flying job in the United States.

But the 19-year-old medical student from India's northern Haryana state dropped the idea after seeing recent headlines about US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

"I had always dreamt of settling in the US after marriage," she said, without elaborating on her reasons. "Mr Trump has shut the door for me."

Tighter US immigration policies, particularly for the H-1B skilled worker visa, are making families in India less inclined to marry their children to Indian citizens based in the US for fear the potential partners might lose their job or immigration status, according to matchmakers, academics and prospective brides and grooms.

There is no official government data on marriages between Indian citizens living at home and overseas.

"Immigration policies may be written in Washington, but its ripple effects are seen at dinner tables of Indian families when they're talking about marriages," said Ms Anuradha Gupta, the founder of bespoke matchmaking service Vows For Eternity.

Traditionally, marriages in India are family-driven decisions, with relatives and matchmaking agencies facilitating arranged matches. While marriages for love are gaining ground, especially in the cities, families often still play supportive roles.

The US has the world's largest Indian diaspora, according to Indian government data, including around 2.1 million nonresident Indians (NRI), some of the most sought-after marriage prospects.