For decades, Indian families have looked at the United States as the ultimate destination, a place where hard work, education, and opportunity could rewrite one’s destiny. For many young Indians, the way to live those dreams was through marriage, with families hoping to find a match working on H-1B visa in America. But as US immigration rules tighten under Trump’s 2.0 and layoffs continue to haunt tech industries, the once-glamorous NRI tag is now losing its sheen.
NRI marriage culture post H-1B crackdown
Speaking to Reuters, nineteen-year-old medical student Sidhi Sharma, from Haryana, India, admits her childhood dream to marry an Indian professional in the US is no longer on the cards. “I had always dreamed of settling in the US after marriage,” Sidhi said. “Trump has shut the door for me.”
A recent trend suggests, families in India are now less excited about marrying off their children to Non-Resident Indians, especially those on H-1B visas. The reason is uncertainty revolving around factors like: Will the potential spouse keep the visa or job? Could deportation or layoffs suddenly change everything? Is financial security still guaranteed under Trump’s administration and constantly changing policies?
Some families are even delaying weddings due to concerns over immigration status. A 26-year-old Indian in Atlanta, speaking anonymously, said he is aware of three weddings delayed for these very reasons.
Matchmakers sense slowdown in wedding
Speaking of numbers, Indians receive about 71% of all H-1B visas. In 2024, about 75% of H-1B visas issued to Indian citizens went to indian men, according to data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Anuradha Gupta, the founder of a matchmaking service, said, “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.”
Vanaja Rao, another matchmaker, claimed that, demand for NRI suitors “was very high” until recent years. But lately, she says: “We’ve started to see a slowdown ever since Trump took over, and it intensified in the last six months. And of course, after the recent chaos and curbs on H-1B, there’s more panic,” according to Reuters.
Some families are even delaying weddings due to concerns over immigration status. A 26-year-old Indian in Atlanta, speaking anonymously, said he is aware of three weddings delayed for these very reasons.
Way before imposing a hefty H-1B fee, the Trump administration targeted visa holders by proposing that spouses shouldn’t be allowed to work. Speaking on the matter, a professor at Toronto University said, “Every time there has been speculation about stopping or tightening the restrictions around H-1B visas and skilled-worker migration, there has always been a corresponding impact on the marriage market.”
A report from the Indian government states that the U.S. hosts the world’s largest Indian diaspora, with around 2.1 million NRIs, many of whom are considered the most sought-after marriage prospects.