Contemporary Chinese Immigrants

Contemporary Chinese immigrants are not only diverse in their socioeconomic characteristics but also in their places of origin and settlement patters. Most of them are highly educated and have a higher socioeconomic background than their predecessors. They continue to concentrate in traditional immigrant gateway cities and nearby ethnoburbs, while also settling out all over the U.S. Since the late 1970s, “transnational linkage between China and Chinatowns or the newly emerged Chinese ehnoburbs are being renewed, strengthened and developed by immigrants and their organizations.” In the 1980s, an accelerated migration from China led to a dramatic transformation of Chinese American population. Chinatowns continue to receive new immigrants, due

In 2013, 47 percent of Chinese immigrants (aged 25 and over) had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 28 percent of the total immigrant population and 30 percent of the native-born population. According to a survey of Pew Research Center, roughly four-in-ten (43%) Chinese immigrants report that they can carry on a conversation in English very well. “More than half of Chinese Americans (52%) speak English proficiently, compared with 63% of Asian Americans in general and 90% of the U.S. population overall.” Their education background and their English language proficiency allow them to get into the host country’s labor market, and meanwhile, help them to start their own businesses. Many of them use their language ability and knowledge about the host and home countries to engage in transnational

regularly participate in transnational activities; and these transnational immigrants engage in transitional activities because they see transnationalism as an alternative means to gain more economic opportunities, and maximize their benefit. On the social and economic level, these immigrants cannot act alone, so they often join organizations to gain access to resources, and acquire social capitals. Furthermore, “as China promises continued economic growth and participates more fully with the United States in intensifying economic globalization, the role played by Chinese transnational migrants will increase further.” They will continue serve as bridge to link their host country and home country, their cross border activities such as cultural exchange, academic exchange, and business exchange will also bring more opportunities for them. The dynamic transnational social networks on the other hand keep on providing mutual help for immigrants to participate in cross border practices. Overall, there are various ways in which Chinese immigrants engage in activities in two different countries. Further, there is a gradual involvement of Chinese immigrants in transnational practices and activities, and this involvement has become the prominent pattern