Shifting Stereotypes in Migrant Perceptions Across Visa Transitions

• In Event: 20862 - Section on International Migration Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Migration and Legal Status

Abstract

Migrant legal status serves as a powerful social marker, influencing public perceptions of competence, trustworthiness, and societal worth. While existing scholarship has examined the implications of legal status on migrant experiences, little attention has been paid to how visa transitions shape societal perceptions. This study investigates how different visa trajectories—upward, downward, and lateral shifts within the immigration hierarchy—affect stereotypes of migrants in the U.S. Through a survey-based experimental design, respondents will evaluate fictional migrant profiles transitioning between visa categories. The study employs the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) to assess shifts in perceived competence and warmth, applying cluster analysis, ANOVA, and mixed-effects regression to uncover patterns in stereotype formation. Findings will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how visa mobility stratifies migrant perceptions and inform policy discussions on equitable treatment within immigration systems. By shedding light on the fluidity of migrant stereotypes, this research challenges static categorizations and highlights the socio-political implications of legal status transitions.

Author

• Lu Tong, University of California-San Diego