Once considered ideal matches, NRI grooms, especially from the USA, are no longer the top choice for many Telugu families.
Despite their high earnings and global lifestyle, concerns over job security, visa issues, and changing immigration policies in the USA have led to a shift in preferences. Families now view the once-glamorous NRI life as uncertain and unstable.
Frequent layoffs in the tech sector and the pressure of maintaining visa status are major concerns. If an NRI loses his job, he must quickly find another or return to India. This instability makes families wary.
Local matchmakers confirm a growing trend where parents and brides now prefer grooms settled in India. Personal stories and fears about visa extensions, deportation risks, and the high cost of living in the U.S. are further discouraging NRI matches.
The dream of marrying into a life abroad is fading, with many now choosing the safety and stability of staying local.
While the parents of Indian brides are still open to marrying their daughters to Telugu men who are American citizens, the interest is not mutual.
Many American citizen grooms are hesitant to marry brides from India, citing differences in mindset and compatibility due to growing up in different environments.
Speaking on this, a matrimony expert said, “Marrying the daughter of one’s maternal uncle is common in Telugu families. But even in such close-knit family circles, when the girl is from India and the groom is born and brought up in the USA, marriages are not happening due to differences in upbringing and lifestyles.”
As a result, the parents of brides are increasingly showing preference for well-settled grooms within India, rather than NRIs.
In many ways, President Trump's immigration policies and the after effects are creating significant hurdles for Telugu grooms living abroad. Thus, the NRI grooms as well their parents are suffering from Trump fever.