Leaving India
My family immigrated from Chennai, a city in South India.
The first family members to move to the United States were Dhanam Rengachary and her husband Setti Rengachary. Dhanam is Pushpam's sister, and my great aunt. They came over in 1964. Dhanam and Setti are both doctors, so it was easier for them to obtain visas to enter the country.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 put into place a legal framework that prioritized highly skilled immigrants. It also made it easier for people to immigrate if they had family in the US, specifically from Asian nations. Many families including my own took advantage of these new immigration laws.
My father, Singu Srinivas, was born in 1968. In the early 1970s, there was a large increase in immigration to the United States after the removal of quotas in 1965.
In 1970, Kesavan moved to the United States for more work opportunities and a better life for his family. He was an electrical engineer and designed electrical systems for buildings such as hospitals and airports. Engineers are included under skilled workers, making it easier for him to obtain a visa.
In 1972, Pushpam and Singu joined Kesavan in America. Dhanam was able to sponsor them, which made obtaining a visa a much quicker process. They immigrated to Kansas City to be near Dhanam and Setti.