Money within Immigrant Couples. the Influence of Transnational and Extended Families.

In my ongoing thesis, I explore the financial arrangements made within couples during their migration process to the province of Québec. Lots of researchers studied money circulations and significances within couples. Moreover, they have shown their heuristic scope to understand families’ dynamics. The originality of my research is to apply this approach in the context of international migration. Aside from the novelty of the subject, money is particularly important for immigrant couples given the problematic of installation costs, immigrant’s unemployment rate and remittances, amongst others.

This study’s main objective is to examine the transformations of the immigrant couples’ financial situation and arrangements. This communication will focus on the preliminary analysis of the influence of transnational and extended families : have they financially contributed to the realization of the migration project? And which family : hers and/or his? Does the couple currently send remittances? And to which family, for what purpose, how many, etc.? What are the effects of these remittances on the couple’s dynamics and on the financial situation of both partners? Are these remittances going to create mutual aid between partners to fulfill obligations to their parents or cause discord in the couple? This qualitative research is based on interviews conducted separately with qualified dual-income immigrant couples (having at least one child and living in the Montreal area).