Transnational theories have established that, after migrating to a new country, migrants often maintain their pre-existing social, economic, and political ties to their home country. The extent to which however, transnational institutional and social connections may affect the residential location and housing experiences of immigrant and refugee groups, and why and how these experiences differ within broadly defined immigrant groups such as the 'South Asians' remains unexplored. Building on transnational theory and previous research on the housing trajectories of new Canadians, this paper examines the housing experiences of two recently arrived 'South Asian' subgroups in Toronto-Indian Bengalis and Bangladeshis. By highlighting important intra-immigrant group differences, the study reveals how diverse transnational ties affect their neighbourhood choice and the type, tenure, and quality of housing when they first arrived in Toronto. © 2007 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

Intra-immigrant group Bangladeshis Transnational ties Indian Bengalis

Eurasia Toronto refugee Economic and social effects India immigration Asia Regional planning housing conditions housing migrants experience North America South Asia Canada international migration West Bengal Bangladesh Asian immigrant Indian Bengalis Intra-immigrant group Ontario [Canada]