The investigation on the transnational movement processes of the three ethnic groups focused on an analysis of the transnational migration to Mae Hong Son province of 177 transnational migrant workers who were mostly male Shan, Kayah and Karen ethnic migrants. For the Shan, they came in groups while the Kayah and Karen came in families. Most of them came on foot because it was less risky of being arrested. They used national trails and checkpoints. Most of them came into the province due to persuasion of friends and relatives, followed by through Shan, Lahu and Karen agents, and by themselves. 
The push factors to become transactional migrant workers consisted of forced policies and destruction of residences​ due​ to the​ fighting​ between​ Burmese​ soldiers​ and​ minority​ ethnic groups; develop​ment​ with​ land​ expropriation for​ dam​ construction, mining​ and​ contract​ faming​ programs; forced​ labor​ as​ soldiers, farm​ workers, porters​ and​ guides​ for​ reconnaissance​; and​ murder, abuse and​ rape​ of ethnic​ women. 
The pull factors​ to​ migrate to​ the​ province​ were​ that, geographically, the​ province​ borders​ Kayah, Shan and​ Karen​ States, making​ it​ easy​ to​ travel​ to. Socially, it is found​ that​ there has been​ a large​ number​ of​ the​ Shan​ residing​ in​ the​ province​ since​ 1831, with​ continuous​ contacts​ and​ good​ relationship enabling​ the​ migrants​ to​ adapt​ themselves​ easily​. Economically​ and​ politically, the​ province​ was​ found​ to​ be​ highly stable​ and​ safe​ with​ a higher rate of​ employment​ and​ lax​ state​ policies​ with​ transnational​ migrant​ workers.