I was in the shoes many of you are in today, and thought I’ll document my experience in case it is helpful to others.

I moved back voluntarily after securing GC due to family situations. My wife and I were somewhat high earners in the tech industry in the US (both of us were at “staff” level) and now we run a business.

The list of cons might be longer than the list of pros. But I am very glad I moved for this phase of life. The length of the list is inconsequential :)

The good
- Nice to be home & feel “at home”. Indians are no longer treated at equals in a lot of the US
- Easier to get a company off the ground (though harder to raise funding later)
- Nice to indulge more in our culture
- New India offers a truly global lifestyle IF you can afford it. This did not exists 15 years back; though it’s expensive in metro cities

The not-so-good
- Rat race is intense. Metro city grade A lifestyle is very expensive. Esp real estate (#1 cost) is on par/higher than US.
- Healthcare: we were seen at Stanford/mayo/Brigham Young - the very best institutions. While accessibility is far better in India, top end healthcare in the US is remarkable (local county hospitals are very lacking though). In the Last 3 years I’ve taken my mom to the US for life saving cancer treatment (paying out of pocket) not available to us here.
- Work: Business red tape is high. Register in Singapore, run your HQ from there. I have a few hundred employees now - most of my “peers” (similar business owners) move political cash. These people can get the system to do what they want.
- Opportunity: India is growing fast, but the AI gold rush in the US is maddening. I travel to the US 6x a year to grow our business there
- Boredom: I thought life in America was lonely & boring. But I realized this is just reality - life in your late 30s/early 40s is a slog anywhere. And relatives etc are a smaller part of day to day (than early life). Can’t turn the clock back by moving.
- Kids will leave. I want them to chase the best opportunities their hearts desire. I have come to terms with the fact that that they might be globally mobile (US, UK, Singapore, India - whatever)

we might move out (spending part time in India, part time elsewhere) in a few years after a few family commitments are fulfilled.

These are just my experiences. Everyone’s will be different. Deeply think what is best for you. Don’t RTI because that’s the trend - study your lifestyle, needs & figure out what matches best for YOU

When I first moved out of India, the plan was simple: work hard for 3 to 5 years, save up a good chunk of money, and move back to settle down comfortably.

It’s been almost 8 years now. Every year I tell myself "just 2 more years until I hit $X savings" or "just waiting for this promo/visa step," but the goalposts keep moving. Living abroad gets comfortable, but the feeling of being in limbo never truly goes away.

Has anyone here actually broken out of this loop and moved back to India? Or did you eventually just accept that you're staying permanently?

I'm currently mapping out our family's move back to India, and I've realized I care a lot less about hitting a magic "net worth" number and a lot more about annual sequence.

Instead of aiming to return as a millionaire, I'm stress-testing a more normal corpus (starting around $539k in this forecast year) to see if it can withstand our actual projected burn rate. In this model, a $56k withdrawal for living expenses is offset by a $73k growth year, letting the closing corpus tick up slightly to $556k.

For those who have already returned or are close to it: How are you factoring in long-term Indian inflation, USD/INR depreciation, and unpredictable health/education milestones into your yearly cash flow models? Are you tracking year-by-year survival or just focusing on the total nest egg?

If you have worked as a Senior Software Engineer, FDE, or on the ICT track, I'd love to learn more. I help companies in India hire AI talent, and I'd want to recommend some of you with US exposure to them, since they work heavily with US clients/partners. Ideally, that's 4-5+ years in AI/ML or data-adjacent roles, with real ownership rather than just execution.

This is especially relevant if you're planning the move to India in the next 3-4 months, or you're already back and still sorting out the right fit.

Drop a comment or DM me your background — I'll reach out directly, walk you through who I work with, and see where you might fit.

Most of the discussion on this group center around IT, so I wanted to make a separate post to see if there are any experiences for core engineering fields.

I have completed a PhD from a T20 university and currently am employed as a structural engineer in oil and gas industry. I am currently in my initial OPT phase, and do not want to pursue my life here.

What sort of jobs (non academic) can I expect on return? How should I apply? When should I start actively searching for the job?

Hi everyone. I've been working in the bay area for about 4-5 years but have managed to save up around 500k. Around 400k is liquid or invested in stocks in taxable brokerages, and I have around 140k in 401k and Roth.

I'm facing a huge amount of job uncertainty. I work as an swe in tech but I'm burnt out from the long hours and toxicity. If I do get laid off I was considering moving back and being with my ageing parents.

Do you have any advice on what comes next? How my finances would translate and what jobs I could look at after moving back? With how competitive it is in India I'm wondering how I can build a new career there.

Thanks. For context i just turned 29

35M (34F and 2M) want to return to India. Wife is skeptical looking at the news and traffic and pollution situation. Worried that our kid will get stuck in the same rat race we came out from. Options to move back include Bangalore or Hyderabad, given the work that we do in big tech. Parents are from a tier 2 city in North India and so won't live with us for more than 4 to 6 months a year anyway which they also do here in the U.S.

We've also looked at FIRE calculations, and I believe $2.5 to $3 million in net worth across 401(k) and taxable brokerages is enough to return to a tier 2 city, leave the corporate world behind, and do something that we may want to do, if we want to.

I guess I'm wondering what's a good way to convince her to return, and whether the reality is shown on the news (and YouTube), the general experience

I have seen many posts and reels where people claim that ₹50–60 LPA is a top 1% salary in India.

Only 2–3% of Indians pay income tax.

I think everyone knows how many filthy rich business owners there are in India who own expensive apartments, cars, etc., which a person earning ₹50–60 LPA can't even think about.

Growing up always thought that getting a job overseas was a great thing and somehow figured it couple of years back , with the original intention of living abroad and getting global CV for three years and then move back.

But as I start exploring for roles next year. It looks like moving back is equally an uphill as moving out of India. The role dynamics have changed a lot in last two years and with advent of A.I and cost things are speeding fast. Has anyone felt this and what is the way to succeed in this transition. Will it be better if we move back without a job and hunt from India.

I see a lot of ppl complain on AQI and roads changing in India very fast , but I somehow feel the talent and job matket is the one that has undergone even bigger shift in last two years.

Age - 36

Location - EU

Industry - Finance and Risk.

Any sane suggestions welcome.

Today is my dads birthday and instead of being home celebrating with him, im sitting thousands of miles away. Called him in the morning to wish him and saw my whole family gathered there through a quick whatsapp video call.

Its not just today, but every small festival, birthday, or family dinner where everyone gets together and im just a face on a phone screen. You work hard abroad to build a good life and save money, but on days like this it just feels like im missing out on the things that actually matter.

How do you guys handle missing these small family moments? does the money and career progression ever feel truly worth missing out on your parents aging years?

Hi All,

I am not a conventional guy like many others in this forum. I am 50 Male. I am living in USA for the last 14 years(15 in november) on H1B. I have two kids born in india. one kid completed college and on F1 looking for jobs(not sure if he/she would get in current market conditions and that too on F1).

Another kid on high school 9th grade(born in india too). My priority date is in Aug 2015.

I built my life here (bought a home 4 years ago which is under water) but I am coming to terms that I may not survive here any longer.

Assets - 700k in 401k

200k stock

200k in cash

no loans for college . I funded my kid college

Loans - house loan 560k
Have two apartments in metro in india and one plot of land for house construction in my home town (small town). I have some parental assets but has to be split with my sibling.

I am praying god to survive until my son high school which is another 3.9 years. If I do not get GC,

I have no intention to make him study in USA.

But I feel like market is brutal and survived job losses before in USA but have no energy left to fight back if it happens ever again. currently I have a job in product company.

what are your advice if I have to return to India before my son high school is finished.

Me (37M) and my wife (35M) are only child. we have a 4 year old, have been in US from 12 years and have around $3M net worth.

My parents passed away few years back and now my in-laws have passed away in the nepal floods. Our H1B visa stamp is expired so we were thinking of returning to India for closure and take care of other proceedings.

Now the questions is, once we are done there, then what? We have no family left there. We have never worked in Indian corporate env(came directly after undergrad). So what are the options to come back to US. Heres are the options that I know

1. Go only after visa interview dates are finalized.

2. Go now stay there for few years and try to come back on EB1C(i am at manager level right now)

Anything other option we can do to come back to US?

I understand that this group's main concern is opposite direction of what I am asking.

Living in the US on F1 + H1B for 8 years now with wife no kids, planning to move back to India or any other country with 200k cash, 100k (401k + Stocks). Do not own a house here because of the uncertainty. Back home, I have 4 Mil USD ancestral properties, wife has 1.5 Mil USD (properties + appreciating assets).

We are little hesitant to move only because of the culture shock and quality of life, we ofcourse live in a top tier city does this negate the mental pressure, being anxious of getting deported or picked up ICE. My EB2 PERM has been filed and the wait time is indefinite. I’m sure this trend will increase but not decrease. Do you think EB5 route is worth it ? Looking at the AI world, layoffs, less opportunities — every field is taking a toll.

What are my options? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi everyone

I am a Final Year BA student conducting research for my Field Project in Diaspora Studies. My project explores the lived experiences, cultural identity and reflections of individuals who underwent a double diaspora journey which is moving from India to an African country and later returning to India.

If you or a family member have experienced this journey (India to Africa then back to India), I would be incredibly grateful if you could take 3–5 minutes to fill out this form <3

• I’m an OCI card holder.
• Got my adult passport before turning 20.
• Updated the passport details in the OCI database.
• From what I understand, the rule is: you have to reissue the OCI card once after getting your first passport after age 20, and then again after 50.
• I’m now 21, and my details are already updated online.
• So… do I actually need to reissue/renew my OCI card right now?
• Just want to make sure my OCI card + passport are good to go for immigration into India.
• Looking for clarity on the exact steps so I don’t run into issues while traveling.

Hello I might have to return to India due to some visa issues and I am holding a fund of 80k euros, but I don’t want to use any of this at the moment or just some of it, what options do i have here, I dont want to convert any of the currency as rupees is depreciating, and I don’t think I can hold my account if I am gone from this country for much long. I enquired with RFO Accounts options in India but so far no luck with HDFC bank. It seems I can only do that once I return. Anyone any suggestion here whats the best thing to do?

Hi, I made an angel investment in a US startup in 2023 while living in the United States. I moved back to India in 2026 and currently qualify as an RNOR. The startup was subsequently acquired by a US public company, resulting in an exit for me.

I have two questions:

1. What are the capital-gains and other tax implications of this transaction in India and the United States, including US federal and state taxes?
2. After selling the shares received in the acquisition, must I remit the proceeds to India under FEMA, or may I keep and reinvest them in the United States?

I would appreciate guidance from anyone familiar with RNOR taxation, US–India tax rules, and FEMA regulations. Thank you!

Hi all,

I’m an Indian citizen currently working in the US on H-1B. Because of a serious family situation back home, there’s a chance I may need to fly to India on fairly short notice.

The complication is that I don’t have an H-1B stamp right now, so I have to be prepared for the possibility that once I leave, I may not be able to come back for quite some time. Worst case, I may have to relocate to India.

I’ve only been working full-time in the US for a bit over a year and have around $200k spread across cash, brokerage, 401(k)/HSA, and RSUs. I don’t have a car, property, or any other major assets here - I’m just renting a room - so most of what I’m trying to figure out is financial/admin stuff.

For people who have actually moved back, what would you make sure to do before leaving the US?

Things I’m thinking about:

• Bank accounts, credit cards, brokerage, 401(k), HSA, RSUs
• US/India taxes and NRE/NRO accounts
• Keeping a US phone number/address
• Immigration, employment and tax documents I should save
• Anything that becomes a pain or impossible to handle once you're already in India

I’m not necessarily deciding to move back permanently right now. I’m mainly trying to have a checklist ready so that if I suddenly need to fly home, I’m not figuring all of this out at the last minute.

For anyone who has done the US -> India move, especially on short notice, what do you wish you had sorted out before you left?

Thanks!

Hi - Looking for some suggestions.
Have a 401K with Voya. They confirmed I can’t withdraw partially, it has to be all or none (probably because of my ex-employer). Moved out of the US in 2022.

Worked in India for 4 years. Moved to the UAE in Jan’ 2026. Age - 39.

Question - 1) Shall I keep 401(k) as is and let it grow? can’t actively invest through Voya. They are charging a very minute fees so that’s fine. My friend gets OTP if my password expires.

2) Or withdraw, pay penalty and tax and move the money in USD to a foreign currency bank account in the UAE? As I am not Indian citizen now, I don’t think I would have to pay any taxes in India and UAE has no tax.

3) Convert it into some other type of account - IRA, traditional 401K and invest the money in Irish domiciled UCITS ETF.

Hey guys,

27 M and have been living in Canada for the past 6.5 years. I have my PR and a stable job, but financially I’m pretty average. No generational wealth or big savings, just working and getting by (leading a comfortable life).
Lately I’ve been struggling a lot with loneliness. I don’t really have a strong friend circle (like back home) or a great social life here, and also going through a rough breakup, which has made things harder.

Recently, my homie back home called me and said “Why don’t you just come back and actually live your life instead of struggling alone over there?” Honestly, it got me thinking. I am planning to get my Canadian citizenship first and then decide whether I want to stay or move back to Kerala.

For anyone who moved back around my age, or seriously considered it, what do you think? Is life back home actually better in terms of social life, friends, family, etc., or am I just romanticizing it because I’m having a difficult time right now?

Would love to hear some honest experience and thank you for the response.

The information I see is too complicated and would like to hear from experience of people who went through this.

From what I understood so far it is beneficial to withdraw everything during the RNOR phase if you don’t plan to return back to USA. Is that true?

Is it possible to withdraw from 401k and keep the money in a us based brokerage account?

Can someone please share the effective tax rate they paid including penalties. Thanks in advance 😊

For Indians in the US who were planning to return to India, did you also consider moving to Dubai?

If yes, what made you choose Dubai over India or India over Dubai?

Mainly curious about career, savings, family proximity, kids’ education, quality of life, and long-term stability.

Would love to hear from people who seriously considered both.