Managed to transfer majority of it before moving but still left with about $12k to transfer as I'm awaiting 2025 federal refund. Wanted to know of reliable ways to transfer the amount as I read online that wiring amount greater than 10k from an indian IP address can cause the account to get frozen. Let me know if anyone has done this before and what service did you use.
Little bit about me: Moved to Canada in 2018 and lately i have been thinking more about to retire in India because retiring in Canada for me seems to be impossible. Wife not working and 2 kids ( under 3). Im 39 now and planning to earn as much as possible in next 11 years and retire at 50. My current work is super draining but hanging on to it since the pay is good. I know it is going to be tricky to retire in India since kids will be 12-13 then. Assuming that is sorted, in terms of fund needed to retire what is considered to be ok amount that i should aim to retire with. Recently i went to India and everything has become so expensive
So my question is, any thoughts on retirement fund needed to retire in tier 2 cities like madurai / coimbatore in south india. Anyone done this recently? Thanks
My current portfolio is as follows:
U.S. Assets
Cash in bank: USD 90,000
Fidelity investments: USD 35,000
401(k): USD 45,000
India Assets
Noida flat worth approximately ₹1.5 crore, generating ₹29,000 monthly rent
Lucknow flat worth approximately ₹90 lakh, expected to generate ₹16,000 monthly rent
Varanasi plot worth approximately ₹80 lakh
Mutual funds: ₹1.6 crore
Gold investments: ₹1 crore
Sandhya’s mutual funds: ₹20 lakh
Sandhya’s cash savings: ₹5 lakh
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): ₹20 lakh
Provident Fund (PF): ₹40 lakh
Public Provident Fund (PPF): ₹20 lakh
National Savings Certificate (NSC): ₹5 lakh
In addition, my wife is a government teacher earning approximately ₹82,000 per month.
Given this financial position, can I start planning to return to India and think about partial retirement?
Is CAD 150k a good salary in Quebec compared to USD 160k or a ₹40 lakh salary in India? I have the option of an inter-company transfer from the USA to Canada or India due to my visa max-out, and I am analyzing which option would be best.
Has anyone withdrew from their Fidelity Traditional IRA? I would like to know the process and also how its treated from tax point of view in the US for a non-resident? (Flat 30% tax or as per tax slabs)
I'm stuck here for long reasons. My brain hurts hearing Indian languages and even the Indian English accent because I didn't have a nice time growing up here before I left for Canada and Europe. Unfortunately due to many reasons including health, family and money I couldn't figure out a way to remain there.
Now I'm back here all I see is jealousy from others who are arrogant cause they've never been humbled from going outside to realize how backwards we are, overpriced low quality no vfm goods, pointless over competitive unproductive corrupt high taxed low pay roles abusive underemployment with no innovation. My family has less means to send me out again but they're denying it and I'm also scared of downgraded wageslaving just to survive until I figured out remote passive income means or startup in something creative I'm passionate about. Unfortunately premium foreign clients avoid non-tech Indian freelancers and investors here are a joke by themselves and I'm losing hope for ways to make money as things go, forget quality of life factors.
I found girls be it paid or unpaid way more pleasant and receptive overseas compared to here in India where anyone remotely attractive has so much ego and a shield. Not to mention that for 50 euros/5kinr I could get southern European/middle eastern girls much prettier than bollywood models ( who cost 10x more here with worse attitude and service) in German sauna clubs full service or french Canadian strip clubs full contact. I had an addiction where I used to pay for sex and when I ran out of money ( for other reasons) got addicted to drugs that helped me hallucinate very realistic interactions with women in VR and those are not easy to get here.
I've dropped away my previous plans for getting married and raising a family long ago even in the west and my chances of saving up enough to move overseas or reskilling up technically seems too long and tedious and uncertain that all I do now is sleep 16 hours a day hoping to recall positive lucid dreams and stumble into ai video generated VR pov porn (for which I don't even have enough money to customize).
I always looked into the creative industry but I hate Bollywood other Indian film culture and don't find it relatable at all in fact I regret not avoiding Indians when overseas cause people want to stick to the familiar tbf my experience would've been much better had I gone somewhere with much less south asians like Spain where learning a second European language (which I was lazy too) would've been a barrier. Now I'm stuck in a place I didn't have a choice of being born in and stuck to people I regret not avoiding overseas for numerous reasons that led me to this state.
planning my relocation to india from US. some friends say i get 3 years of RNOR, some say 2, my CA in india says it depends. i have 401k, US brokerage and some FDs in india. need to know how long this window is before i become ROR.
I (25F) grew up in urban India, middle class. I recently graduated from a relatively old IIM and have a good (on paper) job lined up in India. I was also lucky enough to experience the exchange semester during my MBA in a good university in Europe. During my exchange term, I simply fell in love with the lifestyle abroad — better infrastructure, better services, work-life balance, air quality, safety (especially as a woman), accessible public transport. I would love to actually build a life and family in such a place, compared to India. I'm actively looking for jobs there, but no luck yet since my exchange program was a non-degree exchange and I have only 2 Indian degrees (MBA and BTech; both from reputed colleges, but in India).
Now I'm having major regret. Here's why.
3 years back, once I was sure I wanted to go to grad school, I had a huge fight with my dad because he recommended that I go abroad for grad school, but he said I must come back to India for work. That sounded absolutely absurd to me. The math didn't make sense — spending in $ or € to earn in rupees. For context, I come from a family where education is seen as a status symbol, instead of a tool to enable a better life. And to clarify, we're definitely not rich. My dad was ready to spend his life savings on my education abroad. I argued that if I were to anyways live in India, I can study in India itself. And at that time, I didn't know that life abroad would be so wonderful since I've been in India all my life. Finally since my mum was also leaning towards studying in India, I went ahead and prepared for CAT, based on which I got into IIM.
My pre-MBA work experience and some incidents during my MBA also showed me that you need 'connections' if you want to operate in this country. Following rules is penalised, and merit is seldom awarded. I'm not saying that such culture absolutely doesn't exist abroad, but for the average person, life is better. You are rewarded for being a law-abiding citizen.
I feel if I had just taken my dad's offer 3 years ago, I'd have been in a much better place now, and would be the perfect launchpad for my career abroad. Anyways, what's done is done. Realistically, what can I do now to acheive my new found dreams?
Also, as an NRI, would you say that my assessment of the situation is correct, or is there some crazy drawback that I'm not taking into account (apart from the obvious visa anxiety and being away from parents)?
I want to break down a reality that a lot of us are facing right now, especially those of us who finished our B.Tech around 2019( basically born in 1997-98), went abroad for a Master’s, and have been forced to return to India in the last 1-2 years due to tech layoffs or brutal visa cliffs.
People back home assume that if you worked abroad for 4-5 years in a high-paying white-collar job, you come back absolutely loaded. The reality? Most people barely save anything after clearing their student loans and dealing with the massive cost of living. Even if you hit MAANG-level compensation right out of school, walking away with $100K–$250K after clearing liabilities is the absolute best-case scenario.
Suddenly, you're thrust back into India in your late 20s. This is exactly the age where society expects you to have serious savings, fund a wedding, buy a new car, and put down a deposit on a house. Honestly, seeing the cost of a decent QoL in Tier-1 cities scares the shit out of me. Looking at the current property rates for high-rises in premium corridors, the true lifestyle inflation for the middle class feels closer to 10%+, nowhere near the 3-4% government figures.
My Personal Situation
I (28M) recently moved back to India from the UK after 4 years of working as a platform/cloud infrastructure engineer. I invested aggressively in mutual funds and gold while there in India , and managed to save around $60K USD. I was incredibly lucky—my MS cost at University of Glasgow was under $20K USD including everything thanks to a scholarship, and my parents covered the rest, so I came back with zero student debt.
I also fully acknowledge my privilege. My family has been based in a Tier-1 city in India for decades. They are well-off, have a solid real estate portfolio, and will never be financially dependent on me. I am truly blessed & grateful for that.
The Mental Block
Despite this massive safety net, I am really struggling. Since moving back, I cannot concentrate on my job search. The tech salaries offered here feel so low compared to the massive delta between the cost of living and save something good for upcoming life milestones like marriage.
It is deeply depressing and is completely suppressing my daily motivation to search for job here in India. I’m honestly terrified of the future—getting married, having kids, and trying to maintain a decent lifestyle against this crazy inflation combined with AI and tech sector in general feeling most heat.
The Dilemma: Stay or Leave Again?
I honestly want to hear opinions on how to come out of this rut:
I am currently a PR and been living in Toronto for 5 years. I have a stable job, salary 55k per annum. Do not have any huge savings here. My parents are getting old as they both are 65 and I feel like being with them as after this period it will only get worse as they grow old. I am not married yet, so that gives me an option to stay at home with my parents. However, I am not sure if this is a rational decision and if I’ll regret it later on as I will have to restart my career if I take a break and move back. My father is a businessman, however, things have not been quite uphill and there are some financial difficulties. I come from a huge family back home, both maternal and paternal sides. But I feel lonely here most of the times and all the pros of living in Canada are just not justifying against the fact that I am losing time being away from my parents. Please advice🥺
My husband is from Mumbai but I have never been outside the US. There is a 99.9% chance we are moving to Mumbai later this year or very early next. I already know it is going to be busy, hot and humid. I’m white and we are known for not handling heat very well 😆. Any advice, suggestions on fun things to do or anything at all would be appreciated. I’m nervous but excited. Thanks 🙏🏻
Came to the US for masters, finished it in 1.5 years during what felt like one of the worst job markets ever (solid timing, I know). Did on-campus jobs just to survive and somehow landed a full-time role right after graduation on OPT at one of the top banks.
Started with approx $40K education loan, paid it off (thank god), and even managed to save close to $100K over time. On paper it sounds great… but the visa anxiety is basically a permanent subscription at this point.
I’m 29 now, been through 3 H1B lottery attempts (Level 3 filing gang) and still no luck. At this point I’m convinced my name is just not in the simulation. Mentally it’s exhausting doing everything “right” and still having your future decided by a random draw.
Now I’m at that crossroads where I could probably move back home via internal transfer, get \~30 LPA in my home city, be closer to family, and finally live a life where I don’t check “H1B news” like it’s stock market earnings. Also yes… MARRIAGE pressure has officially entered the chat.
Not really sure what’s the smart move anymore. Anyone here in the same boat, or already went back home after the US grind? Did you feel relief, regret, or just peace? Would genuinely love to hear how it played out for you or what you’d do in this situation.
A few months ago, we set out on the goal to write the most comprehensive article on Foreign Equity in India. It's taken us a while, but this article is finally completed. We cover everything from Tax to Reporting requirements for Foreign Stocks, RSUs and ESPPs in India.
Full article with better formatting than reddit - https://www.reymanwealth.com/post/taxing-foreign-equity-in-india-rsus-espps-overseas-stocks
Section 01
The Indian tax system taxes individuals based on residential status, not citizenship. Your obligations differ significantly depending on whether you are a Resident and Ordinarily Resident (ROR), Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR), or Non-Resident (NR).
| Status | Indian income | Foreign income | Foreign asset reporting |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROR | Fully taxable | Fully taxable | Mandatory (Schedule FA) |
| RNOR | Fully taxable | Only if derived from India | Not required |
| NR | Fully taxable | Not taxable in India | Not required |
Rule of thumb
Most employees at Indian MNC subsidiaries receiving stock compensation from a foreign parent are RORs. This guide primarily addresses ROR individuals, for whom all global income is taxable in India.
You are an ROR if you have been resident in India for at least 2 of the preceding 10 years AND for at least 730 days in the preceding 7 years.
Section 02
RSUs are taxed at two distinct moments: vesting and sale. Confusing these two events is the most common mistake made by employees.
Event 1 — Grant
No tax event. RSUs are merely a promise of future shares. Nothing is included in income at grant.
Event 2 — Vesting
Taxable as salary income. The fair market value (FMV) of shares on the vesting date, converted to INR, is treated as a perquisite under Section 17(2)(vi) of the Income Tax Act. Your employer is required to withhold TDS.
Event 3 — Sale
Taxable as capital gains. The difference between the sale price and the FMV at vesting (your cost of acquisition) is a capital gain or loss. Holding period is counted from the date of vesting.
Perquisite Value = FMV on vesting date (in USD) × INR/USD rate on vesting date × Number of shares vested
The applicable exchange rate is the SBI TT buying rate as prescribed by the Income Tax Rules. Some employers use the RBI reference rate — check your Form 16 for the rate used.
The FMV that was taxed as salary at vesting becomes your cost of acquisition for capital gains purposes. You are not taxed twice on the same appreciation.
Capital Gain = Sale Proceeds (INR) − FMV at Vesting (INR)
100 shares vest when ACME Corp trades at $50.
The INR/USD rate is ₹83.→ Perquisite = 100 × $50 × 83 = ₹4,15,000 added to salary;
TDS deducted by employer.
6 months later, shares are sold at $60.
INR rate is ₹84.→ Sale proceeds = 100 × $60 × 84 = ₹5,04,000→ Cost = ₹4,15,000
Short-term capital gain = ₹89,000 (held < 24 months)
Partial-year residents
If you were resident in India for only part of the vesting period, some employers apportion the perquisite. The Indian tax authority's position is that all perquisite is taxable in India if you are an ROR at the time of vesting, regardless of where you worked during the vesting period. Seek professional advice if you have multi-country history.
Section 03
ESPPs allow employees to purchase employer stock at a discount, typically 5–15%, sometimes with a look back period. The mechanics differ from RSUs but the tax logic is similar.
When you purchase ESPP shares, the discount you receive is treated as a perquisite under Section 17(2) and taxed as salary income in the year of purchase.
Perquisite = (FMV on purchase date − Purchase price) × Number of shares × INR rate
Your cost of acquisition is the FMV at purchase date (not your discounted purchase price). Holding period for LTCG/STCG purposes begins from the date of purchase.
Capital Gain = Sale Proceeds (INR) − FMV on purchase date (INR)
Many US-listed ESPPs have a look-back period (eg., 24 months) where the purchase price is 85% of the lower of FMV at offering date or purchase date. The tax authority will use FMV on the actual purchase date to determine the perquisite, not the offering date.
| Event | Tax treatment | Head of income | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPP Purchase | Discount = Perquisite | Salaries | Employer must deduct |
| ESPP Sale (within 24 months) | Gain over FMV at purchase | Short-term capital gains | No TDS on sale (self-report) |
| ESPP Sale (after 24 months) | Gain over FMV at purchase | Long-term capital gains | No TDS on sale (self-report) |
Section 04
Individual residents may invest in foreign stocks directly through the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), with a per-year limit of USD 250,000 per individual.
LRS annual limit
USD 2,50,000 per individual per financial year. Includes all overseas investments, travel, education, etc.
TCS on remittance
20% TCS (Tax Collected at Source) on amounts exceeding ₹10 lakh remitted under LRS for investment purposes. Creditable against tax liability.
There is no tax event when you buy foreign stocks with LRS funds. The INR amount remitted (plus brokerage, fees, and foreign transaction charges) forms your cost of acquisition in INR terms.
The cost of acquisition in INR is the INR amount you actually remitted. If you purchased using a foreign brokerage account with pre-existing funds, use the SBI TT buying rate on the date of purchase to convert.
Section 05
Key distinction
Foreign listed stocks are not treated as "equity" for Indian tax purposes. They are treated as unlisted securities. This means the preferential STCG rates applicable to Indian listed shares do NOT apply. Foreign stocks follow the rules for other assets.
| Asset | Holding for LTCG | STCG rate | LTCG rate | Indexation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian listed equity / equity MF | > 12 months | 20% (post-Jul 2024) | 12.5% (no indexation) | No |
| Foreign listed stocks (RSU, ESPP, LRS) | > 24 months | Slab rate | 12.5% (no indexation) | No (post-Jul 2024) |
| Debt MF | > 36 months | Slab rate | Always slab rate if purchased after 1 April 2023 | No |
Finance Act 2024 changes
From 23 July 2024, the LTCG rate on foreign stocks was reduced from 20% (with indexation) to 12.5% without indexation. Short-term gains continue to be taxed at slab rates. These changes apply to transfers on or after 23 July 2024. Gains on assets transferred before that date may be eligible for the prior regime.
Capital Gain (INR) = [Sale proceeds in USD × INR rate on sale date] − [Cost in INR]
Any currency appreciation is embedded in the capital gain. There is no separate forex gain treatment for individuals under Indian law. If the INR depreciates, your INR gain will be higher even if the stock price was flat in USD.
In this scenario, the shares are held for less than 24 months, classifying them as a short-term asset.
Scenario: Investing in Disney
Exchange Rate: You must use the SBI TT Buying Rate on the last day of the month immediately preceding the transaction month.
| Particulars | Calculation Breakdown | Amount in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Value | $150.00 × ₹80.00 | ₹12,000.00 |
| Less: Cost of Acquisition | $117.30 × ₹75.00 | ₹8,797.50 |
| Short Term Capital Gain | ₹12,000.00 - ₹8,797.50 | ₹3,202.50 |
Note: This gain of ₹3,202.50 will be added to the individual's total income and taxed at their applicable slab rate.
In this scenario, the shares are held for more than 24 months, classifying them as a long-term asset.
Scenario: Investing in Google
The Exchange Rate Rule:
Again, we look at the last day of the preceding months.
The Calculation:
| Particulars | Calculation Breakdown | Amount in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Value | $1,400.00 × ₹75.00 | ₹105,000.00 |
| Less: Cost of Acquisition | $840.18 × ₹70.00 | ₹58,812.60 |
| Long Term Capital Gain | ₹105,000.00 - ₹58,812.60 | ₹46,187.40 |
Note: Following the 2024 Budget updates, this Long-Term Capital Gain of ₹46,187.40 would be taxed at a flat 12.5% (without indexation benefits).
Section 06
Dividends received on foreign stocks, whether from RSU/ESPP shares or LRS investments, are fully taxable in India as Income from Other Sources at your applicable slab rate.
Many jurisdictions (notably the US) withhold tax at source. For example, the US withholds 25% on dividends paid to Indian residents (the US-India DTAA reduces this to 15% if W-8BEN is filed correctly with your broker).
In India, you must include the gross dividend (before foreign withholding) in your income. You then claim a Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) for the withholding tax paid abroad.
Taxable dividend income in India = Gross dividend (in USD) × INR rate on receipt date
If you hold US stocks (common with ESPP/RSUs from US-listed employers), filing a W-8BEN with your US broker or custodian confirms your non-US status and activates the 15% DTAA rate instead of the default 30% withholding. This directly reduces foreign tax withheld.
Section 07
India provides relief from double taxation through Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) under Rule 128 of the Income Tax Rules, read with Section 90/91 of the Income Tax Act.
Any ROR who has paid tax in a foreign country on income that is also taxable in India. This covers: US capital gains tax, US dividend withholding, and similar taxes in other jurisdictions.
Step 1
Determine the Indian tax on the doubly-taxed income (computed as if it were your last layer of income).
Step 2
Determine the foreign tax paid on that income, converted to INR at the SBI TT buying rate on the date of payment.
Step 3
FTC = Lower of (Indian tax on that income) or (Foreign tax paid). You cannot claim FTC exceeding your Indian tax liability on that income.
Step 4
File Form 67 on the income tax portal before filing your ITR. Without Form 67, FTC claims are disallowed.
Critical deadline
Form 67 must be filed on or before the due date of ITR (typically 31 July, or 31 October if audit required). Courts have held that belated filing of Form 67 results in denial of FTC. Do not overlook this step.
Section 08
For ROR individuals, holding foreign assets triggers mandatory disclosure requirements that are separate from your tax payment obligations. Failure to report can trigger severe penalties under the Black Money Act 2015.
Any ROR holding foreign assets at any point during the financial year must disclose them in Schedule FA. This includes:
| Table in Schedule FA | What to report |
|---|---|
| A1 — Foreign depository accounts | Foreign bank accounts (held directly or jointly) |
| A2 — Foreign custodial accounts | Brokerage accounts holding foreign securities (RSUs, ESPPs, LRS stocks) |
| A3 — Foreign equity & debt interests | Direct shareholding in foreign companies >1% stake |
| A4 — Foreign cash value insurance / annuity | Foreign life insurance or pension contracts with cash surrender value |
| A5 — Financial interest in foreign entity | Any beneficial ownership or signing authority in foreign entity |
Unvested RSUs — do they count?
Yes. Unvested RSUs represent a beneficial interest in a foreign entity and must be disclosed in Schedule FA from the first year of grant. Many employees miss this because no economic benefit is yet realised. The disclosure is based on the grant, not the vest.
in general, below is the best practice agreed upon by most tax advisors:
If you hold foreign assets, you cannot use ITR-1 (Sahaj). You must use ITR-2 (if no business income) or ITR-3 (if you have business or professional income or are a partner in a firm). Schedule FA is available only in ITR-2 and ITR-3.
Section 09
Beyond the Income Tax Act, foreign equity holdings are regulated by the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) administered by the Reserve Bank of India.
RSUs & ESPPs from employer
Covered under the FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Foreign Security) Regulations. An Indian resident may hold shares received as compensation without separate RBI approval, provided the employer is a listed foreign company.
LRS direct investments
Permitted under the LRS limit of USD 2,50,000 per financial year. All remittances go through an AD-I bank, which reports to RBI's FLAIR system.
Sale proceeds from foreign stocks must be repatriated to India within 180 days a reasonable time (generally interpreted as within 60–90 days of sale, though no hard deadline is specified). Proceeds may be credited to an RFC (Resident Foreign Currency) account or reinvested under LRS.
If you hold shares in a foreign company equivalent to a 10% or greater stake (unlikely for typical RSU/ESPP holders but possible for founders), you must file an Annual Performance Report (APR) with RBI through your AD bank. This is separate from the income tax Schedule FA disclosure.
Section 10
| Mistake | Consequence | Penalty risk |
|---|---|---|
| Not disclosing unvested RSUs in Schedule FA | Treated as undisclosed foreign asset | Black Money Act — ₹10L flat + 300% tax on value |
| Using ITR-1 when holding foreign assets | Return treated as defective; notice issued | Notice u/s 139(9); return invalid |
| Not filing Form 67 before ITR due date | FTC disallowed; entire foreign tax becomes a cost | Higher tax payable + interest u/s 234B/C |
| Treating foreign stock LTCG at 10% (equity rate) | Under-declaration of tax | Tax demand + penalty u/s 270A |
| Not grossing up dividend (reporting net of withholding) | Under-declaration of income | Penalty u/s 270A up to 200% of tax |
| Wrong exchange rate used for perquisite valuation | Incorrect cost of acquisition → wrong capital gain | Potential mismatch with Form 16; scrutiny risk |
Section 11
| Event | Income head | Rate | TDS? | Form/Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSU vesting | Salaries (perquisite) | Slab | Yes (employer) | Form 16 / Schedule S |
| RSU sale < 24 months | STCG | Slab | No | Schedule CG |
| RSU sale > 24 months | LTCG | 12.5% | No | Schedule CG |
| ESPP purchase (discount) | Salaries (perquisite) | Slab | Yes (employer) | Form 16 / Schedule S |
| ESPP sale < 24 months | STCG | Slab | No | Schedule CG |
| ESPP sale > 24 months | LTCG | 12.5% | No | Schedule CG |
| Foreign dividend | Other sources | Slab | No (self-report) | Schedule OS + Form 67 |
| LRS stock sale < 24 months | STCG | Slab | No | Schedule CG |
| LRS stock sale > 24 months | LTCG | 12.5% | No | Schedule CG |
| Foreign asset disclosure | — | Mandatory | — | Schedule FA (ITR-2/3) |
Applicable ITR forms
Foreign asset holders must use ITR-2 (salaried with capital gains) or ITR-3 (with business income). ITR-1 is not eligible. Always file Form 67 for FTC claims before submitting your ITR.
I'm 31F, came to the US in 2017 for my masters, have been working in tech for the last 7 years. Never had any "issues" with my H1-B, PERM is in process, professional life is looking pretty solid. I know I'm in a privileged spot to even be making this choice freely.
But on the personal side, I'm struggling to find the right partner. And lately I've been feeling that my life is so much more than my job, the visa stress, job and the layoff stress. Even if everything is going smooth right now I keep overthinking that what if I buy a home, have kids here in USA, and one day a visa rule changes and I'm stuck somewhere in between. India is where I actually picture my life, closer to family.
Yes, I've tried writing "planning to move back to India" in every dating app bio. The matches it produces are still 90% people who haven't actually thought about it.
Here's the actual problem. On Shaadi, DilMil, and Hinge, my matches fall into two buckets: people in the US who don't want to move back, and people already in India who I can't realistically meet without flying out.
"Wants to move back to India" isn't a filter on any of them — so I end up asking in every first conversation, and 90% of the time the answer is no. These apps match me by caste, by mother tongue, by whether my horoscope works with his.
I've messaged people on Shaadi who've already moved back, but I'm not comfortable moving without meeting someone first — and the geography makes that almost impossible.
Not one of them asks the question that actually mentions where someone's life is headed: where do you want to live? I've messaged people on Shaadi who've already moved back— and the geography makes that almost impossible. Then I read this thread. The comments were full of people who'd had this exact conversation with their partner and that's when it hit me that this isn't just my problem.
So I built a small thing - a matchmaking site specifically for NRIs who either want to move back, or who've already moved back and want a partner who gets it. It's small(I am just starting over). I'm onboarding people one conversation at a time so the early users are real. I'm not trying to sell anyone anything(It’s free).
Full disclosure: yes, I'm the one who built it. (Mods — happy to take this down if not allowed. No link in the post; happy to DM if anyone wants to register)
I came to USA in 2013 on an H1B visa and have June 2016 priority date in EB2 India category. I am an MBA from top ranked institute in India. USA has been great for us apart from never ending Green card backlog. I feel I have not been able to launch myself into roles I am fully capable to take professionally due to visa restrictions etc. Financially I have saved some amount of wealth and have a house which will be fully paid off in a couple of years. Looking for advice from this community if anyone is in similar situation.
We as a family think going back to India is an option with a pending green card priority. Only thing that stops us is the life we built here for past 13 years. Has anyone taken such drastic step uprooting your life from here and settling in India and eventually coming back when date becomes current? How does this path look like or if it is even a possibility given outlook on immigration and new challenges like AI etc.
h1b for 11 years, moving back to my hometown. sold the house, after taxes i have some amout in saving. was about to put it all in FCNR but a friend said do not lock it up yet. RNOR, US estate tax, india investments, everything is confusing. how did you guys handle this?
Hello all,
I went to the UK in 2022 to pursue a MS from a top 10 uni. I had 2 YOE from a Big 4 before that and landed a role after graduating as a Data Analyst. Unfortunately, after several false promises my ex manager decided they didn’t have the budget for sponsorship so I switched jobs with a great hike (£55K) at a Fintech in London as a BI developer who said would sponsor my visa after probation.
Now, first 3-4 months were fine, I was appreciated for my work and everybody was nice. Just as I started to mention visa processing time, etc things took a toll. I was being severely micromanaged, a lot of pointing of fingers started and it honestly broke my spirit. I did overworked but couldn’t still pass my probation. They asked for documentation of my existing work and froze me out of all access from the company. It was Oct 2025 and I couldn’t find another role by Jan end 2026 after countless interviews who would sponsor me and I had to come back to India.
After getting depressed for a few months, I now have found a 30 LPA role in Bangalore for a UK company. However, I still miss my London/UK life every day.
Do you think I should try for UK skilled workers jobs again? I know how tough the market is, any suggestions would be welcomed.
Hey everyone. Long-time lurker, finally posting. I'm relocating back to India in June and trying to figure out the financial loose ends before I leave. Three things I'm stuck on:
1. 401(k) — leave it, roll it over, or cash out?
My 401(k) is with my former employer's plan. I know cashing out triggers taxes + 10% early withdrawal penalty, so I'd like to avoid that. Is rolling it over to a Traditional IRA the cleanest move for someone living abroad? Any brokerage recommendations that work well for NRIs? Can I still contribute or just let it sit and grow?
2. E*TRADE brokerage account — keep or transfer?
I have stocks and RSUs vested in E*TRADE. I've heard some brokers close accounts once you change your address to outside the US. Has anyone dealt with this? Should I sell before leaving, transfer to a more NRI-friendly broker (Fidelity? Schwab International?), or is it fine to just update my address and keep it as-is? Also curious about FBAR/FATCA implications once I'm a resident in India.
3. US credit cards — cancel or freeze?
I have a few cards with solid credit history (5–8 years). I know closing them can hurt my credit score. Is it better to freeze/lock them and keep a small recurring charge to avoid being closed for inactivity? Or does it make more sense to cancel the ones with annual fees and keep the no-fee ones alive? Any cards that work particularly well abroad with no foreign transaction fees?
Appreciate any firsthand experience as especially from folks who've already been through the relocation and sorted their US finances from India.
Thanks in advance 🙏
Going through a lot yaar… need genuine advice from people who’ve gone through something similar, preferably in their 30s or older because I feel struggles hit differently then compared to your 20s.
My dad’s health isn’t good, I’m abroad but mentally I feel like I’m still in India all the time. Visa slot situation is messed up for almost 1.5 years now, work is getting affected badly, and my manager is unhappy because honestly I haven’t been able to focus properly.
I genuinely don’t know how to navigate this phase or even what to think anymore. Is life in your 30s this hard for everyone at some point? How do you keep functioning when multiple parts of life are falling apart together?
Would really appreciate hearing your experiences or how you handled difficult phases like this.
I seriously need advice regarding a UIDAI/Aadhaar DOB issue which is now affecting my APS and future Germany study plans.
In 2018, my parents got the DOB changed in my Aadhaar card, but my correct DOB is present in literally every other important document:
All of them match perfectly with each other except Aadhaar.
Now the issue is that the Aadhaar DOB update limit has been exhausted. For the last 2 years, I have continuously tried to correct it:
But nothing has worked till now. Everywhere I get told that the limit issue cannot be solved normally.
My main concern right now is APS for Germany because Aadhaar number is mandatory there. I am scared that this DOB mismatch between Aadhaar and my other documents may create issues during APS verification or later during visa processing.
I genuinely want to study abroad and have been working towards this for years. I am trying everything possible from my side, but this situation feels completely stuck administratively.
I want to ask:
Any serious guidance would mean a lot. plus there are almost no chances for Aadhaar updation...until i have someone really influential in my contacts.