r/returnToIndia

When I first moved abroad, the plan was simple: work hard for 5 years, save up, and move back home.

Fast forward to today, and that 5-year plan keeps stretching. Every time I talk to other NRIs, almost everyone has this "moving back" idea in their head, but very few actually do it. The reasons keep shifting first it’s career growth, then it’s kids' education, then local investments, or just getting used to the lifestyle here.

At the same time, seeing parents age back home makes the whole situation feel like a ticking clock.

For people who have been abroad for 5+ years: Did you set a hard target (like a specific net worth or age) to move back, or did you eventually come to terms with staying permanently?

I’m a Java full-stack developer with around 7 years of experience and have worked at a few well-known companies. My last contract ended earlier than the originally agreed end date, and I’ve now been in the job market for more than three months.

I’ve been getting some interview calls and have reached the final rounds a few times, but nothing has converted into an offer. In some cases, the position was put on hold, in others I was told an internal decision was still being made, and a couple of times they seem to have found someone more experienced willing to work for less. At the moment, my pipeline has pretty much dried up, and I’m starting to lose motivation.

I’m also getting approached by vendors for WITCH-company contracts offering around CAD 40–45/hour. For someone with 7 YOE, that feels quite low, especially considering these are often short-term contracts with little stability. I’m finding it difficult to convince myself to accept one just because I’m currently unemployed. I did that once before after being without work for more than six months, and I don’t really want to repeat the cycle.

What’s also discouraging is that compensation for some mid-level product-company roles doesn’t seem dramatically better than what these consulting companies are offering.

I’m a Canadian citizen, and my partner’s Canadian PR is currently in process. I’ve considered moving to the US, but that doesn’t seem practical because although I may be able to work on TN status, my partner would likely have to leave her current job and wouldn’t automatically have work authorization.
Because of all this, I’m seriously considering moving back to India.

Financially, we’re in a relatively comfortable position. I have around CAD 300k in savings/investments, no debt, and a fully paid-off car. My partner has another roughly CAD 200k invested.

Given the current Canadian tech market, our financial position, my experience level, and the fact that we have the option of returning to India, would moving back be a sensible decision? Or would it make more sense to stay in Canada and ride out the current job market for another 6–12 months?

• Transfer directly from your U.S. bank to a regular Indian savings account?
• 📱 Use third party apps like $emitly or $oneyGram?
• 🏦 Open an NRE/NRO account first and then transfer?
• 💵 Keep some of the money in USD instead of converting everything to INR?

Would you transfer the money using a bank, a money-transfer app, or another method?

What should someone consider regarding account type, taxes, documentation, and exchange rates before making such a large transfer?

In the coming years, my spouse and I (just the two of us) may move to India temporarily, for some number of years. We are retired US citizens, currently living in the United States, who came from India in our youth, some decades ago.

We are quite familiar with day-to-day retired life in modern India, from recent significant personal experience. Our current thinking is that most of our money/property will continue to remain in the United States and most of our (passive) income will continue to be sourced in the United States.

I am here to ask for some pointers/resources, on how to organize our finances to optimize our somewhat complicated tax liability, given that our worldwide income will be taxed by both India and the United States, while we are in India. We are quite familiar with how US income tax works, including the US-India DTAA and foreign tax credit for those Americans who live outside the U.S., but our understanding of Indian taxation is quite limited, hence this note.

If you have done something like this, how did you think about this topic? What did you read up and whom did you consult that you would recommend? What actions did you take, or that you later wished you had taken? The more specific the advice, the more valuable we will find it, I think.

[Added more detail below in response to comments here]

After having moved to India and spent 183 days in the fiscal year there, we will likely have failed the "729 days or fewer in the last 7 years" test, so we will not be able to obtain the RNOR status. By then we will be in our mid-sixties to mid-seventies. Yes on OCI. We understand we can maintain our NR status a couple of months if we arrive a couple of months before the end of the fiscal year.

For planning purposes, let's say we will remain in India for five years, though it really is quite uncertain, so we'd be interested in learning about relevant considerations for longer or shorter stays, given no RNOR status. Also, after returning to the US, our trips to India in subsequent years will likely be shorter - let's say fewer than 60 days in any 12 month period.

Tax advantaged accounts: IRA - both Traditional and Roth, HSA, 529.

Retirement Income: distributions from IRAs and HSA. Social Security income.

Other Income: interest, capital gains, dividends, from ordinary US bank and investment accounts.

Other than social security income and some stock dividends, we can control the amount and mix of other income, based on tax considerations. We do understand that India does not tax American Social Security payments, based on DTAA.

Please note that we are not expecting a detailed plan here. We'd be very happy to get some indication of considerations, and/or some concrete advice on what to read and whom to engage/consult for the details. Our main issue right now is that we don't know what we don't know.

Thank you.

I’m 26M, currently in Dubai, and I’m seriously considering moving back to India by the end of this month. I’m posting this because I need some honest perspective from people working in India, particularly in Kochi, Bangalore and other major cities in South India.

I have around 5 years of UAE experience across senior accounting, management accounting, costing, financial reporting and FP&A related work. I was previously in a good paying job with a decent work life balance.

Around 8 months ago, I made what I thought was going to be a big step forward. I left that job and started a business with a very close female friend.

Unfortunately, things went very badly.

There were serious financial issues involving the business. Around AED 50,000 (₹12 lakh) was involved, and another company has also initiated a criminal case against her. I personally haven’t filed a complaint against her, and I’m not posting this to criticize her or seek sympathy, so I’d rather not get into the details of that situation.

The end result for me is that I’m now roughly ₹10 lakh in debt, with a maxed out credit card and a few EMIs.

Eight months ago, life was going pretty well. Today, I’m honestly at probably the lowest financial point I’ve experienced.

I’ve used most of my savings just trying to survive here. I’m still applying for jobs in Dubai, but I’m barely getting interview calls. The UAE job market has been extremely difficult for me lately, and with my remaining savings, I can probably survive here for another month.

If I return to India, I can stretch the same money for roughly three months, which gives me more breathing room to find a job and start rebuilding. So I’m seriously considering going back.

I understand that ₹18–20L may be ambitious depending on the role and company. I’m not expecting someone to tell me what i want to hear I’d genuinely like to know what the market is like.

For those working in finance/accounting/FP&A in India:

What salary range would someone with my experience realistically get?

Would my UAE experience be valued, or would Indian employers treat me more like someone with 3–5 years of ordinary accounting experience?

And if you were in my situation, would you:

A) Stay in Dubai and keep trying for another month despite burning through savings, or
B) Go back to India, reduce expenses dramatically and rebuild from there?

I have to make this decision by the end of this month.

Considering moving back to India after 15 years in the US (Bay Area to Gujarat) — Looking for perspectives on career, family, and the transition
After 15 years in the US, my family and I are preparing to make the move back to India this fall. We have sold our home in Fremont (Bay Area), wrapped up our life here, and are getting ready for a late September relocation.
Before taking the final plunge, I want to hear from folks who have made a similar reverse-migration move—especially after a decade and a half abroad with a young family.
The Background & Context
Career & Experience: I hold a Master’s degree and have spent the last 13 years working in the US advanced manufacturing and EV/battery cell manufacturing sector
The New Role: I recently accepted an offer as a Deputy General Manager (DGM) at a major battery manufacturing venture in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is a massive technical and leadership opportunity to help build India’s domestic EV supply chain from the ground up.
Family Situation: My wife and I have an 18-month-old toddler. Moving back puts us close to our parents and extended family in the Ahmedabad area.
Why We Are Making the Move
Family & Roots: Being physically close to aging parents and allowing our son to grow up around his grandparents and extended family is our primary personal driver.
Career Growth in a Booming Sector: India's EV and battery manufacturing landscape is expanding rapidly. Stepping into a senior leadership position (DGM) allows me to leverage 13 years of niche technical expertise where it has high leverage and visibility.
Support System: Better family proximity, a built-in community, and accessible day-to-day support systems for raising a young child.
Where I’d Love Community Feedback & Advice
Workplace Culture & Dynamics: How does managing large-scale manufacturing and engineering teams in India compare to the US? What are the biggest cultural adjustments at the senior management level?
Raising a Toddler & Quality of Life: For parents who moved back with toddlers, how was the transition regarding healthcare, early schooling, daily routine, and overall lifestyle in Tier-1/Tier-2 Indian cities?
Long-Term Career Trajectory: For senior engineers/managers who returned to India in niche manufacturing or clean tech, how has your career satisfaction and mobility played out over 3–5+ years?
For those who made a similar move after 15 years in the US: What were your biggest surprises or blind spots, and did the reality live up to your expectations?

they changed FCNR last date to this month end instead of next month end. should i open or no

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some perspective from people who have moved from India to Canada recently, particularly those working in tech, consulting, data, or product/BA-type roles — and also from people who moved and later decided to return to India.

I’m 31F , single, and currently based in India. I have Canadian PR and now need to make the decision about moving to Canada

A little about my career:

I have around 8 years of experience with a Big 4 consulting firm in Gurgaon and am currently a Manager in Data & Analytics.

I was earlier in regulatory and policy and transitioned to a tech role with quite a bit of difficulty within the same firm. For the last few years, ive been working in a techno-functional role rather than purely business or purely technical.

I’m doing reasonably well professionally in India, and I think my career trajectory here is good.

My question is: would you move to Canada in my situation, even if you did not manage to secure a Canadian job before moving?

My biggest concern is the job market. I’m realistic that I may not immediately walk into an equivalent position and may need to enter at a lower level, which I could live with if there is a reasonable path upward. What worries me more is being unemployed for a long period or having to take a role completely disconnected from my experience.

Would love to hear some thoughts.

EDIT: my PR will expire in April 2027. So I have to go before that if I want to make the move. In terms of career, my role has been BA ( requirement gathering, documentation, BRD, UAT, validation etc)

 Hi everyone, 

We are Indian citizen currently living in Texas and planning a permanent move back to India. Our US tax status will shift to a Non-Resident Alien (NRA) (as we don't have/don't plan to have GC).

We plan to keep a significant portion of my assets in Texas, including real estate, retirement accounts (401k/IRA), and a US brokerage account for US citizen children. Because of this, we are facing severe exposure to the US estate tax laws for non-resident aliens (specifically the $60,000 exemption limit and 40% estate tax trap on US-situs assets). There is no US-India estate tax treaty, making this a complex cross-border issue. 

Can anyone recommend a highly specialized cross-border estate attorney or international tax firm with deep experience in the US/Texas-India corridor? 

Ideally, we need a professional or firm who understands: 

• How Texas estate/probate laws interact with Indian succession frameworks. 
• Structuring asset wrappers or trusts to shelter US real estate and US equities from the 40% NRA estate tax. 
• Managing the tax implications of leaving behind retirement accounts (withholding taxes vs. Indian tax rights on global income). 
• Setting up separate jurisdictional wills (Texas and India).

 

If you have personally worked with a firm or attorney who successfully handled your return-to-India estate planning with US assets left behind, please drop their names or share your experience. 

Thank you in advance! 

Been living in Canada for 10 years and have 2.5 crores in savings. Got divorced 3 years ago from a cheating husband. I feel lonely here, all I do is work or solo travel. I have some friends and relatives in Canada but everyone is so money minded and busy in their own lives that my divorced ass feels depressed.
To top it all I see my parents on video call everyday and all my dad tells me is that I should move back, get re married to a rich punjabi guy and live an easy work free stress-free life. I dated a guy here and lived with him for 6 months but after that him & I both felt we needed our space because he had a kid so I moved out to my own place. Since that break up I’ve been feeling worse and keep thinking I am going to end up alone.
I know this should not influence my decision but I think maybe being closer to family will keep me sane although I’ve tried being in India for 6-7 months in the past and got sick of the fake lifestyle.
All my friends are rich and married, having kids now. I love them but because I am divorced and stay in Canada most of the year, everytime I go back home it takes me couple weeks to feel at home again.

My mom knows how the society views divorced women and doesnt seem to be much in favour of me moving back but my dad & brother really want me to. My brother is younger and unmarried so I worry about his prospects of marriage being effected too.

Can someone recommend something ?

Why I'm asking because if we study in a good college here we can get good amount of money (maybe more from what getting there)

We're leaving back everything especially our loved ones so is it still worth??

I returned to India 3 weeks ago and it doesn’t feel like it’s been 3 weeks. I don’t feel great, I feel like a loser who have spend lakhs on the studies and ended up no where.

I’ll give you a context about me, I had a job in an MNC for 2 years before the move. I completed my masters in 2025 and I tried and tried and tried for numerous internships as well as full time but wasn’t successful. In internships I did get calls from top MNCs but wasn’t successful.

The scene came after my graduation I tried my best in cybersecurity as my previous experience is in cybersecurity. In the US, getting a security job have been so hard due to visa restrictions even though you are fully qualified for the position. The entire journey took be to a very bad mental state so I put a stone on my heart and returned even though I had loans as I couldn’t take it anymore.

I’m trying to apply in India with masters degree and some experience in the US in clg as well as one year internship. Market in India is very competitive and hard. I’m not sure I’ll be able to survive it.

I feel like a failure in life as many of my friends in the US are in jobs, friends in India are getting married and getting settled. I have no clue what to do and how to make myself strong and the loan is another thing. I regret just coming back home it’s not great. People here aren’t making it easier to transition.

I don’t understand why returning home is a shame? Isn’t it supposed to be welcoming? I can’t even sleep in the nights anymore. My anxiety and depression are getting worse day by day.

Can anyone help me understand how to do job search in India?

Thanks for reading my thoughts and please don’t be harsh.

Hi everyone,

I’m moving back to India permanently after living in Canada for around 5 years. I’ll be carrying quite a few of my personal electronics with me, all of which are for my own use and not for resale.
I’m planning to carry:
-DJI Neo drone
-RTX 5070 Ti GPU
-Processor/CPU
-2TB SSD
-RAM
-Laptop
-iPad
-Meta Quest 3S

Most/all of these are already being used by me and are not being brought as new items for sale.
My main concern is Indian customs when I arrive. Since I’m permanently moving back after 5 years, would this qualify under Transfer of Residence (TR) rules? Do I need to declare these items, especially the GPU/PC components and drone?
I’m particularly confused about the DJI Neo. Has anyone recently brought a personal drone into India while moving back? Did customs ask for any documents, WPC approval, invoice, registration, etc.? Should it be declared through the Red Channel?
Also, for the electronics, does customs consider their current/used value or original purchase price? Should I carry purchase receipts if I still have them?
Would really appreciate experiences from anyone who has recently moved back to India from Canada/US or another country with similar electronics or a drone. What did you declare, how much (if anything) did you pay, and did you face any issues at the airport?
Thanks!

I wanted to write this out to process my thoughts and hopefully get some practical perspective from anyone who has walked a similar path.

I was working in a good job on H1B and was laid off. Have been searching for jobs since then and it has been never ending. I have decided to call it quits and return shortly

Got close to getting an offer at MAANG but fumbled it. Amidst this chaos, marriage engagement broke as I was planning to return to India(ex family is in India but could not give up on the American dream). Gradually, the circle that trusted me is giving up. Have my back against the wall in terms of an emotional support.

However, personally have not lost all hope rather trying my best and keeping my hopes high. Still believe that it is for better and may be things are going to work out for better in India. On the flip side of it, there was always an air of loneliness here in the US and the visa stress was always pressing in the back of my mind even when I had a job. But, there are times where I can't help but think if I was too rigid. I always searched for full-time roles but feel like I did not act smart to switch to consultancies or an F-1 CPT program.

When I was at cross roads few months back, my thoughts were like if I switch to F1 CPT I am going to get more time but the job search phase will look the same, likewise I did not prefer running fake payrolls and stuff to stick with a consultancy to get an offer. Switched to B2 and now kind of near the end of the road.

Decision has been made, as much as I feel like I can face it and get out this, there is a quite anxiety inside about how things are going to workout. The real reason for my anxiety right now is my tech background. At my previous workplace, I stayed mainly for visa constraints while my PERM was being processed, working on a heavily proprietary tech stack. There are transferable skills as a backend developer, but I am feeling low in confidence when I scroll through LinkedIn and see all these AI buzzwords and modern frameworks, I feel like I bargained my skill growth for visa stability.

And the employment gap is making this self-doubt louder. I am grinding LeetCode and System Design every day hoping to break into a solid role, but I constantly worry if real job skills are becoming irrelevant. It has only been 3 years since my graduation in USA and feels like I have not made a significant progress to my career while in US and have to adapt to Indian work culture.

At times, I doubt whether I was not practical enough. Appreciate any insights or advice to navigate this situation

Hi everyone two years ago I moved to Germany to pursue a master. I got a working student job here for a year. Now I'm mentally, emotionally and physically broken. I'm literally broke. I thought after finishing my degree I'll move to India atleast their I'll get a job. And oh my god the reality has Just kicked in, I'm applying for jobs but no response I've 3 YOE in MNC.

I'm truly devasted had I stayed in India. I would have a stable job more experience.

Adding salt to the injury I'm 30 plus now. I'm having trouble sleeping since last few weeks.

Anyway, has someone else been through the similar situation if yes what did you do? Did you get a job in your own field?

Laid off from 2 strategy jobs not because of performance but because these other folks wanted to hire their own friends and couldn’t afford to pay for two people (funny how both were Indians as well so I get when people talk about indirect scamming sadly).

It’s only been 2 years here but it has taken mental toll considering how stuck one is with all the h1b shackles along with being scammed out of my job so a part me which just wanted to stay in the US for a few years - for getting the exposure on how fast AI is moving in Silicon Valley and also the safety as a woman which it came along with - I am giving up.

To feel like I am doing something illegal while every move of mine has been legal and respectful while I really wanted to give back to the society, things have just gone downhill.

Is this a good decision to come back to India now. I have been really passionate about my craft and had real dreams, how is the state to those who moved back to India? I work in strategy, business and GTM so unsure how good of a job market India stands for these.

As per my understanding if landlord is NRI tenant should deduct TDS & deposit remaining amount in NRO account of landlord. Tenant should obtain TIN number & deposit that TDS to income tax department. Is any landlord following this process? If not, what workaround are you using?

I have 4 flats in a tier 3 city, each giving me rent of 10-12k per month. Till now I am getting it deposited in resident account. Now I am opening a NRO account. However, if I ask my tenants to follow this process, they will likely not agree to this additional headache.

Another issue is that I will be returning back to India in 2-3 years. At that time I will have to convert my account again.

Please suggest.

I’m in a bit of a dilemma and would really appreciate some perspective from people who have been in a similar situation.

I’ve been trying to find a full-time role in the US since completing my Master’s, and it’s been almost two years now. I did eventually land a contract role that I genuinely loved, but unfortunately, the position was eliminated as part of mass layoffs.

Since then, the uncertainty around finding another role has started affecting me significantly. The constant job searching, applications, interviews, financial pressure, and uncertainty about the future have taken a toll on my mental and overall well-being. I kept telling myself that I just needed to work harder, be more patient, and keep going, but I feel like I’ve reached a point where the situation is affecting my health and quality of life.

I’m now seriously considering moving back to India and continuing my career there. I’ve been getting multiple signs that maybe it’s time to stop forcing things and choose a path that gives me some stability and allows me to take care of myself.

At the same time, moving back after investing so much time, money, and effort into building a life and career in the US feels like a huge decision. There’s also a part of me that worries I might regret leaving or wonder whether I should have tried a little longer.

For anyone who has been in a similar situation:

• How did you know it was time to move back?
• Did moving back feel like giving up at the time?
• How did your career progress after returning to India?
• Do you think I should give the US job search more time, or prioritize stability and my well-being at this point?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to make the decision for me. I’d just really value hearing honest experiences from people who have gone through something similar ❤️

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to share their perspective.

My child will be 8 by jan 2028, will complete grade2 by june 2028. and we will be 41&39.

My current car lease ends in 2028. My current i797 expires in sep 2028. I have a h1b stamping planned in mid 2027.

My NW is decent enough to sustain middle class life in India and I don't think i will really be rich or poor unless something dramatically changes. So incremental benefit of staying in US are limited. And i might be able to get a internal company transfer as well paying me enough to sustain expenses and also save.

Currently i also own a home, which i would like to sell before moving.

I am planning to return to HYD as that seems like a good city to return but i am from up north and no family lives in HYD.

My plan is to use the 2027 visa stamping trip as a scouting trip to understand more about current state in HYD, as i have been away from India for more than a decade.

If everything falls in place perfectly, june 2028 or around that time is ideal considering new school year in India.

Based on this, when should i start preparing. Should i think about anything to do in 2026. Is this too far fetched a plan that it just is a pipe dream? It feels unreal to move back to be honest with no connection or setup left with India and "temporary" perceived stability we have in USA. :(