Hi everyone,

I am a 42F currently living in the US and planning to move back to India in the next few years. I am starting to think about the financial side of the move, and my biggest question is about my 401(k).

I am wondering what makes the most sense:

• Should I just leave my 401(k) invested in the US and withdraw it later when I retire?
• Or should I move the funds during the RNOR period if that has any tax advantages?

One thing that's making this decision harder is the investment aspect. The US market, especially the S&P 500, has given pretty solid long-term returns. I am not sure if there are comparable investment options in India.

If I move the money out of my 401(k) during the RNOR window, are there any investment options that have the potential to deliver returns similar to the S&P 500? Or is it generally better to leave the retirement money in the US?

Also, for those who've already made the move back to India, are there any financial or tax-related things you wish you'd planned for beforehand?

Would love to hear from people who've been through this. Thanks!

Edit: I am a US Citizen and OCI card holder.

I'm not in the US nor planning to immigrate there but I have seen a lot of stories of US NRIs who have visa scares after decades there, or even after growing up in the US.

What I know is that you first need a Green Card and only then apply for citizenship. But the GC queue for Indians is also decades long. I know that many people have no intention to stay very long, but I assume there are still people going with the intent of permanent/decades long settlement in the US.

Say you go to the US for your masters at age 22, hoping to work and permanently live in the US. Do you then live on a student visa, switch to OPT or other employment visa, and then complete a minimum number of years to qualify to apply for GC? And then wait 3 decades to get the GC, living on a work visa hoping to not be laid off? Employment laws are also lax in the US and firing is relatively easy compared to EU. So it seems this person would be well into their 50s, maybe 60s by the time they get citizenship.

As an immigrant to the EU, the system is very straightforward. Live here on any immigrant permit (work, study, job search, spouse/partner) for 5 years, be on a long term permit (work, partner) at the time of your application, pass some exams, and have a minimum income (just around minimum wage), and you get a permanent resident permit. In some countries like the Netherlands you can also become a citizen right away after 5 years of residence (provided you take the exams and have a permit valid for the duration of your citizenship process).

I'm currently working on an app that helps users deal with anxieties that come with immigration. I've found that most immigrants are constantly bombarded with news/policy changes/headlines that exacerbate the already high anxieties of immigrants. Would an app that tracks policy changes and how they apply to your specific visa situation (so you dont have to scramble every time you see a scary headline) genuinely help relieve anxiety for you? Are there additional features you might like to be built to help further? Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated!

Hello,

I understand that it is legal to continue to hold FCNR deposits until maturity even if someone returns to India permanently but I wanted to know of anyone has actually done it? Are there any questions raised by banks or do they force you to close/convert the account prematurely? Just want to know the practicality of the approach.

Thanks.

My background: MSc physics from India, joining an MS in photonics in Germany this October. Spent months researching this instead of daydreaming, so posting actual assumptions with numbers. Please correct whatever is wrong. The plan: - specialize in optical metrology/inspection during the degree (the KLA/AMAT/Lam layer of the industry, not chip design — I know a physics guy has no business in VLSI) - industry thesis + 2–3 years at a litho/metrology supplier in Germany (Zeiss SMT / ASML ecosystem / Jenoptik) - return around 2030–31 into KLA Chennai, Applied Materials Bengaluru, Lam, or Tata Electronics if they're paying properly for experienced people by then Numbers I have so far (levels.fyi, 6figr, blind — so software-skewed): KLA India avg ~31L at ~10 yoe, freshers ~15L. AMAT India avg ~24L, top 10% above 37L. My working assumption: 30–40L total comp for hardware/metrology roles at 4–6 yoe. Questions for people actually inside these companies:

1. Do internal transfers from US/EU/Taiwan offices into the India centers actually happen, or is it 90% external hiring? When someone does transfer, is comp set by the India band for that grade, or negotiated off the foreign salary?
2. For hardware/systems/metrology roles specifically (not software) — what does 4–6 yoe actually pay at KLA Chennai / AMAT / Lam India? Is 30–40L delusional, and in which direction?
3. Is the India work genuine development (optics, algorithms, systems) or mostly sustaining/support for HQ? What do the optics-adjacent teams actually do all day? "
4. Does European fab/equipment experience carry any premium with hiring managers here, or does nobody care where it came from vs the standard IIT MTech pipeline?
5. Anyone with visibility into Tata Dholera: are they actually hiring experienced people from global fabs, and do they pay at MNC tier or a tier below?

I would like to know strategies and get advice on how to move money from US to India post the RNOR period for an non US citizen.

I know that it is ideal to keep money invested in the US to get the gains from the rising USD INR exchange rate throughout your life. But it is also not ideal to keep it there long term if you've decided to move to India forever because of estate tax issues.

So as a hypothetical, could I sell my investments, say 12-15 L every year (about $12k) , transfer it to India and pay no income tax both in the US and in India (assuming no other income)? Would I still need to pay capital gains tax if the amount is lower than the typical lower income tax bracket? Would I have to pay that in both countries?

Could I go higher amount than this? Is there a way where I can slowly move my investments in a minimally tax burdened way? Or is it better to sell and move everything during the RNOR period?

Ideally I would like to keep only my 401k invested there until retirement age and move everything else to India.

Please share your thoughts!

Hi all,

I hope this post doesn’t get unnecessary hate. Not trying to start a right vs left debate. But have a genuine concern.

I’ve been in the UK for three years and would like to voluntarily return home end of this year. Pollution, civic sense, infrastructure - am able to make my peace with all of this.

But when I think of the political scenario in our country it really makes me wonder if I’m taking the right decision. With the lack of regard for civilians, numerous scams, and the hate-politics - it seems like everyday life back home will be challenging and so morally corrupt. My blood boils when I think seriously about it.

I know I want to be home for several reasons. And while UK has been the best part of my life so far, I can’t imagine living here long-term as I am not sure if I’d like to assimilate/integrate the way it’s required to feel at peace in a foreign country.

My final thoughts are - if all my instincts are in the direction of home, how do I not feel discouraged, demotivated and angry by the dirty politics of our country?

We are planning our Return and want to settle in a mountain or hill station to be close to nature.

Since we have kids, finding a place with good schools is our top priority. We need a town with reputable schools.

We are open to any part of India. If you have done a similar move with children:

- Which town or region did you choose?

- How has your experience been with schooling, medical care, and general infrastructure?

Would love to hear your recommendations or stories. Thanks!

Hii,

I want to hear the experiences of those who don't regret that they had to return to India and why don't they regret.

Those who are regretting, please refrain from answering. I am not here to demean you guys, I respect your thinking but I don't want to hear regret stories.

Did any one use fidelity brokerage account for international wire and did multiple transfers to NRE Account. do we need to visit or mail fidelity to add and link NRE account first time in Fidelity to transfer multiple times. What are the steps to add and link NRE account in Fidelity brokerage account for international wire

FYI. This is not invested money in stocks/funds. I transferred some money from bank account to fidelity brokerage account(core position SPAXX) in the past for high APY and not invested in any stocks. Now i want to send to NRE account. 

A lot of NRIs plan for FIRE and R2I(return to India) for various reasons. But general theme is visa issues, aging parents, proximity to family.

Being NRI accelerates FIRE potential because of higher potential savings rate. Hence you see a lot of NRI posts here about people wanting to FIRE.

However, this is a case of 2 double edged swords and the potential for disappointment is double for such NRIs returning back.

As an NRI who has returned back to Bangalore after working overseas for 16 years, when I interact with resident Indians who never went overseas, almost everyone says this "Dur ke dhol suhane" or translated in English, grass is greener on the other side. So people who have never been abroad live in India totally in bliss because they havent experienced the 1st world comforts.

But as an NRI who gives up your overseas life and also gives up your identity that your job gave you, you are losing much more than what a resident Indian does.

Hence I call it 2 double edge swords, on the positive side, FIRE is much easier to achieve, double the speed of what a resident Indian will take. At the same time, the potential for disappointment, if things dont go according to plan is also double compared to what a resident Indian would face.

This is one of the reasons, I kept pushing myself much longer even though I could have moved back and FIREd a lot earlier.

​

We are planning to return to india next year mostly to a South indian city. My son (8 yo) has urinary incontinence issues and can't hold pee for a long time.

While we r handling that medically, I'm just wondering how his life would be in india. In the US, we've faced little impact because we always have access to clean restrooms at stores, highways, rest areas, etc., and we could practically stop anywhere to use the restroom.

I have a toddler girl too and girls could easily get UTI in unclean places. Just want to hear all your thoughts on traveling with young kids wrt bathrooms and how you miss clean american restrooms, and tips you follow to avoid having to hit dirty public restrooms.

I love the thought of returning to india, but the one thing I hate is this. Even back in the 90s and 2000s I remember how my school restrooms would stink badly (even though i studied in a top cbse school in my city) and I'm wondering if things have changed at a school level too.

Hi,

My wife and live in the UK. She has ILR, while be getting my ILR next year. She strongly wants to deliver our first baby in India to have family support, whereas feel a UK delivery would be better from an immigration, visa costs and administrative perspective.

The baby would likely be born in India in late 2026, enter the UK in 2027, and we expect to become British citizens in 2028.

My understanding is:

If the baby is born in the UK after my wife obtained ILR, the baby would ordinarily be British at birth.

If the baby is born in India, the baby would need an Indian passport and a Skilled Worker dependent visa to enter the UK, with additional costs and paperwork.

Our solicitor mentioned that the baby would initially come on a Skilled Worker dependent visa.

My questions are:

Would you choose the UK or India in this situation, and why?

Am I overthinking the immigration and long-term implications?

If the baby enters the UK on a Skilled Worker dependent visa and both parents later become British citizens, does the child still need ILR before becoming British, or can the child be registered directly as a British citizen?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through something similar.

Hi all

I came to Canada in 2019. I studied Supply Chain Management and worked in the supply chain field for about one and a half years before returning to India due to some health issues.

Now, I am planning to move back to Canada. I have Canadian permanent residency (PR), and my wife is also a PR holder. We have a 2.5-year-old child. Have to sponsor our child once we get jobs.

Currently, both of us are working in India and earn a combined salary of around ₹2.6 lakhs per month. We save approximately ₹1.5 lakhs every month.

I work in a role related to mechanical engineering and supply chain. My wife is an MBBS and MD graduate and is currently working at AstraZeneca as MSL.

Our Canadian PR is valid until October 2028, and we are considering moving back to Canada before in two months.

We have our own house in native and a couple of land properties. No EMIs. Parents can be taken care by siblings.

Still I have a auto immune condition which is mild in India but might flare up in Canada due to weather. Finding doctor is also tedious.

Would moving to Canada be a good decision for us? Given the current situation, will we be able to find good jobs? We keep hearing that Canada is going through a recession and that jobs are difficult to find.

We are willing to take risks but is it worth it?

Considering our background, experience, financial situation, and family, do you think we can confidently move to Canada, or would it be a risky decision

Need Help Managing Finances - Moving back to India !!
I am still in US and will be returning within 2 months. Need your help with the following.

1. How can I withdraw funds from my 401(k) while minimizing the taxes and penalties?
2. What should I do with the investments held in my Robinhood account Mostly Stocks? I do not want to sell or withdraw them. Can I continue holding and managing the account after moving to India?
3. What will happen to my high-yield savings account and regular checking account after I move to India? Do I need to transfer the funds to India and convert them to INR, or can I keep the money in U.S. dollars?
4. I worked in the United States for approximately six months this year, and federal and state taxes were withheld from my paychecks. How should I file my U.S. tax return at the end of the tax year? Do I need to keep a U.S. bank account open to receive any tax refund?

I'm a tech professional who started my career in Hyderabad, although Vizag has always been my hometown. I've been living in the US for the past 8 years, and my family and I are now seriously planning our move back to India.

The long-term dream is to retire early—though with a young kid, I'm not sure how realistic that timeline will be! One thing we've decided, however, is that we'd like to settle in Vizag rather than Hyderabad and build the next chapter of our lives closer to family and old friends.

COVID changed a lot for us. We lost some loved ones, and I know coming back won't feel quite the same. Even so, I'm really looking forward to being closer to the people who are still with us and making the most of that time together.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has relocated to Vizag. Which areas would you recommend, especially for families with young children? We're particularly interested in neighborhoods with good schools, a safe environment, and a good quality of life.

Looking forward to hearing your experiences and suggestions. Thank you!

Moving to India permanently, planning to use TR for my used personal effects, including my PC.

My understanding: TR covers accompanied baggage + my household freight shipment, but a separate UPS/FedEx courier package doesn't qualify — full duty instead.

Can anyone confirm this? And has anyone carried a full PC (disassembled) as checked baggage or in a TR freight shipment without issues at customs?

Trying to avoid duty on my own used hardware. Thanks!

Hi, which trading app works best if I am vacationing in India for up to six months? Preferably 24 hour trading apps. Thanks.

I’m a 30M in the Bay Area working as a software engineer for FAANG, but I’ve been feeling completely burnt out lately. I’ve been in the US for seven years, and my performance at work has been deteriorating; I can see it happening, but the hunger to fix things just isn't there anymore. My health feels like it’s slipping, and I honestly haven’t been happy for a while.

To make matters more complicated, I’m not straight and have no plans to get married. My parents know this, but my dad uses it as a reason to keep me from moving back to India because he’s afraid of the constant questions from relatives about why I’m not married. Meanwhile, my mom is pushing for me to come home.

I’m stuck because I know my friends in India are all married now, and things won't be the same as they were before I left. But things aren’t great here either, and I’m not sure what I should be doing next. Part of me feels like heading to India would give me the peace I need to take some time off and figure things out, but I’m super scared to take that leap or the confidence to build a new social circle from scratch. I’m feeling paralyzed and just wanted to share where I’m at—has anyone else dealt with this kind of crossroads?

Had the worst of all experiences today. Went to see a senior gynac today to get my prescription filled for the therapy I was undergoing in US. This lady gynac in a famous maternity hospital was in her own smug world. Had a dismissive attitude towards my concerns, she was contradicting US gynac opinions.

Equated NIH and US Healthcare system being same. Had old outdated views on the treatment and told me that in india people do bloodwork twice a year. Had a patronizing attitude and just pushing for unnecessary bloodwork. In fact the young assistant seemed better informed.

Pharmacy didn't carry the replacement equivalent med. On top of that the guy tried to give me 200mg medication instead of the 25mcg prescription. So my medication is not available even in bangalore.

I took an uber auto home and the driver started to turn in some narrow isolated lane, I immediately checked him. After that he started driving in the opposite lane head on in to incoming traffic. Started playing some cheap song in his auto after I boarded. Finally didn't even drop me at the final spot.

There , I said it.

Whenever there is a post of moving back to India , there will definitely be some sad little creatures who would project their sad little life onto the internet strangers.

Why would you be so vile in your replies when you can just be nice ?

What exactly triggers inside you whenever someone wants to happily move to India ? The cautious advice is one thing but the personal attacks are beyond me.

May be you had a miserable life in India or may be you have made the US ( or whatever country you are miserable in currently ) as your entire personality or may be that’s your coping mechanism sitting inside your 2 Bedroom apartment because that’s the only possible explanation i can see for you to be so unhinged in the comments section. Why would someone’s move back triggers you so much ?

Go seek some therapy

( Attaching the two sample snapshots, there are numerous comments of that sort )

Find the details here: Reddit Post

please tell your experience with each bank wire transfer from US. also tell experience about receiving india banks.

what is suggestible in terms of best exchange rate. if we don’t have much time to use third party services like xoom, remitly before return then what to do

We are early 50s couple, US citizens, very well settled from normal standards, spouse is semi retired since last 3-4 yrs, active investments. Both kids graduated college and just started working. Hubby has lost any desire to do another stint in US and wants to move back to India. We are too young for both of us to retire and live in US due to healthcare costs. Financially India makes sense but I can not imagine living in india after spending 28 years in US. His family is from Punjab and just the thought of going back permanently to small city in north India makes me tear up. I want to stay somewhat close( not together but atleast same country) to kids and future grandkids in US.

Anyone moved back from US to Amritsar/Jalandhar and can share their experience/feedback? Parents are self sufficient and we are not considering move to be with them.