The objective of this blog post is not to motivate/force you to return back to India. But, if you have been contemplating about R2I for a while & couldn't make up your mind because of the lack of enough data points/reasons - this blog post is exactly for YOU. If you want to know the reasons for returning to India (R2I) - you can find them here. If you are wondering whether you should stay in US or move to India, this is the post for YOU.
Also read:
Returning back to India - 25 things to do
R2I - List of things to pack/bring from US
10 things to consider before you decide to R2I
Quality of Life
1) There are lots of good options for entertainment - theme parks, movie theatres, shopping complexes & multiplexes. The multiplexes have options for movies, entertainment, shopping, dining, etc., You can kill the whole day in some of these multiplexes.
2) There is a REAL social life. Life is not very mechanical here. You get to meet friends/relatives quite often in weddings, engagements or other parties.
3) You don't have to 'plan your visit' to your friend's or relative's place. You can just show up without fixing appointments.
4) Your favorite Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Honda/Toyota, & Ford are now available in India and they're very common. If you drive a Ford Icon or a Honda City, people don't stare at you anymore.
5) Even groceries/vegetables are delivered at your home for no extra cost. Almost everything is sold or delivered to you at your door steps. You can call the nearby grocery shop and ask them to bring stuff to your home.
6) You can book train/flight or bus tickets over the web (http://www.irctc.co.in, http://www.redbus.co.in/). You don't have to call your travel agent, anymore. You can even look for real estate, rental properties online !
7) Many mundane tasks such as paying bills, government transactions etc., are available online. (I love IRCTC.CO.IN)
8) Though the price of goods/commodities in India are highly inflated, things are still very affordable in India when compared to US.
9) India has a very good public transport system. Man, I love it. Yes, the buses and trains are crowded. But, if you have to go somewhere they're AVAILABLE for you. There are lots of options including trains, buses, cabs, autos, & (my favorite) share autos.
10) Auto rickshaws are available throughout the city. The auto owners/cab owners have become high tech. They all own a mobile phone. You can just give them a call and they'll be at your door in a few minutes.
11) There are number of public parks that are maintained well. All such parks have play structures for kids. Of course, you cannot compare with what you can get in US. At the same time, you are not settling for less in India. (Also read: Mahabalipuram, Muttukadu & Crocodile Park visit)
12) All "hi-tech" gadgets such as iPods, iPhones, Wii, laptops/netbooks etc., are available in India.
13) You can do financial transactions such as banking/stock-trading/fund-transfers etc., online. You don't have to call your broker or visit a bank to do 'common' transactions.
14) There are ATMs available everywhere. There is no charge involved for using other bank's ATMs (You can do up to 5 transactions per month in other bank's ATMs).
15) People don't care about what you wear, anymore. Girls wearing skirts, T-shirts, sleeveless or tight dresses is so common, now a days.
16) You don't have to look for down towns to buy things for your family. There is all kinds of stores/shops available close to the community where you live.
17) You don't have to worry about paying huge costs for medical services. Medical insurance is getting popular in India. Most of the employers take care of your medical bills through medical insurance.
18) There are toastmasters clubs available in different parts of India. If you have been part of them in US, you can continue your membership in India.
19) Mobile phones are available everywhere. People in India are highly accessible at all the times. You can walk into a roadside shop to buy a pre-paid card and you have to just pay for what you USE. Signal coverage is awesome & cost of a call is very cheap.
20) There are fitness centers (gyms) in all the residential communities. Also, there are fitness centers/tennis courts/swimming pools, that are open for memberships, in almost every area. Builders today are focusing more on the extra amenities available in the residential communities.
21) You don't have to call/disturb your friend during the middle of his/her work to drop or pick you up from some place (especially, when you are giving your vehicle for service). You can use the inexpensive public transportation options.
22) It would be hard to lead a 'luxurious' life in US. However, if you earn sufficient money in US, you can definitely lead a 'luxurious' life in India. The cost of living has definitely gone up. But, you'll feel the benefit of 1 USD = INR 45. (Also read: How much money do you need to R2I?)
23) Home-makers/House wife will not be "bored" at home, in India. They can soon find friends in the neighborhood/communities. Women in India have greater flexibility these days to go out and be on their own. Women also enjoy a lot more freedom and they are treated on-par with men.
Kids
24) Kids don't have to be in day care. They can spend time with their grand parents, at home.
25) Education in India is affordable (compare it to the $1000+ you pay in US every month for schools).
26) There are lots of good schools (including international schools) in India providing high quality education.
27) Schools in India are not just focusing only on 'academics' these days. For example, my daughter attending pre-KG in a local nursery school, gets to do lots of coloring, art work, physical exercises, and they're teaching stuff like Sanskrit verses/GK etc., Imagine what would a 5th grade or 10th grade student would get to do.
28) It is very easy for kids to get spoiled in U.S, when they reach their adult hood. They get involved in dangerous habits such as smoking, drugs, early sex etc.,
29) Indian environment is highly competitive and that can bring the best out of your kid. The whole world acknowledges the fact that Indian kids are 'smart'. The credit goes to our culture, value system, education, competitive society etc.,
30) In India, kids get to learn more about religious values (by visiting temples often, participating in festivals/functions, hearing about ancient 'good over evil' stories & moral stories from schools/elders, etc.,). This definitely helps in shaping up their character.
31) There are stores that sell items for new born & toys for kids. Almost all the toys that you buy in US for kids are available in India.
32) Kids will develop a high immunity system, if brought-up in India.
33) Kids brought up in India will know the importance of 'taking care of parents, when the parents get old'. You don't have to spend your "last few years" alone or in senior citizens care center (i.e., old age homes).
When you show utmost importance/care to your parents, you'll kids will learn from your gesture.
34) When your kids grow in US, they'll will pick up American accent. The grand parents/relatives in India may not be able to understand them. Also, the kids may not like to talk to grand parents.
35) In US, kids get addicted to all the electronic gadgets & gizmos. This is not good for your kid's health/mind.
36) If you return back to India during your kid's early childhood days (preferably, before he/she goes to school), it is easy for him/her to get accustomed to the things in India, . If your kids are very young, it makes more sense for you to return back now.
37) You don't want your kid to get married to a non-Indian (say, Chinese or American), when they grow up.
Personal Reasons
38) Your parents in India are already very old.
39) Your parent(s) in India, are sick and need your assistance. (Also read: Chikungunya - Deadly !)
40) You have a single parent and you need to take care of him/her
41) Your parents have been pestering you to come back to India for a while now.
42) Your spouse has a good education/degree, but cannot work in US because he/she doesn't have an IT background. Your spouse continues to be a home maker and is always bored at home. Your spouse wants to come back to India and settle down.
43) It is tough to find a bride from India, if you are a bachelor working in US. The craze about 'US based bridegrooms' is gone.
Convenience / Good Support System
44) You can hire someone to do your household work at a reasonable price.
45) You don't have to drive your car. You can employ someone as driver. It is not even imaginable in US.
46) Elders (Grand parents) are there to take care of the kids (giving them bath, dressing them up, feeding them, telling them interesting stories, putting them to sleep etc.,)
47) Gone are those days, where you have to go to banks to open an account or apply for a credit/debit card. All such services are provided at your door steps. You've to just make a phone call. They'll even fill the forms for you.
48) Service reps knock your door to sell Telephone/Internet/TV connections. You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing your Telephone/Internet/TV service providers. The prices are very competitive.
49) Doctors/Hospitals are available at 'walkable' distance from your home. For Rs.100, you get treatment for general illness such as cough, cold, stomach upset etc.,
50) Plumbers, Electricians, Movers, Construction workers etc., are abundant. You can get any construction/repair work done in no time. (People who own a house in US, can understand the importance of this)
51) You don't have to take your car for a car wash, every month. You can get people who'll do car wash at your home on a daily/weekly basis.
52) Every service provider (TV, Internet, Phone, etc.,) has a decent customer support system/infrastructure in place. You can call and talk to a customer service representative 24 x 7. There are also facilities to file complaints & escalate them online, if required.
53) There are people/services available to take care of all your needs. Have you heard about service/help desks such as Service Square
Tangibles & some cool benefits
54) People don't look down on you because you returned back from US. People appreciate the fact that you care for your parents/family/society/country/people.
55) People come to you for advise on important things (such as which Engineering courses to take, how to prepare for job interviews, how is the present IT climate etc.,). They value your experience.
56) If you've already got your US Citizenship, it is well & good. This is the right time to return back to India. You don't have to worry about yearly trips to US, to retain your residency.
57) If you are a visa holder & if your visa is about to expire, this is the excellent time to return back to India. You won't have the option of going back to US (unless you wait for another year and get a new L1/H1B).
58) If you are a GC holder, I pity you. You'll be caught in a dilemma whether to return back or not. However, think about the reason which prompted you to go to US. Most likely, you would've gone to US to earn money. If you had met that objective, it is time for you to return back. Also, if you return back as a "liaison" for a US company, you will have an option to make frequent trips to US. You can meet the criteria for '6 months stay' in US, every year.
59) If most of your assets/investments are in India, you should return back to manage/enjoy those assets/investments.
60) It is easy for you to get caught into the "n+1"th year syndrome. You'll keep postponing your decision for several years until you reach a point where you or your family can't return back to India. So, if you are contemplating about returning back, you should do it NOW.
61) In India, When you or your spouse/kid is sick, there will be enough people (family members/relatives/neighbors) to take care of/support you. In US, you've to fully rely on your friends for help/support.
62) If your goal is to earn "unlimited" amount of money, there is no end to the need for more money. Think of your life style a few years ago. With the money that you have today, you can definitely lead a better life in India. Many of us go to US to earn money. So, if you have made good sum of money, it is a good time to return back. (Also read: How much money do you need to R2I?)
63) There are lots of festivals/functions throughout the year. Pongal/Sankaranthi, Diwali, Ramzan, Christmas etc., are celebrated in a special way. You get the joy of a real celebration of festivals only in India.
64) You would've visited a number of places in US. But, you might not have seen all the different tourist places in India. Moving to India would give you enough time to visit different places in India. You can get to learn more about India's rich culture & heritage, by traveling across different states.
65) In India, you can extend the life of several items that you use on a day to day basis. For example, you don't have to throw away shoes/clothes, because the stitches have come-off. People at road side shops will do the repair for you. There are shops that will do repair of electronic/electrical items at a very reasonable price.
66) Yes, Indian roads are congested. But, if you are used to long commutes in US, it wouldn't be a big issue. In US, you've to really start from home at 7 (or before) if you want to beat the traffic. In India, you can start by 8 to beat the traffic. Hey! you get an hour of extra sleep. In the worst case, you can even go to work by 10.30 or 11.00 am. People don't expect you to be at work, so early.
67) In India, you don't have to carry a lip guard with you all the time. You don't have to wear shoes all the time (Wearing slippers are so common). You don't have to wear thick dresses, all the times. It is always "summer" in India.
68) You don't need maps or GPS when you are traveling on the Indian roads. You can pull over your car to a petrol bunk or a road-side shop to get driving directions.
Work
69) There are number of budding start-ups & MNCs in India. You'll have more options now, in addition to the standard service companies (TCS, Infosys & Wipro). (Also read: R2I - List of MNCs in Chennai Cost to Company (CTC) - Peeling the Onion)
70) In the past, only maintenance work is done out of India. Today, there is lots of product development activities being offshored to India. If you are passionate about hard core product development, you can now do it from India.
71) The pay in India is really good. Of course, the pay scale cannot match what you can earn in US. However, it is more than enough to lead a luxurious life in India. (Also read: 10 Tips for Return to India (R2I) Salary Negotiation)
72) In US, you cannot lead a comfortable family life with a single pay check, after some point. Both the husband & wife have to work to run the family. Otherwise, you won't be able to save much.
73) Indian work environment is getting more westernized. Though there are some managers who still breath down your neck, it is NOT so common, these days. (Even in US, if you are reporting to Asian managers, they micro manage you. Most of the managers in US are Asians, anyway. So, why care about micro management when you are in India!?)
74) If you are returning from US to India, you can really get a very good designation.
75) You don't get the feeling of 'loneliness' at work. Shared cubicles make it very easy to interact with other folks.
76) You don't have to walk to the cafeteria to get a drink/coffee/snack. In many offices, it is served at your cubicle.
77) You can easily impress everyone at work by your ability to communicate well (Thanks to the exposure that US gave you).
78) Having been in US for sometime, you'll have the "full product development" exposure. This will significantly increase your value & dependency at the work place.
79) You can easily take a break in India and kick-start your own venture. You'll have an opportunity to test your entrepreneurial skills (Note: Leading a life in US, without monthly pay checks is tough. If you have earned decent money in US, you can easily lead a life without pay checks, in India). If you want to take an early retirement to do the things that you are passionate about, you should consider R2I.
80) You can freely switch jobs from one company to the other. You don't have to be worried about your legal status or visa transfers.
81) The concept of 'being a consultant' to an IT company is getting popular these days. If you like, some companies offer short-term work opportunities too. There are a few companies that allow you to work just for 4 hours per day.
82) Many companies have infrastructure to let employees work from home (which was unimaginable, a decade ago)
83) If you are on a work permit visa & you lost your job & you couldn't find one for a long time now & your family is dependent on your pay check - You cannot legally stay in US & you should return back to India.
(Also read: Work environment in India - Then & Now)
Finance
84) India is growing at a tremendous pace. You can get high returns from both stock market & real estate, for your investments. Long term capital gains from stocks aren't taxed in India. If you keep your stocks for more than a year, you don't have to pay any tax. (Also read, Stock Trading Lessons)
85) There is lots of options when it comes to medical treatment. Homeopathy/Ayurvedic treatments are quite popular in India. You can get treatment for 'severe/serious issues, at a very affordable cost. In fact, many westerners are coming to India for 'affordable treatment', these days.
86) Making yearly trips to India from US, becomes unaffordable & not economically feasible, when the family size grows.
Food
87) Your favorite KFCs, Subways, & McDonalds restaurants are now available in several places in India. You won't miss them, here.
88) There are lots of good RESTAURANTS. There is a wide range of dining options - starting from the road side trucks to revolving restaurants. Having been in US for quite sometime, it feels so good to taste authentic Indian food.
89) You get a wide range of fruits & vegetables in India. Moreover, they're very fresh and tasty. They're not imported & not genetically modified. If you are a vegan, you can even get milk substitutes such as 'calcium enriched Soymilk'. In fact, soymilk in India comes in a variety of flavors.
90) Non-vegetarians will have lots of choice, too. Sea food is sold very fresh at your door steps. You can get fresh meat/chicken from a nearby shop (You don't have to eat frozen meat, anymore!!). Also, you can get a lot of spices for cooking your non-vegetarian dishes. In US, it is hard to find lots of spices that are commonly available in India.
91) When you go to a grocery shop, you don't have to know/remember the 'English' name for a Indian grocery item. By the way, all the grocery chains sell unadulterated & neatly packed groceries. You can go around the shop with a cart and pick the items that you want. You'll have the same shopping experience that you had in US. Of course, the stores in India are smaller.
Reasons close to heart
92) You get to live with your parents/family. My (& my wife's) parents are very happy that we are back. They feel more confident these days & I could see happiness on their face. They worked very hard & spent years in making our life successful. We can never pay them back in entirety. But, being with them during their old age is a small contribution that we can make. Let me share with you an incident. After my return, I had once visited the parents of my friend (My friend is in US). I could literally see tear on their eyes, when they said "I'm not sure if my son/daughter (masking the gender, intentionally) would return back. The more years pass by, it is getting more uncertain. But, you made a very good decision to return back! I'm happy for you and your parents". I couldn't control my tears as well. I didn't know how to console them. You can understand how much impact the R2I decision creates, on the parents.
93) Our government/society played a significant role in shaping us & our life. We are what we are because of our society and the contribution of our schools, colleges, teachers, and friends. Isn't it time for us to return that favor back?
94) We are so lucky to have got the opportunity to travel across borders... to explore the unknowns and earn a lot of wealth/fame. Shouldn't we provide the same opportunity to others also? Shouldn't we train the folks in India to be competent?
95) You've seen how things are in U.S. You have now got an opportunity to improve things in India.
96) Go back in time and recollect why you went to U.S, in the first place? Were your goals achieved? If so, you should consider returning back to India. There is never a perfect/ideal time to return back. So, don't procrastinate. Tomorrow never comes.
97) Constant feeling of getting to the roots in India. Feeling guilty about postponing your R2I decision?
98) Are you always feeling "alienated", in US? You couldn't completely get accustomed to the culture/people etc., in US? Neither able to lead an 'American' life nor able to lead an 'Indian' life. It is not just you, your kids may also have the same problem when they grow up.
99) You feel that your life in US has become so "mechanical" or "monotonous". You desperately want a change in your life. You want a break in your career.
100) India needs educated & smart people like you. We have complained about the infrastructure, people, politics and policies in India for several years. What are we doing to fix those issues? We are the 'cream' of India. Shouldn't we put your competency to best use in India?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
This is accurate to the best of my knowledge, at the time of writing. I haven't made any efforts to cross check some of my conclusions/assumptions.
I'll put my best effort in keeping this uptodate. However, please double check the latest policies/procedures before making your decision to R2I. I'm not legally responsible for your decision to R2I and the outcomes of it.
If this blog post gave you enough ammunition to your R2I decision, then I've met my objective.
Wishing you all the best with your R2I !!
Also read:
Returning back to India - 25 things to do
R2I - List of things to pack/bring from US
10 things to consider before you decide to R2I
Amazing list! Love # 100.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog since few weeks now, your posts is very inspiring for me since I am R2I'ing in 2 months!
Keep up the good work!
Saravana,
ReplyDeleteVery exhaustive list. Very good.
That was excellent to accumulate such good points. I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteThe decision is however left to the individuals, but still the points you mentioned are worth to be considered.
Good Job.
Great post! I requested my company to transfer me back to Bangalore and I've not regretted it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that jobs are not easily available for US returned people..at least in 2009.
Great Blog Saros,
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your efforts and the time that you spent in writing this blog, I think you nailed it.
Regarding #29, Oh yeah - then why is there is literally no participation in any games from India in any of the olympics?
ReplyDeleteBe practical Man
Deleteb Practical Man-First try to fullfill the Macloes triangle.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteReally this is a great list comoposed from your experiences which will be helpful for many people in US with R2I thinking in mind.
>> Regarding #29, Oh yeah - then why is there is literally no participation in any games from India in any of the olympics?
ReplyDeleteIndian education system is rapidly changing. When I was in school, the focus used to be just academics. Now, almost all the institutions are striking a balance between academics & extra curricular activities. Even the parents are also starting to emphasize on extra curricular activities/sports.
I also admit that corruption is preventing the 'deserving' folks from making it to Olympics. Hopefully, that will also change in the future.
Last time I went to India, I was in my friend's car in Mumbai. There was a minor accident with a tempo driver. My friend got out of the car, had a minor argument with the other driver and then dropped me to my home and drove away.
ReplyDeleteLater I learnt that the tempo driver had followed him to his house with 5-6 goondas and demanded money for damage to his tempo. I don't think my friend was even at fault because it was a traffic jam and everybody was jostling around. My friend tried to call the police but they didn't come and said- settle it among yourself. My friend refused to give them money so they smashed his car and went away!
This is the condition of law and order in India. The top reason I hesitate to go back. I don't have any political connections, or muscle power to fight with 5-6 goondas. I maybe able to fight physically with 1-2 people or even kill them but can't do that because of family responsibilities. I am not a coward but there is no system to support you even when you are right. Any comments??
Atleat in India u r alive after such an incident.In US u may b shot down or sued.Iam
Deleteput up in U.S & I have my own experiences too.
I'm so sad to hear your friend's experience. I appreciate your reasons for not going back. (In fact, no body can really influence another person to R2I).
ReplyDeleteHowever, situations like these occur in all the places. Think about the number of road rages, shoot outs that happen in US. Does Law & Order really bring those things under control? No. There are always a 'class of people' who have NOTHING to lose. They do extreme things including harming others or others' properties. If we are staying out of such instances, we are fine/lucky. But, there is no guarantee that we won't be a victim to such incidences.
I was 'robbed' in Vancouver downtown. Though there were lots of people around I couldn't shout for help. Because, I was not sure if the guy would harm me or my family. In this particular situation, I HAD THINGS TO lose & he didn't. So, he WON.
http://www.saroscorner.com/2008/05/portland-seattle-vancouver-trip-day-3.html
http://hellolisteners.blogspot.com/2009/03/importance-of-change.html
India does need to improve with respect to law and order. I agree with you on that. However, it doesn't prevent people from leading a peaceful life.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteChanged my opinon of lots of things!
Hi Saro,
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of R2I and would be back in couple of months. In my quest for negotiation skills, I cam across your blog. Thank you very much for sharing such information. I am moved by the reasons under the "Close to Heart" category.
Returning to India can be pretty exciting :)
ReplyDeleteI came back after 2.5 yrs ( not really some 10-15 yr NRI ) and being home is fun .
http://prashant-b.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!51652F821A10556E!292.entry
Great article. Few things I liked about the article:
ReplyDelete- Image in the title. Indian flag to make the word 100! Stunning creativity!!
- Not even a single reason of the 100 reasons that I can call out as completely absurd. Few reasons can be debated, but each one has more truth in it.
- The fact about green card holders - that they are stuck for a while. We might be stuck here, but the fact is we might be returning to a better India when it is even more friendlier and even more rich and even more developed. (yes, I have a GC! and have 3 years to get my citizenship at which time I will R2I.)
In summary, great post. I wonder how much you spend coming up with 100 reasons and time to write it up so succinctly that all makes sense.
Tx much for your feedback ! I wrote this article over a period of 1 month... several short 1 hour sessions :)
ReplyDeleteamazing work..no doubt some people will refuse to your opinion but again they have forgotten where they come from..thanx u made my decisions very concrete..
ReplyDeleteHi Saravana, Great work... hats off for your decision and motivating others to do so..
ReplyDeleteTx for your feedback.
ReplyDeleteI like this blog post! While my reasons to go to the USA were different than making money, I am considering relocating out of the USA. I may not come back to India but will definitely come to the South East like Singapore!
ReplyDeleteBut thank you for such a wonderful expression!
Good to know that you liked the post !
ReplyDeletehello. I am returning to B'lore in April/May this year to take up a job. Yes, I will make much less. But then money and career growth are not the reasons for my r2I. I want to be there when parents get old. I have been away 20+ years. They were relatively younger then and in good health. Now it is time for them to have someone with them. I am returning with the knowledge and acceptance that things will be tough for first six months. Then we too get acclimatized and comfortable. Accpetance is key. If we expect same living conditions as in US, then we are in for a disappointment. Thanks for your points and tips.
ReplyDeleteGreat ! Wishing you all the best with your move.
ReplyDeleteHi Saro,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is good, thank you for the efforts. I am also considering returning. One thing I would like to ask you - I am considering if I will be doing something unfair to my daughter (she is 8 and US citizen) by returning to India. From straightforward things (like exposing her to pollution, pesticide contaminated food and drink, squalor in the surroundings) to more practical things (like she has to give up figure skating which she loves) to even more theoretical things (lack of opportunities to explore other fields of human experience like arts, philosophy). She is too young to understand all this now and am sure she will adjust fairly well. But this thought keeps nagging me, did it nag you too?
Hello Sir,
ReplyDeleteYes. It did nag me too.
However, I asked myself a simple question "Why did I come to US 6 years ago". The answer was "To earn good money and return back to India". So, my decision making process was simple.
Also, if the kids really want to be in US when they become 18, they have the option to decide at that time. It is very easy to lead a life in US. It is indeed very difficult to lead a life in India. I wanted my kid to be raised in a challenging environment so that she can be as good as I am today (or even better).
I personally feel that India provides a competitive environment for people to discover their best.
Also, I wanted to be grateful to my parents and society which made me what I'm today. I thought, I would return the favor :)
Of course, every individual's situation is quite different. Just follow your instincts and you'll never repent.
- Saro
Saro, I believe everything you write is coming out of your heart without any bias and your answers are the proof. Great work. I probably would have written 2 or 3 comments in my whole life of 10 years in the US and this is one of that.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lakshmi !! I'm glad that you liked this blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat posting. I am wrestling ith my mind for my R2I journey after being In US for 15 years. This is a great compilation that really made my mind at ease. Good work!
ReplyDeleteGood compilation....#64 is my favourite :-)
ReplyDeleteLot of people don't realise the loss of being unable to cherish our rich cultural heritage... When I had time I had no money.. now when I have money, no time...:-)
#64 will be the first thing I focus on when I R2I !!
Very well written, i enjoyed reading it.Thank you for posting. Certainly made my decision of returning to India a bit easier. Anyone else out here thinking of going back in the next year please contact me at chapter1429@hotmail.com, I am based in Canada and considering moving to Punjab.
ReplyDeleteExcellent posting Saro. Sincere thanks for your efforts. I happened to see this blog today. I am from Japan living here for 15+years. My family survived the recent massive earthquake. Most of the foreigners left and in process of leaving Japan. I vouch for your words on India's development and it is continuously improving compared when we left India. Our reason for moving to India is for kids education. Not everyone can write the way you write from the heart. so I request you to keep writing.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that you liked it ! Wishing you all the best with your R2I.
ReplyDeleteSaro: Thanks for your wishes. from Japan.
ReplyDeleteHi Saro,
ReplyDeleteGreat article and very nicely written. I did not know about the SS benefits and 40 points. Thanks a lot for that. I am planning to R2I this year and on the look out for a job. Most of the blogs that I have read are from people in the IT field. And, I am not from the IT field.
Thanks,
Arpana
Good work .Most of ur opinions match mine.Wish more Confused Desi's get to read this.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
Amazing work dude, Really got the facts right
ReplyDeleteGood effort and reasoning in most of the points but one third of the reasons are like say "You don't have to use a private restroom...you can defecate in the open"
ReplyDeleteVery very good compilation. I am in USA since six years and fed up with the restriction they put on employment based green card. Without green card you do not have freedom to choose carrier progress and stuck to one employer in the golden period of one's life. After reading your blog I have decided to move back to India and persue my dream carrier .
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled
by IAC movement and hope India too will have better administration in near future
This is an excellent blog and Sara you did a fantatistic job in bringing this matter to forth. A few more reasons I wanted to add. It may be my ignorance but
ReplyDeletewhat are the investment options in US really. Even 401 k money is used in satta. Are there any options like post office or pension which are there in India
giving almost 8-9% guaranteed returns. Now if I send money to India and invest there and try settle down here, it has its own hassles when trying to bring
the currency back here. If I keep it here, it does no good. If I am raising two kids, I can not send them to private schools else I would not have money for
their collages later on. Would I even have money for their college saved if I buy a house and cars here on loans. I did my calculations using Mint goal app
and realized that in order to buy a house, another SUV, afford schooling and college for two kids, arranging their marriage, making at least one India trip
per two years, with 4% inflation rate and 401k saving would need me to save roughly $10,00,000 over the period of 10-15 years on an average. My parents may
have a little left in India which I can not bring to US even. We would never be able to save this much and I am also not sure what will happen to me and wife
when we get old. Would the 401k and SSN funds, if any, be sufficient? I have not got GC yet so can not make a lot of advancements in career. It is very
difficult to grow in American companies and go up the management ladder since they have their own standards, biases, hidden agendas, indirect discrimination,
etc. The houses do not appreciate (if they do at all, I think they depreciate more than appreciate esp. the wooden ones) here as they do in India. I bought a
row house in 2006 for 20 Lakhs and its value got tripled in 2008 and still growing. If we can not earn US dollar in India, there are other nicer ways to earn
money. In India I can find relatives, brothers and sisters who can manage rents from the invested properties. Here we have to hire agents. A single miss and
the entire life is messed up if someone sues or counter sues you, you hit someone and he dies even if that was others' mistake (good luck explaining in
court). The entire SSN history will keep shouting thoughout life that I was involved in homicide. A small mistake and the credit history is gone for a toss
at least for 7 years. A small forgivable mistake my child does in the school (like scratching school desk), she goes to prison as police was called by the
teacher. After that no coming back, no cleansing, no forgiving - just go through the process. A lot of people get hit by the GC process where at the end they
realize that some/one of their attorneys or employers made a grave mistake in immigration processing somewhere in the past, and they have to take the entire
family have to now wind up overnight to go back to India (zero tolerance, deportation) since they did not have technical immigration law knowledge. I hated Indian govt in delaying punishment of Gandhi's assassins but I also realize the value in peacefulness in Indian international policies and forgiving Indian law. Not to talk about natural calamities (is there a single state which is left from this). In a nutshell, there are lots of stakes at risk while living in US. Many of my friends in my company have applied green cards without contemplating any of these risks. Anyways my company has become a green card factory for that matter since getting visas are getting difficult for them (esp when EB2 seemed to become current). People were promoted without merit so that they could refile into EB2 :). If there is so much of it, would one crave for it anymore?
Loved it. Your point of spouse not able to work even though qualified applies to me. Moving to India sometimes is BEST
ReplyDeleteThanks Deepa ! In fact, my wife started to work after coming back to India. She is no more house arrested :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent Saro! You are no doubt a big thinker, What a summary you are very clear in your thought process, not every one has this gift. But sharing these thoughts with all.. man too good thanks.
ReplyDeleteBeen here in US for last 8 yrs, and was planning to R2I in another 3 yrs as still my kids are young and my parents are doing good with their health. Started my planning this year so that transition to india down the line 3 years will be smooth. As part of the planning was searching in google every day for some good experience tips which can help my plan, and happened to tumble upon your article made my day!!. Thank you very much.
Thanks for the nice words. Wishing you all the best for your R2I.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I have been living in UK and USA for the past 7 years. Having travelled a lot in Europe, apart from living for 4 years in UK, and 3 years in USA, I completely agree with all your points. I am glad to say that I am returning to India in 3 weeks. Actually, this is the happiest moment of my life (at least 1000 times happier than when I went to UK or USA). I feel that people who complain about India blindly have a prejudiced mind. Anyway, I am very glad that I will be part of my Indian system again. At least my tax won't be used for bombing a random innocent country.
ReplyDeleteHappy R2I James ! Thanks for the nice words.
ReplyDelete