Moving Back to India from Canada: Checklist, Costs & Real Story
Thinking about moving from Canada to India in 2026? This return story shows how one family used tax checks, spreadsheets, trial visits, and a staged move to reduce regret and protect lifestyle quality.
In this story
- Moving to India from Canada: Start with the move sequence
- Key Takeaways
- When "Never Going Back" Became "Maybe India Is Home"
- Why Indians Are Reassessing Canada in 2026
- Canada-to-India Checklist: Tax, Pension, and Document Checks Before Leaving Canada
- What Made Them Reconsider Returning to India After 13 Years?
- How to Plan Your Return to India: The 3-Year Framework
- Why You Need a Trial Trip Before Moving Back to India
- What Are the Main Reasons to Return to India from Canada?
- Step-by-Step Guide: How to Execute Your Move from Canada to India
- Is Ahmedabad a Good City for Returnees from Canada?
- How Is Work Culture Different in India Compared to Canada?
- What Happened One Year After Moving Back to India?
- Key Lessons: What You Can Learn from Their Return Journey
- 💬 Rapid Insights
- Frequently Asked Questions About Returning to India from Canada
- Your Canada-to-India Next Steps
- Related Articles You'll Find Helpful
If you are moving to India from Canada or moving back to India from Canada, the hardest questions are usually work culture, cost of living, family support, and whether you should test the move before resigning. This story shows how one family used a 3-year framework, a recon trip, and a staged move to de-risk the decision.
Moving to India from Canada: Start with the move sequence
This Canada return story worked best as a staged 12- to 18-month plan. The family started with tax residency, RRSP and investment questions, school timing, healthcare coverage, job-market validation, and shipping decisions before the final move date. If your search is the broader "moving back to India from Canada" question, start with the Canada to India guide, then use the NRI return checklist and Desi Return Planner to turn the decision into dated tasks.
Are Indians leaving Canada and returning to India in 2026?
Some Indian families are reassessing Canada, but it is not a single universal answer. The practical drivers are housing cost, job-market pressure, PR pathway uncertainty, family distance, and whether the Canada lifestyle still beats a staged return to India. For official context, Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan reduces new temporary resident arrival targets while stabilizing permanent resident admissions, and IRCC's student and worker update notes tighter study, work, PGWP, and spouse-work-permit settings. Use this story as a decision model, not as proof that every Indian in Canada should leave.
Canada-to-India Checklist: What To Decide First
- Tax and investments: Review Canada departure tax, RRSP, TFSA, non-registered investments, CPP/OAS expectations, and Indian tax residency before the final move date.
- Healthcare: Plan the provincial healthcare gap, India insurance, medicines, and the first 90 days after arrival.
- Schools and family: Shortlist curriculum, admissions timing, commute, and backup schools before you lock housing.
- Jobs and salary: Validate India salary, work culture, commute, and one-partner-first options before resigning from Canada.
- Logistics: Compare selling, storing, shipping, and replacing household goods before requesting mover quotes.
Guest Story: Totik and Amisha spent 13 years in Canada before choosing a staged return to Ahmedabad, India.
"I was completely sure I'd never go back to India. Today I see it as one of the best decisions I've made."
How Do You Move Back to India from Canada Without Regret?
The strongest Canada-to-India move plans usually follow four steps: compare India with your other realistic options, test the move with a proper recon stay, recalculate your lifestyle budget using current India prices, and stage the execution so one partner validates work culture and jobs before the whole family relocates. This story shows that exact framework in practice. For the country-specific owner page, use the moving back to India from Canada guide; for execution, pair it with the return-to-India checklist before you resign, ship household goods, or lock school decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Staged relocation reduces risk: Moving one partner first validates job market and living conditions before full commitment
- India has transformed dramatically: Modern infrastructure, digital payments, and evolved work culture make returning more viable than ever
- Logic beats nostalgia: Use spreadsheets to compare all options (US, Dubai, India) across taxation, cost of living, and family proximity
- Family proximity multiplies happiness: Being near aging parents and cultural roots creates emotional fulfillment money can't buy
- Professional opportunities exist: Jobs in hospitality, IT, and sales offer competitive salaries with better work-life balance than 15 years ago
When "Never Going Back" Became "Maybe India Is Home"
Totik describes himself as 80% logical, 20% emotional.
For years, he dismissed every suggestion of returning as "impossible."
But by year 10 in Canada, something shifted. They'd achieved every goal — the home, the cars, the jobs — yet a strange emptiness remained. Like many NRIs planning their return to India, they began questioning what success truly meant.
They realized success without belonging felt hollow. That thought became the seed for change.
If you're feeling this same emptiness despite achieving your Canadian dream, you're not alone. Many professionals reach a point where they start asking: "Is this really what I want for the next 20 years?"
That is why queries like "moving back to India from Canada" usually come from people who need a practical framework, not just motivation. They want clarity on the move timeline, quality-of-life tradeoffs, schooling, taxes, and how to reduce the risk of regret.
Why Indians Are Reassessing Canada in 2026
The search query "are Indians leaving Canada" usually comes from one of three situations: a family with PR or citizenship wondering if India now offers a better life, a temporary resident worried about the Canada pathway, or a student / worker comparing the cost of waiting in Canada with the risk of restarting in India.
2026 Canada-to-India decision triggers
- Immigration reset: IRCC's 2026-2028 plan reduces new temporary resident arrival targets and keeps permanent resident targets stable at 380,000 per year.
- Student and worker pathways: Canada has tightened study permit, PGWP, and spouse work permit settings, so temporary residents need a current pathway check.
- Housing and salary math: The return decision changes when rent, mortgage, childcare, insurance, commute, and salary growth no longer match the original Canada plan.
- Family support: Aging parents, young children, and social isolation often become bigger factors after the first decade abroad.
This page is not arguing that Canada is bad or India is automatically better. It gives one family framework: compare real options, run the tax and lifestyle math, test India like a resident, then stage the move so the family can validate jobs, schools, and daily life before full relocation.
Canada-to-India Checklist: Tax, Pension, and Document Checks Before Leaving Canada
If you are leaving Canada permanently for India, do this part before you resign, ship household goods, or set a final school date. Canada-specific return planning is not only about emotion or jobs. It is also about the departure-year tax return, RRSP and TFSA choices, Canadian bank access, CPP/OAS assumptions, property, and documents you may need after becoming non-resident.
| Canada-to-India question | Why it matters | First action before moving |
|---|---|---|
| CRA departure date and departure tax | Your Canada departure date affects the final resident return, deemed disposition, and whether Form T1161 may apply when reportable property is more than $25,000. | Read the CRA leaving Canada guidance and list non-registered assets before you become non-resident. |
| RRSP withdrawal or hold decision | RRSP choices can change Canadian withholding, India tax timing, and cash-flow after return. | Use the RRSP after leaving Canada guide and check whether a section 217 election is worth reviewing. |
| TFSA and non-registered investments | TFSA tax-free treatment is a Canadian rule; Indian tax residency can change how gains and income are viewed. | Review TFSA, stocks, ETFs, RSUs, and cost basis before your final Canadian tax year closes. |
| CPP, OAS, and India coordination | CPP/OAS eligibility and payment abroad depend on contribution, residence, and agreement rules. | Check Service Canada's India pensions and benefits page before assuming benefits are lost or guaranteed. |
| Canadian phone, bank, and CRA access | OTP, bank login, CRA access, tax notices, and account recovery can break after landing in India. | Keep phone-number continuity with the Canada number guide, download NOAs/T4s/bank statements, and update mailing access. |
| Health card, insurance, and first 90 days | Provincial health coverage, India health insurance, and medicines can leave a gap during transition. | Check your province's health-card exit rules, buy India coverage early, and carry prescriptions plus medical records. |
| School, shipping, and landing budget | School admission, shipping, temporary housing, and setup costs often decide whether the first six months feel stable. | Pair the NRI return checklist with the shipping guide and lock school timing before housing. |
Canada-specific answer for "moving back to India from Canada checklist"
Do not start with packing. Start with departure-year tax, assets, RRSP/TFSA, CPP/OAS, Canadian access, health coverage, school timing, and a realistic India landing budget. After that, the emotional and career decision becomes easier to test.
What Made Them Reconsider Returning to India After 13 Years?
The couple had come to Canada with a clear mission: success.
But once they reached it, they started evaluating quality of life, not just income.
The cold climate, social isolation, and aging parents back home pushed them to reconsider long-term happiness.
Simultaneously, they saw India transforming — better infrastructure, global work culture, digital systems. Understanding RNOR status and return-year tax planning became crucial as they evaluated the financial implications of their move. The Reserve Bank of India's NRI guidelines provided clarity on banking and remittance regulations.
Here's the truth: The India you left 10-15 years ago doesn't exist anymore. Digital payments are everywhere, infrastructure has improved dramatically, and work culture has evolved to match global standards.
How to Plan Your Return to India: The 3-Year Framework
Their move wasn't emotional — it was planned like a multi-phase project.
You can't just pack your bags and hope for the best. Here's how to approach your return with logic and minimize risk:
Totik's 3-Year Framework:
- Explore all options: U.S., Dubai, and India.
- Create an exhaustive pros & cons spreadsheet covering: taxation, work culture, cost of living, immigration risk, family ties.
- Research, verify, and test assumptions before deciding.
| Parameter | Canada | U.S. | Dubai | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family proximity | Low | Low | Medium | Very High |
| Career stability | High | Uncertain | Moderate | High |
| Cost of living | Rising | High | High | Moderate |
| Long-term residency | Stable | Risky (visa limits) | Temporary | Permanent |
| Emotional connection | Moderate | Low | Medium | Very High |
Why You Need a Trial Trip Before Moving Back to India
In 2021, they made a two-month "trial trip" to India — but this wasn't a vacation.
Here's what you should do: Visit India not as a tourist, but as a future resident. Test everything.
They visited multiple cities — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Mumbai — testing everything from housing to grocery pricing.
Totik even kept Walmart receipts from Canada to compare cost-of-living line by line.
Key discoveries:
- India's real estate and infrastructure boom had changed everyday comfort.
- Digital payments (UPI) were ubiquitous — no more ATM runs.
- Indian corporate culture had matured dramatically.
What Are the Main Reasons to Return to India from Canada?
Emotional Drivers
- Family: "Parents' happiness doubled once we came back."
- Belonging: "Festivals felt real again. Conversations had warmth."
Logical Drivers
- Financial Stability: Lifestyle parity possible at lower expense.
- Professional Freedom: No immigration stress or visa deadlines.
- Growth Potential: India's upward momentum offered long-term opportunity.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Execute Your Move from Canada to India
They didn't leap — they executed in stages:
The best way to minimize risk is to move in phases. Here's the exact strategy they used:
Step 1: Move one spouse first
Found a job within 15 days of landing in hospitality industry.
Step 2: Validate work culture and living standards
Spent 6 months validating work culture and living standards.
Step 3: Keep Canada income stable during transition
Maintained income and financial stability during transition.
Step 4: Complete the final move after validation
Once confirmed, he wrapped up their life abroad and moved.
Step 5: Keep backup cities and a re-evaluation plan
They kept two backup Indian cities and a re-evaluation option ready so the family was not locked into one risky plan.
👉 Build your own staged-return blueprint: Financial Transition Blueprint
Many returnees also need to understand what to do with a 401(k) when moving to India and manage their retirement savings during the transition. The IRS guidelines for taxpayers living abroad explain tax obligations for US citizens moving internationally.
Is Ahmedabad a Good City for Returnees from Canada?
Ahmedabad wasn't just home — it was strategic:
When choosing where to settle in India, you need to balance family proximity, career opportunities, and quality of life. Here's why Ahmedabad worked for them:
- Family nearby
- Lower pollution and commute times
- Balanced pace for career and lifestyle
How Is Work Culture Different in India Compared to Canada?
One of their biggest fears was outdated corporate behavior — long hours, rigid hierarchy.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Is Indian work culture still toxic?
The reality? A modern, globalized environment emphasizing outcomes and work-life balance.
If you're considering a similar move, use the dedicated return to India jobs guide for NRIs to benchmark compensation, commute, interviews, and work-culture tradeoffs before you resign abroad.
What Happened One Year After Moving Back to India?
Here's what actually happened after they made the move — the real results, not the Instagram version:
Personal:
- Zero regrets.
- Family joy multiplied.
- Stronger community life and sense of purpose.
Professional:
- Amisha thriving in hospitality management.
- Totik continuing his global work portfolio from India.
- New side business in progress.
Key Lessons: What You Can Learn from Their Return Journey
If you're planning your own return to India from Canada, here are the most important lessons to remember:
- Start with logic, not nostalgia. Research first.
- Update your India mindset. The country has transformed.
- Plan your return like a project. Spreadsheets beat spontaneity.
- Validate in stages. A partner-first move minimizes risk.
- Family benefits compound. Happiness isn't just personal — it's shared.
- Keep options open. Flexibility reduces fear.
👉 Plan your return professionally: 60-min consultation
💬 Rapid Insights
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Biggest Surprise | "India's development and mindset shift — bombarding in every direction." |
| Biggest Worry That Disappeared | Work culture — "Not what we remembered from 15 years ago." |
| Favorite City | Ahmedabad ("comfort, family, and balance") |
| Favorite Food | Homemade Gujarati thali |
| Favorite Realization | "Success means freedom and belonging — not just money." |
Frequently Asked Questions About Returning to India from Canada
Q: How long did this family plan before returning from Canada?
A: This family took about three years to move from idea to execution. Their approach was to compare India with other realistic options, test assumptions during a recon trip, and then stage the relocation so one partner moved first while the other kept income and optionality in Canada.
Q: Is moving back to India from Canada worth it?
A: It can be, but only if the tradeoff works for your family. In this story, family proximity, cultural belonging, and lifestyle parity in India outweighed the benefits of staying in Canada. One year in, Totik described the move as one of the best decisions he had made.
Q: Are Indians leaving Canada and returning to India in 2026?
A: Some Indian families and temporary residents are reassessing Canada because of housing costs, job-market pressure, PR uncertainty, family distance, and Canada's 2026-2028 immigration reset. It is not one universal trend for everyone. The useful question is whether your own Canada plan still works after testing PR pathway, salary, rent, healthcare, school, tax, and family-support assumptions.
Q: What Canada immigration changes matter before moving back to India?
A: Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan reduces new temporary resident arrival targets and keeps permanent resident targets stable at 380,000 per year. If your family depends on student permits, work permits, PGWP, spouse work permits, or a PR transition, check your exact pathway before deciding whether to wait in Canada or stage a move to India.
Q: What did this family's Canada-to-India checklist cover?
A: Their checklist covered city selection, work-culture validation, cost-of-living math, tax and banking sequencing, school decisions, and a backup plan if the first city did not work. The cleanest starting point is the NRI return checklist, then you can layer in Canada-specific issues like RRSP, tax exit planning, and shipping.
Q: Where should I start if I am moving back to India from Canada?
A: Start with the Canada to India planning guide for country-specific sequencing, then use this story as a real example of how one family staged the decision. The broad guide covers Canada departure tax, RRSP, TFSA, CPP, OAS, healthcare, phone access, schools, shipping, and first-90-day India setup.
Q: What Canada tax forms should I check before moving back to India?
A: Start with your departure date, Canadian residency position, possible departure tax, and whether Form T1161 applies because the fair market value of reportable property is more than $25,000. Review non-registered investments, Canadian property, RRSP, TFSA, bank interest, and rental income before you resign or become non-resident.
Q: Should I keep or withdraw my RRSP and TFSA before returning to India?
A: Do not withdraw blindly. RRSP withdrawals as a non-resident can face Canadian withholding and may need section 217 review, while TFSA tax-free treatment is a Canadian rule and may not protect you the same way after Indian tax residency starts. Decide with a cross-border tax advisor before the final move date.
Q: Can I receive CPP or OAS while living in India after leaving Canada?
A: CPP is tied to Canadian contributions, and OAS abroad depends on residence rules plus the Canada-India social security agreement where relevant. If retirement benefits matter to your move, check Service Canada before you close Canadian accounts or decide your departure year.
Q: What should I do before leaving Canada permanently for India?
A: Map the departure-year tax position, RRSP and TFSA choices, non-registered investments, CPP or OAS assumptions, Canadian phone and bank access, healthcare gap, school timing, shipping, and India landing budget before resigning or moving the whole family.
Q: How do I test Indian work culture before moving from Canada?
A: Talk to people actually hiring in your field, not just friends. This couple used LinkedIn conversations, hospitality interviews, and a staged move where Amisha moved first, landed interviews within 15 days, and spent months validating the work environment before the family completed the move.
Q: Which city should I choose when returning from Canada?
A: Choose the city that gives you the best combination of family support, job fit, comfort, and daily-life quality. In this case, Ahmedabad won because it offered familiarity, nearby family, and the lifestyle the couple wanted, even after they compared it with Bengaluru and other options.
Q: How do I find a job in India after living in Canada?
A: Start before the final move. Use your field-specific network, speak to hiring managers directly, and validate whether the city you want actually has openings for your profile. In this story, Amisha secured multiple hospitality interviews quickly and chose her role within 15 days of landing.
Q: How do I avoid regretting a move back to India from Canada?
A: Do not turn it into a blind leap. Compare countries, test current India instead of relying on a 15-year-old memory, keep backup plans, and stage the transition so you are validating reality instead of romanticizing it. That is the main reason this family reports zero regrets.
Q: What if I regret moving back to India from Canada?
A: Most regret comes from rushing the move, assuming India is unchanged, or discovering the salary, school, commute, tax, or family-support tradeoff too late. Reduce that risk with a recon stay, current India budget, job-market validation, and a staged move before the whole family exits Canada.
Your Canada-to-India Next Steps
Decision Stack
- Open the Return Planner before you resign or liquidate anything
- Review the Financial Planning Roadmap for sequencing taxes, banking, and investments
- Use the school-curriculum guide for NRI kids if education fit is part of the move
- Book a 60-minute strategy call if you want help pressure-testing your assumptions
Execution Stack
- Read the Canada-to-India tax mistakes guide before you trigger departure decisions
- Plan your phone-number continuity so banks and OTPs keep working during the move
- Use the household-goods shipping guide before packing or comparing vendors
- Set up your banking transition once the move timing is clear
Editorial Summary
Totik and Amisha did not move back to India from Canada on instinct alone.
They compared countries, updated their view of modern India, protected downside risk with a staged move, and then executed only after the facts worked.
That is what makes this story useful: it shows how to convert a vague wish to return into a decision framework you can actually act on.
Ready to Plan Your Canada-to-India Move?
Start with the planner, then tighten tax, banking, and relocation timing before you resign or ship anything.
Use the same staged framework from this story: compare, validate, then execute.
Chapters
- 0:00 Introduction
- 1:38 Life in India
- 5:30 Detailed Planning the move out of Canada
Transcript
Auto-generated captions, lightly cleaned
0:00 Meet Totik and Amisha who spent 13 years in Canada. It went from >> and he was completely stubborn about the fact that there is no way I'm going ever going back to India. Canada as home >> to saying this >> one thing I can say for certainty that this is one of the best decision I've made so far. >> They talked about their pragmatic decision process and planning their return to India. I still took 3 years to decide on whether to move or not. First decision I made wasn't to move to India. The first decision I made is that I want to start looking at other options. I'm coming to India to see the problems. I'm looking for issues that I can come across kind of thing now. Right. Indian work culture. >> Yeah.
0:45 >> And that's what was a big con in my list pretty much. to pay. One thing I noticed was this two years back is when I changed my mindset when I came back u that the mindset we had of India was 15 years old right you go there first get a job let's see you know what struggles you actually face and everything >> check out our previous conversation with Amisha in the link here also written inner circle WhatsApp group could be interesting to you where you can network with like-minded people and navigate this journey with a support peer group.
1:38 Initially you are someone who is not so keen and then you know one wedding kind of changed and I know you got on board and then want to give it a try. So want to hear from you like how how is life in India since it's been about an year and how is it going for you? no offense but one of the best decision I made I would say after our marriage of course but no I mean like no doubt like I'm I'm a more calculative person right so basically there are a lot of calculations going in my mind as you said you know that at first we had other objectives other goals and everything so I was I wasn't looking around but when we reached that we felt as in I felt that you know what like maybe you know this is something that I want to think of. I still took three years to decide on whether to move or not. but we'll talk about that later. Right now to answer your question it's been a year. It's still a little soon to say everything but one thing I
2:41 Can say for certainty that this is one of the best decision I've made so far. >> Okay. >> I think it's and I I just mentioned it as in like you know it's kind of like a a huge load taken off my shoulder kind of thing. There are a lot of responsibilities there. No doubt about that. There's a lot of things that you have to do and and I had no complaints to do all that ourself kind of thing. But once you come back like this is where we grew up kind of thing. This is what we are familiar with. One thing I noticed and I'm pretty sure that she may have mentioned this as well is that sense of belongingness. >> Yeah. you know at one point we were missing that for some reason like we love to celebrate every festival every small little things here and there at the same time the economy the culture changes that's been happening in Canada you know once we reached our goal I see that yeah I mean you know this is is this worth it that was the first question I asked myself yeah >> and even before India like I actually
Read the full transcript (21 more sections)
3:43 Do did my thorough research for other countries as well to make sure that this is not an emotional decision kind of thing right because there are a lot of people who struggles with okay is this an emotional decision is it more realistic decision or not kind of thing right so at one point I would say it was more 8020 80% like I made it realistic 20% it was still emotional of course like how how cannot be right >> but almost a year and I would say zero regrets whatsoever u everything has been amazing I feel not just for us, our friends and family. Oh my god, like their lives has changed a lot. My in-laws are here, my parents are here. and I feel that they talk about this a lot as well that their quality of life has changed as well basically just because we are here. It's more interaction. They don't have to wait like a year or every couple of years for a month to see us kind of thing. so overall, yeah, absolutely amazing.
4:40 >> That's fantastic to hear. You know how he talked about 80% calculating 20% emotional. So that 80 is him and the 20 emotional. >> Yes. >> Before he walks you through the entire journey of all the calculation and mathing he did. So at least the audience is clear. It's 80% calculation 20% >> I think you know but it's a very fair point right. I mean you don't have you don't make decisions emotionally you know which makes it very hard for it to be successful. you know you have to have a balance for sure you need to think through all those steps because it's a big decision for any family to make and you should think through all those aspects and definitely there'll be some emotional aspect to it of course otherwise you know you can move to some other country right so let's I think dive into some of the points that you have mentioned I think you know you
5:30 Said there was certain goals in mind or you know you have waited for 3 years maybe you can you know talk a little bit more like you know what was that you were thinking at that time what is that you would like to achieve and what change so if you can talk through that because somebody might be in a similar situation and how they can think through it so that's why it could definitely help if you can walk through what's in your mind >> tell you one thing as in so when we came to Canada we had something in mind a goal in mind pretty much right like we started studying and I was like you know what I want to be successful like I want to have a house I want to have a good car like the American dream all we talk about pretty much right so that was the goal when I say that I had a goal in mind that was the goal in mind that I want to be successful in Canada because there are a lot of people who actually relies on me. There are a lot of people who supported me and I want to make sure that I reach that goal. Whenever I say that this is my home is because I still didn't achieve that goal kind of thing, right? So for the first decade we just worked towards achieving that goal.
6:27 Anything like we were like horses basically right anything around it we never even see to bother basically as in you know that okay is it too cold is it you know the politics is way too bad like the quality of life is way too bad we didn't care at all we I was just concentrated on one thing that I want to achieve this so started working towards it took me a decade to kind of you know reach to that point where we have our own house we have you know good cars all that American dream basically. But once I reached there, I started feeling that okay what what now you know are we happy? You know that it it comes to a point where everything you do is about money and once you actually start getting that like you start thinking about okay now what's the quality of life basically and that's where I started thinking as in is it good enough?
7:21 >> Yeah >> sure it was just a thought initially. Second thing I started seeing is a lot of change because as I said we were there for a long time. I started seeing a lot of change in North American culture especially in Canada and not just culturally it's economically politically calculating pretty much every single thing including taxes the quality of life the things that we have to give out the things we gain basically. Okay. So I had like a big chart that I made kind of thing to you know have my pros and cons about this. then just as in just to start with I'm like okay at the same time we started seeing the India actually started developing a lot you know the quality of life what we left you know 15 years before it has changed dramatically here. So we always come to visit and everything and we see that okay no there are a lot of things change. First decision I made wasn't to move to India. The first decision I made is that I want to start looking at other options.
8:23 >> U this is like definitely we made you know something out of what we had in Canada but unfortunately it wasn't you know viable. It wasn't something that we can live with for a longest time. So I'm like no like I don't want to do this. I I was thinking 10 years back or 15 years 20 years in when we are old how it's going to go kind of thing right >> yes >> so that's where we started kind of deciding basically that you know what I want to start looking at something else I started looking at US of course that would be an obvious choice but the one thing that always bothered me was H1B even though we were Canadian citizens you still have to go through there is a TN visa but again it's a non-immigrant visa and and we know like as an Indian or as a Gujarat there Maybe it's just my mindset but I want stability like I I don't want that sword hanging over me as in like you know what that I leave us for even vacation and I cannot get back for any reason XYZ and look what's happening right now. So all this like we calculated and I'm like I don't think it's worth because we are at that age
9:24 Like I I don't want to take this kind of risk pretty much for our family. >> You started looking at Dubai was the second option. It was actually a very attractive option in a way as in it's still close to India. at the same time there are a lot of things that we were looking for were checkmarked there but there were also other things that kind of like bothered us as well so you know and and this is like again family to family so this is for me there were a few things and then I started looking into India >> right what I did US Dubai and India basically I made a whole list of things as in pros and cons and everything and as I said that 20% emotions with Indian culture especially Ahmedabad for us basically that's where we grew up pretty much right so I started making all the list and everything and at one point it started making a little sense I'm like no I think there is a possibility and that's where the three years started >> okay >> pretty much right I started researching actually you were one of the first
10:25 Ones a couple of years ago that I saw some of your videos from earlier experts who actually came here there are like the group that we joined pretty much right there are a lot of questions being answered and everything. So it started giving us a little clarity a little by little but again I'm a calculative person >> and and most importantly it's kind of started to give the idea that we are not the only one thinking in this direction right because such idea pops in your head you feel like okay we might be the the odd one out here there is no way because you know how what reaction people are still very square when it comes to the idea of moving back to India we still get those question asked like okay wow how can you come back from Canada right so that your group the your videos and everything kind of gave us this entire picture very clear that okay no we are not alone there are a lot of more people out there who is thinking about it who has already actioned on it so that actually kind of gave us a lot of support >> yeah but the second thing actually to add on to that point before we forget
11:27 Like there are two things I thought the society would be a little different as in like you know why did you came back kind of thing as in like oh are you stupid or something who would live a luxury lifestyle like that to come back. Even in Canada, I thought like my friends, my colleagues would actually react something very similar. But it was a very different reaction. I never Oh my god. I like I've never imagined that I would get this much positive reaction from even my peers my friends my colleagues who has never seen India whatsoever who's actually Canadian. and the family, friends, extended family, anyone we know even like the random dude like I don't know and I'm talking to on the road kind of thing. They're like nope best decision you made. India is like so we it's it's changing it's not what we used to remember kind of thing. the biggest problem so coming back to the point so yes it gave me a little motivation that you know what yeah this is a viable option. It it it still didn't mean that like I actually kind of like removed
12:27 The other two possibilities. but what we did is like we came to India in a couple of years back to make sure that I actually grasp that reality right like now I'm coming to India with a different mindset I'm coming to India to see the problems I'm looking for issues that I can come across kind of thing now right so we came back here and again like I I had a huge note I had a Walmart's receipt on one page saying I b I bought onions or we bought the milk at this price in Canada like I'm doing my grocery list. I'm writing down everything to make sure I know the current prices because one thing I noticed this two years back is when I changed my mindset when I came back that the mindset we had of India was 15 years old.
13:15 >> And that's I think one of the mistakes a lot of people does is they think that India is what they left and that's not the reality. It's a completely different ballgame. And if I if you may allow me to add into this, it's the idea they will it will be unfathomable fathomable for them to you know find out the fact because what happens is when they come they just visit the same surrounding they meet the same people they probably go to the same restaurant right so there are little small aspects but if you explore if you visit out out of the box the areas that you're so used to if you kind of step out of those areas and then you meet and interact with people that's That's where you will explore the fact that no I mean those are not the only area there are a lot of more development has happened if we talk about real estate wise if we talk about the companies that is investing in India the corporate world everything is >> it's bombarding right now the development is bombarding and with the development the mind development the thoughts also developing of the
14:16 People of India who has been here and who maybe hasn't stepped out of India but their viewpoint the way they look at the life has definitely changed >> oh 100% % and that's what we noticed pretty much, right? It's a whole different ballgame here. so my things to do when we visit was pretty much that get an idea about a living cost, a basic living cost first of all. get an idea about if the other cities are options because what I wanted to do is I wanted to have like three cities you know as a backup. again we are attached to our hometown you know and Gujarat basically but in India like every 100 kilometers the whole vibe changed the culture change pretty much right so it's very vibrant in that manner so we wanted to make sure me being in IT and sales I wanted to make sure that we also try to check out the other you know cities to create that calculative decision of where to go.
15:11 >> Right. so we came we did all the calculations and everything we visited different cities including Bangalore for an example you know to make sure that we understand now the one thing that everyone would have in their mind who have worked in India before is Indian work culture. >> Yeah. And that's what was a big con in my list pretty much the pay the work culture and everything as in like hey is it still the same what we remember from 15 years back that we went where where you are working like 14 15 hours a day and you are still kind of like you know there is there is no personal life aspect say >> and I'm like we are going there for a better life I don't want that for us if that's happening again and and that would be a big red flag >> kind of thing So we started what we did is basically we started looking around especially for her is because for me I know there are a couple of things that I wanted to do so I was clear in that sense for her what we did is we went to
16:12 Bangalore there actually she's from hotel industry hospitality so we started looking into some of the hotels like hotels where we were staying like Marriott and stuff we started talking to some of the directors there you know as in like okay can you give us a little bit of we started talking to not people that we know but the people we met over LinkedIn or something to make sure that we actually get the honest opinion no sugarcoated stuff pretty much here from their point of view we got to know that it has changed a lot not just in Bangalore even in Ahmedabad like she talked to few people in Ahmedabad as well and you know it has changed a lot I would say is it up to the mark with the North American culture maybe not maybe there's still places to improve but it's not something you know I can consider as a red flag.
17:04 >> Yeah, >> they still care about you know work life balance and and and a lot of other things pretty much like the perks, the pace has been improved dramatically as well. So that was a big red flag I was worried about and that was something that I'm like okay this is something that that is not a bother anymore as of yet. then quality of life you know I actually went through as I said like in Ahmedabad we went through some of the places we met few people's again out of our group to make sure that we understand what's going on what's not and I calculated a budget based on this like okay this is what we need to earn if we want to maintain the same lifestyle we have in Canada. Yeah.
17:50 >> And it was significantly less than what I thought initially pretty much >> and that idea was very clear in our head that we don't want to kind of compromise in the that particular area of how our day-to-day life is whether it's about buying a grocery or buying a choice of the cheese that we like. So we wanted to make sure that that area we are not compromising at all. Our day-to-day life should be very similar to what we had in Canada. >> Exactly. Exactly. And that is my first preference because we work very hard to achieve something. I don't want to compromise on that just for other things pretty much right. So comfort and certain things was like a very key aspect for me and I created a budget that okay this is what we want. We went back with a lot of you know knowledge and then I started doing my research again. At this point we still have hadn't decided that if you want to do this or not. then about I think it was like eight months in I think eight or nine months in I I I was done with my research and I'm like you know what this is making sense now to me but again
18:51 Being calculative I'm like no I don't want to do this as in like okay let's just get rid of everything and just move there and we'll figure it out. So my plan was basically that our marriage was you know very strong at that point and I was able to take this decision with her help specifically is that you go there first right you go there first get a job let's see you know what struggles you actually face and everything go through that job culture for six months and then I'll join if there is no red flags. >> Yeah. right now the point was where to we went to different cities and everything but for some reason for us because we grew up in Ahmedabad Ahmedabad was comfort zone and to achieve what I wanted that comfort that family closure and everything Ahmedabad was the only place I I can think of right so I'm like okay we are deciding to start with Ahmedabad and then I put deadlines if doesn't happen
19:53 We're going to give this a try we're going to give this a try we're going to give this city a try and then I had three backup plans if it doesn't work out you come back and we'll continue this maybe our plan was flawed. We'll we'll revisit this and then we'll try again kind of thing. >> But at least one thing is we have our income here like my job was safe there. I was doing everything. I was setting up other things in parallel as well and that is the risk we are taking kind of thing pretty much right. she came here and of course like you you know about the the whole thing. I think she mentioned like when she came here and everything 6 months in she actually got the job within 10 15 days >> 15 days I had 15 days of lending I had like three or four interviews lined up and I secured a job in 15 days. So I gave like four interviews and not that I was rejected but I chose which one I wanted to go for.
20:44 >> Yeah. because and that that is another thing for hospitality if anyone's watching there was a lot of chances here there is no doubt about that what we saw there are a lot of opportunities and it's not restricted to a particular city or anything u culture has actually improved a lot in it of course for me like I was thinking that I'm restricted maybe in in Bangalore or Mumbai for an example or noa kind of thing right and that is still may be the case there are not many opportunities out there with remote jobs and everything you know it makes it a lot easier but again like I'm sharing this that I being in Ahmedabad was a big part of my decision- making is because again friends and family were very close by and everything I didn't have to worry about her being here kind of thing pretty much right so she came here 6 month 15 days in like she she got a job she started the job 6 months in again it's a very premature calculation
21:46 But still it actually gave us the idea that no the work culture is still not the same and we can survive just fine at that point I decided no this is actually the time for me to wrap everything up I started wrapping everything up and you know mood and it's been a year >> fantastic thank you for sharing all the details such a pragmatic person I think you know just making sure everything there is like a backup to backup plan like three getting all the information, doing the research, making sure I think this is most of most of the most pragmatic I think you know the plan that I have heard where someone actually spend time like you know also like revisiting some of the assumptions that you have right like where you asked Amisha to go and even like you know make sure the work culture is to what you were expecting and also getting the information from nonfriend you know actual so thanks for sharing all the details I think there are a lot of nuggets that people can follow if they definitely have that flexibility and the time and you know the options
22:48 There.
