Watch: Why We Chose India Over the US After 10 Years on H1B

3:03 So that that's what sort of motivated me and and yeah that that's how it it all got started and wheels got moving on. >> Got it. So how was the life in US and

3:17 For the last 10 years? So prior to co I had a lot of friends who were in up and around where I was working and as soon as co hit many many of them got married they moved moved locations and after a while it sort of felt lonely so so so yeah essentially that that that was sort of a trigger to move back to India. >> Got it. So yeah, I think you kind of touched about the you know the reason or like the thought behind thinking about moving to India. so maybe let's talk about like why after 10 years why you know the decision at that point why not earlier or why not later and then also like the reasons why it became much more stronger to act on it. so ever

4:19 Since I landed in the states I always wanted to go back. I did not have strong reason as to if I have to move back or stay in the US. So I was sort of in in between and and essentially after I got married we we had kids and grandparents were visiting once in a while. and we also had friends for a little while until until co hit. so so essentially when we thought about the relationship between grandparents and children essentially they would meet the kids every one year. So and and parents also age quickly and kids also age quickly and the disconnect between grandchildren and grandparents was widening. So the

5:22 That was one reason and also as I said earlier many of our friends moved places and that that also made the situation like more more towards moving back and and one of the questions you asked was why 10 years? so one of the reasons I thought was essentially all H-1Bs or anyone who works in the US contributes to social security to access none of which we ever get to see. But I found out from one of the person that if we work for 40 credits which is approximately 10 years he would be eligible for social security. Hope hopefully that doesn't get scrapped but but yeah essentially that's the that's the other reason for 10 years.

6:21 Got it. So I think you kind of mentioned

6:24 About being on H1 visa right maybe like how was your experience living in US as an H1 from a career opportunities career growth or you know the flexibility anything that you want to share on that? So one of the things that I wanted to share was let me take some numbers to explain. So let's say let's say in 2016 approximately I was making around $90,000 and before exiting US let's say I was making $140. If you take into account all the inflation numbers, I was actually making the same amount of money that I was making in 2016. So not not much has improved and and the housing housing prices have gone up. even grastories have gone up. So it it did not make enough financial sense. So

7:27 In my case I was the sole earner like a single single income family. So so it did not make much financial sense as well to stick around. Got it. you kind of touched on the financial side like I think maybe more on you know the increments or the adjustment of the salary but being on a H1 has that restricted in terms of taking the other opportunities that could pay more or is just that way the dynamics are in the market that you have been working in. So so essentially if if anyone ever comes on H1 and they do not have a path to green card meaning if they have not started I140 process they are only restricted to 6 years. So I was right around that mark. my career wasted around four 4 and a half

8:28 Years. I did not initiate the I140 processing and as soon as I switched to one of the one of the companies that I'm currently working with, they started the green card process which which was halfway through. So right around that time I interviewed with a company that was paying higher but the I cleared all the rounds but the only reason I they I guess rescended the offer is they did not have enough time to get a icon for the approval. so so essentially I was sort of locked out then and with the changing political situations I really wasn't able to I I I guess it's it's sort of a one of oneoff situation wherein whenever I wanted to switch there was

9:29 Some or the other political instability wherein the companies were primarily focusing on locals as one would say for example US citizens or green plat boulders but unfortunately I was sort of stuck in the same I guess so one of the thing is with the H1B H1B issues so it doesn't really help you stay around in the US like it it's it's not So SSP as long as we are on earth only we are always treated as a temporary worker and I I did find some silent like I think what the term would be like silent racism here and there. but but but they're very subtle and

10:29 You you veterans very little and and one of the other issue is when I initially came to Lewis my first H1B stamp was about 6 months so I had to go through reward so back then the company I worked with I I did do not want to get into the specifics but essentially something happened with the paperwork and we were not able to produce the right set of documents and that led to my first denial. so when the denial happened I was on sort of like what do we say about borrowed time essentially when H1B is pending we are allowed to stay for about I think 240 or 270 days. so during this period I was allowed to stay and work but as soon as

11:31 The denial came in I had to leave immediately otherwise the number of days that I stay back would would essentially end up being unlawful unlawful period of stay. So I packed my bags. I sold off or sold off or kept some things around with with family or family that I had back then and and I had to move back. so so this was sort of a unwanted or no nobody has to go through this situation. but but I went through it and and essentially essentially I had to look I I found a job found another job in India.

12:21 But unfortunately the work experience with that company did not farewell and after 3 months or so my H1 H1B approval came in after after the company that did not file the paperwork probably they filed it properly it took some time and I was back in the US. So >> thank you very much for sharing that. I know it's so much uncertain with H1B and then the temporary like how things can change so quickly with some of these temporary visas. Yeah, thanks for sharing that. >> one other thing I wanted to share on H1B is so once we are on H1B if if if one's goal is to go for a dream badge the current weight time is about 190 or 150 years. So, so it it doesn't matter like right now I would not

13:24 Recommend anyone to switch to US if they are if their goal is to switch to a country and stay there and become a citizen. So if your goal is that it's not recommended right now.

13:40 >> Yeah, thanks for sharing that. So let's switch gears and talk about the planning. so once you made a decision about moving to India how long it took for you to actually act on it? What was the planning? You know from a financial side, career side like anything that you can talk I think that would be very helpful. >> sure. So so prior to moving we were looking at a lot of a lot of Instagram res wherein people were posting their journey back to India. We were thinking of make shipping our stuff back but then but then it did not make much financial sense. So many of the things that we have in the states we can buy in India. The only reason you would ship like I would shift something back is if it had some sentimental value or something that I wanted to hold on to. for example like kids comics books or

14:42 Things like that. in my case I brought with me my kids balance bike which the options for balance bike weren't great in India. So that's why we shipped our shipped the one that my kid was already using and my kid was very sentimental about selling selling all the things. She was like she was crying saying why what are you doing to my home? Why are you tearing everything up? But but yeah, essentially we we thought about moving back within a time frame of about 3 months. it took us about 3 months to sell everything off and also rent our existing home. We we we thought of keeping it around for maybe kids

15:42 Future. So, so, so that that was one reason for keeping around the property as in the Christmas property and and during this transition period the biggest challenge was internal transfer internal transfer was slower than usual. So my my wife and kids had to fly home early and and many of our friends and my sister has helped around with with staying at the places while while all of this was going on and I'm thankful to thankful to all my friends who had helped me with the move. Got it. So, so yeah, essentially friends and if if you wanted to keep things around that that were the biggest challenges.

16:38 >> Got it. And in terms of the place

16:41 Where you want to move to in India, I know you mentioned about you know grandparents, kids is one aspect but you also mentioned about the internal transfer was the city that you moved to allowed both of them to happen like the internal transfer like you had an office here where you moved to and all that stuff. So my office had a sorry my company had office in Bangalore but I specifically requested as a special case to allow me to fully work from Hyderabad. >> So there were some compromises like I had to fly into Bangalore once in a while like as required or monthly monthly once. So, so that was that was one thing that I had to compromise on but otherwise the company allowed me to work work from Hyderabad and and necessity have been working from our parents place.

17:38 >> Yeah. >> we are thinking of renting out a place somewhere nearby. The main reason is because the kids are not getting enough outdoor activity. So the reason being my parents and my in-laws have been in and around hydraulics since a long time and these are like single family homes and not enough public play areas are around. So we were thinking of renting out renting out a space which had kids play areas and some other activities like pool or some some place where kids could bike freely right now with the traffic and and the biking culture in India it's slightly risky for younger children to bike around.

18:38 So so yeah that's >> yeah just I think what that note I mean I know there is a beautiful cycle track on the western part of the hydrobad again it's not completely secluded from the road but I mean it is a dedicated track just for the cycles just for the viewers you know just so that they are aware of it. so how old were the kids at the time of relocation? >> So my kids were four and four and two. >> Okay. it it was a challenge. so essentially I was tasked with looking after and my my wife played a key role in moving everything and sending out all the prints on Facebook marketplace. So so yeah my my wife has been a big help to the move.

19:27 >> Got it. And how is the family adjusting in India right now? everyone has adjusted well. the the only thing my kid complains about is not having enough friends. I I guess one of the reason is we just moved and it takes a while to build a community. >> And the other thing is not not enough outdoor time. That's the big that's the other biggest complaint. But but apart from that she's loving time with grandparents and even my younger child too. >> Got it. And how has been your work

20:06 Life balance here in India? I know now it's been maybe you know few months that you have been working in India. It's the same company. So just wondering in terms of the work life balance or the work culture when you compare it to you know your your experience in US versus what you are experiencing in >> So my manager change sorry my manager training did not change much I fortunately was able to retain the same manager train and also working with the same same team. the the only change was I the working hours instead of 9 to5 it was 12 to 9. So so around that time I since I'm also working from home I get to help out with household chores and also finish my finish my work and since there's no travel involved it's it's a it's a it's actually a big help.

21:07 So any other advice or any specific insights from your journey that you want to share for people who are considering moving to India? so for people moving to India so if if you have not spent enough time in India I I guess the situation is is the same like the the don't be alarmed if the traffic traffic is skyw that that that has always been a problem and so One improvement that I noticed currently is people are honing lesser. So there is definitely some improvement and and and if if there are any pressing issues like potholes or anything there are ways to complain about it and get things resolved.

22:10 But yeah, apart from that, if if you're planning to move back, think about your like residency like where you plan on staying. think about your kids school like what sort of school you want to send them to. and and yeah, adjust your expectations accordingly, I guess. yeah if if if there is something that I missed touching upon. Yeah. >> Yeah thanks for sharing that. so thanks a lot Ravi for taking the time sharing your journey and being candid with some of the challenges that you have experienced with H1 right I think you know it takes a lot of courage to talk about that in an open platform and good luck with everything and all the best with your journey. once again, thanks a