r2i forum

Warning: Long post, please do not complain.This post is as much about getting it off my chest as it is about seeking advise.

So after reading the forum for last one week, decided to join.

Bit about me:
Ethnically Bengali, in US since 2007, IT consulting (weekly travel), EB2 GC pending for last 8 years, currently living in midwest. About 16 years of experience in IT, current expertise in analytics/predictive/big data/python/Oracle stack

Reasons I want to R2I:
1. Career is going nowhere, demanded promotion this year and was told that I would need to re-file GC as it would call for separate responsibilities (most likely true). Money is kinda good, so no urgent rush in that front.
2. Daughter will turn 5 next year, do not want instability after she starts schooling. I figure I can wait till she is 7. It also worries me that she is turning selfish type, she needs more kids to play with. Doing my best there but can not stop sighing when I hear friends in India complaining about their kids not studying enough because of too many play-mates.
3. Life-saving is not where some of the good folks here accumulated but it is not insignificant. Not at the retirement level but I can avoid ridiculous rat race in Indian IT. Got a paid-off 3BHK in Kolkata although I have no intention of going back to that city. But I am in a position to buy another in a tier1 city without much loan.
4. Want to start a business, this itch needs to be scratched. Waited long enough in US hoping for that. Goal is to eventually establish one in India. Got few ideas.
5. Seeing old pals and relatives. My old man died 2 years ago, could not even see him on his deathbed.

Reason for not doing it now:
1. Can not convince wifey. She is worried about security, future earning potential, daughter's education, dirt, pollution. I am very much family man, if family is not happy, I would not be.
2. Not sure about the salary level. Can not expect to get what I get here. Also living in midwest for 8 years, so expense is low, got twice the house I actually need (somehow fell for it). Mere expense level in Mumbai/Bangalore feels like crazy. Read couple of threads, but they are old.
3. Hearing that economy is not so well. Trump madness will eventually help near-shoring as well as off-shoring but perhaps, we are not there yet.
4. Every single friend and relatives who heard it, told me to take a break, go for a travel and think with a fresh mind.
5. Traffic/pollution. Guess that "iss raat ka subah nahi" (no end to this night). It is what it is.
6. Indian politics. Breath of fresh air came when Modiji came through, disappointed how every good measure (swachh bharat was more important than demonetization and GST) turned into mere photo-op.

Other info: Mumbai is first choice, Bangalore next, can consider Hyderabad (worked in all 3 before). No point moving north or east of Mumbai. Terrible quality of life.

What I want to know:
1. Did any of you have to convince your wife before R2I? What did you do?
2. Are my fears unreasonable? Are her fears unreasonable?
3. Given profile, what can I expect as initial salary? I can get an internal transfer easily, as per my research it is not that great money-wise, we had hard time retaining good resources in offshore. But that would make shipping paid for.
4. I am big on books/movies (mostly Hollywood), are there good libraries and movie rentals in tier1 cities? How is netflix? What sort of internet speed can we get there (I guess google fiber is the thing I will miss there if I jump into R2I)?
5. Is software business still stuck in an endless cycle of approvals? How easy it is to open a new business?

Being on H1 is not fun, but at the same time I strongly feel USA is the place one should raise kids, if the kid is USC, since there is a 90% chance they will end up here during their adulthood.

But at the same time, being on H1 in USA is like living in Trishanku heaven , so for you it will be more like mental hell....since your work will be super boring.....and you have to constantly look for things to keep you distracted so that you dont lose your mind.

But if you are the sacrificing type, choose to stay in USA for your kids sake. Life is a constant studying for kids in India, unless your kid is natural in academics and can score 90% with not much effort. For average kids life is no fun, even in high school most average kids shot at good life gets over, my nephew was very smart otherwise but not good at academics due to lack of parental guidance, he mostly lives in delusional world.

You can start a business on your wife's name(H4EAD)
Make more friends for your kid's sake.
Your old pals won't have time for you in India.

And yeah...Read good books.

If you are happy in USA, you won't think about India. Be happy :)

Balanced Answer. Trishanku Heaven is where I am at and it is not pretty. Thanks for your answer.

Thanks for your reply.

crazyforger;682318You can start a business on your wife's name(H4EAD)

What happens if I open a business in her name in India and she operates it from here? Is it even legal? I can get an accountant to look at tax implications but do not want to do anything that illegal in US or India.

Business on H4EAD is just unstable.

[Quote]Bit about me:
Ethnically Bengali, in US since 2007, IT consulting (weekly travel), EB2 GC pending for last 8 years, currently living in midwest. About 16 years of experience in IT, current expertise in analytics/predictive/big data/python/Oracle stack[/Quote]

If you can't convince your wife you'd struggle to convince other people in India why not to pay bribe for everything. :))

Have you thought about relocating within USA like New York or Los Angeles region where Indian population density is much higher? It might give some more Indian spices to your life compared to Midwest. :wink

You can also explorer living somewhere near to India like Singapore etc. as long as your wife is OK with the idea. There are pros and cons of each option.