r2i forum

I was in US for 8 years and got MS/PhD. Within that period, I got married and have one baby. I worked on OPT for 2 years and applied for H1B. But we came back to India in 2015 as h1b visa was not selected. My company supported me and gave me opportunity to established a branch office of US parent company in India. My company now have processed L1A. But we have choice to stay back and run this branch office. My day to day work will not change whether I stay here in India or move to US. We have given lot of thought but are not arriving to a conclusion. Here are our points we evaluated to stay back or to move to US.

Stay back in India:
- to run and grow this branch office in India
-we feel education system is better here
-we want our kid to have connection with our relatives and with culture here

Move to US:
-we have made good friends in 4 years on our previous stay
-Systematic things and ethics are what we both love/follow and want our kid to have/follow those qualities
-better parks, recreational centers, activities for kids

Any suggestions/discussions will be appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

If I am in your shoes, I will try to stay back in India by keeping financial advantage in the back seat and your above *Stay back in India:" * list in the front seat.
Prefer to have your kids done with their education at least till +2 at most Graduation in India before you reconsider your R2A. Kids learn and sustain a lot by growing in India with a respectable parents/home atmosphere.

Most important thing in USA, how long to get GC? (I am guessing EB1 is also backed up, hence it will take 2 years to get GC?)

And what is the location?

If it is Bay Area/NYC, is the salary going to be at least 200k?

Gajanana;683854I was in US for 8 years and got MS/PhD. Within that period, I got married and have one baby. I worked on OPT for 2 years and applied for H1B. But we came back to India in 2015 as h1b visa was not selected. My company supported me and gave me opportunity to established a branch office of US parent company in India. My company now have processed L1A. But we have choice to stay back and run this branch office. My day to day work will not change whether I stay here in India or move to US. We have given lot of thought but are not arriving to a conclusion. Here are our points we evaluated to stay back or to move to US.

Stay back in India:
- to run and grow this branch office in India
-we feel education system is better here
-we want our kid to have connection with our relatives and with culture here

Move to US:
-we have made good friends in 4 years on our previous stay
-Systematic things and ethics are what we both love/follow and want our kid to have/follow those qualities
-better parks, recreational centers, activities for kids

Any suggestions/discussions will be appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

techynt;683857Most important thing in USA, how long to get GC? (I am guessing EB1 is also backed up, hence it will take 2 years to get GC?)

And what is the location?

If it is Bay Area/NYC, is the salary going to be at least 200k?

200k is good for nothing in NYC OR SFO

thanks all for quick reply!!!

Financial advantage is not a deciding factor for us. We get paid same in India or US.

Am a non-it person and salary (70K) is not going to be as significant as mentioned here. Rise in salary will depend on how I handle and grow branch office in India. Our main office is located in North Carolina and our living expectations are not high end. We are thinking to move back only to give our kid a better lifestyle (better ethics and nicer activities).

Appreciate your all feedbacks/suggestions!!!

70k maybe too tight for a single income person even in NC.

Without money its hard to have a better life or life style......so I am hoping you have at least a million to two, in networth from other sources hence you dont care about salary?

Gajanana;683876thanks all for quick reply!!!

Financial advantage is not a deciding factor for us. We get paid same in India or US.

Am a non-it person and salary (70K) is not going to be as significant as mentioned here. Rise in salary will depend on how I handle and grow branch office in India. Our main office is located in North Carolina and our living expectations are not high end. We are thinking to move back only to give our kid a better lifestyle (better ethics and nicer activities).

Appreciate your all feedbacks/suggestions!!!

70k is not small in NC. Plus once you have GC you wife will double your income. You can easily multiply your income in US once you have GC. Yes life for kids will be better in future for kids.

What field are you in?

If you are getting the same salary as in India, better to stay back for the short-term benefit.

For long term benefit and advantages you hold dear for US, consider the following:
1. Are you going to get filed for GC immediately upon arrival in US under EB-1. As L1A is valid for 7 years with extensions, even with current wait-time on EB-1, you should get your GC before having to apply for first extension.
2. Are you going to return to same place where your friends were in US? Because if it's not the same location, it will take some time to build the close friends circle. Otherwise you may feel lonely.
3. What is your priority on US advantages vs India advantages. If India Culture/Relatives weigh heavy, you can't easily compensate that in US.

Also I disagree with your assessment of education system is better in India than US.

It's a touch choice either way but make sure your spouse is also fully on-board with the final decision.

All the best.

My advise is, if you are not doing very well in India, then come to US. If you are doing very well in US, dont go back to India... This is just in pure financial terms.

As far as Kids, they will get better education. No rate race and more physical activities etc in US. But some desis in US just send their kids to some music class/dance/Piano class and have no clue there there is a lot out there..

Having said that, i think India in 20 years will be like bangladesh...people living like rats in metros... So not sure what is going to happen.

If you are happy in India now and you have same income in India or in US. Financial wise India is better for you. If you feel education is better there, then education wise India. Culture/relatives then India is obviously good. The reasons you mentioned in US are not really solid reasons atleast the ones you pointed here. If you come here, and want to go back after sometime, lot of things to worry about. Atleast if savings in US offset that, then thats good. otherwise, India is good in your scenario. My 2 cents