Reddit shares the experience of living in India for a year after living in the United States for 12 years

Making the decision to return to India after spending a few years abroad is always a difficult one as there are many aspects to consider. No two people’s situations are exactly the same, but NRIs share tips and insights on social media channels that may help others in similar predicaments. One Reddit user shared his experience living in India for a year after returning home in 2025, which many social media users found relatableThe Reddit user stayed in the United States for 12 years but suddenly decided to return to India due to his mother’s health condition. “I decided to return home very suddenly. I remembered my father telling me about my mother’s health problems and I was so sad that I booked a return ticket for February 15, 2025, and three months later, I was in India,” the Reddit user said.“In hindsight, I should have planned my move in advance. My initial thought was to hire a CA after returning to India – I should have hired a CA before returning to India. I also learned that some forms, such as W8BEN, need to be submitted to US banks upon returning to India.”

“I was lucky enough to find a job within two weeks of arriving in India. But it took me 6 months to get my Aadhaar (my payslip was initially frozen due to lack of Aadhaar) and only after a meeting with BLO officials,” the post added, listing common issues a person might face after returning to India from abroad for such a long time.“My mother is now fully recovered. I’m glad I was there for her when she needed me the most. But now that I’ve been in India for a year, I’ve realized one thing: I don’t want to live in India permanently. I’m applying for jobs overseas again (not in the US but somewhere else),” said the Reddit user.Several users shared their mixed experiences of moving back to India – many would rather explore Europe or Australia than choose between India and the US.