I Lived in India for 10 Years After Returning — Then Moved Back to US. Here's What I Learned
Yogesh went to the US in 1998, returned to India in 2005 with a job at Wipro, lived in Bangalore and Pune for 10 years, then moved back to the US in 2015. His honest journey reveals the realities of living between two worlds — the challenges, the gains, and why returning is never as simple as we imagine.
I Lived in India for 10 Years After Returning — Then Moved Back to US. Here's What I Learned
Yogesh's journey spans 7 years in the US (1998-2005), 10 years in India (2005-2015), and now back in the US. His story reveals the honest realities of living between two worlds — the loneliness abroad, the adjustment challenges in India, work-life balance struggles, and why returning is never as simple as we imagine.
Key Highlights from Yogesh's Journey
- Moved to US in 1998 for financial growth and exposure, always planned to return in 6-7 years
- Secured a job at Wipro before moving — they waited 3+ months for him to wrap up in the US
- Sold his US house, shipped 35 boxes, and made a clean break in 2005
- First day commute in Bangalore: 3.5-4 hours from Electronic City to MG Road
- Moved from Bangalore to Pune within 9 months to be closer to Mumbai family
- Both children born in India — eldest in Bangalore, second in Pune
- Work-life balance was challenging due to 24/7 global support responsibilities
- Kept green card active and converted to citizenship — proved valuable for return to US
- Family moved to Los Angeles in 2015; he followed after securing a job
- Still visits India 1-2 times per year, spending 4-5 weeks each trip
The Heart vs. The Brain: "My brain was in US but my heart always belonged in India." — Yogesh's story shows that the decision to return isn't just about logistics — it's about where you feel you truly belong, even when life takes unexpected turns.
Why Did Yogesh Go to the US in 1998?
Yogesh graduated in 1995 with a background in electronics and telecommunication. After working in Mumbai for three and a half years — including a stint at IBM — he felt the pull to gain international exposure and financial stability.
The financial reality of Mumbai in the late 1990s was a significant factor. Even with a decent salary, buying an apartment seemed impossible.
In October 1998, Yogesh moved to the San Francisco Bay Area through a consulting firm. His background wasn't in mainframes or Y2K-related work, but he managed to secure multiple offers and chose a firm based in Cupertino.
Early Life in the US: The Loneliness Nobody Talks About
The initial months in the US were a reality check. After arriving in Cupertino, Yogesh struggled to find a project. Things didn't work out through Thanksgiving and Christmas, and he ended up doing in-house work for the small consulting company.
Eventually, he got a project in New York City — requiring a cross-country move from San Francisco. This is when the loneliness hit hard.
Despite the challenges, Yogesh had a clear timeline in mind from the very beginning.
The pattern was typical for many NRIs: complete the first year, visit India, feel the attachment to home even more strongly, then return to the US with mixed feelings. After his first visit back, the 3 weeks flew by, and returning to the US felt hollow.
The Question Every NRI Asks: "Is there a life or is it only the money that's in the US? What are you missing versus what are you gaining?"
What Triggered the Decision to Return to India?
By 2001, Yogesh got married. He was transparent with his spouse about his plan to eventually return to India. But as often happens, life got in the way — buying a house, career growth, expanding their footprint in the US.
The turning point came during a solo trip to India in late 2003 or early 2004. After a gap of 2-3 years without visiting, he traveled to Mumbai, his native place, and met extended relatives he hadn't seen in a decade.
This visit crystallized his thinking. He realized he needed to make the move before having kids or before they reached school age, when relocation becomes much harder.
The planning began in earnest in 2004. But Yogesh had two non-negotiables: he wanted to return with a job (not just move and figure it out), and ideally in his field of cyber security.
How to Find a Job in India While Living in the US
In 2004-2005, LinkedIn didn't exist. The main job portal was Naukri.com. Yogesh started applying around summer 2004, but faced a common challenge.
His goal was to return to Mumbai where all his relatives were. But cyber security jobs were scarce in Mumbai — most opportunities were in Hyderabad and Bangalore.
After much deliberation with his spouse, he made a practical decision: even if not in Mumbai, being in Bangalore or another Indian city meant being in the same time zone, just a 2-hour flight or 24-hour train journey away — much closer than the US.
He eventually connected with Wipro, who were building their security function in Bangalore. Crucially, they were willing to wait.
For more on finding jobs in India, see our guide on choosing between product and service jobs when returning to India.
Selling the US House: The Logistics of Leaving
One of the biggest challenges for NRIs moving back is dealing with property. Yogesh owned a house in New Jersey — a significant investment that couldn't be sold quickly.
He put the house on the market after Thanksgiving. The timing was challenging — it was a President's Day weekend with heavy snow, and only three people came to the open house. But luck was on his side.
The closing happened in April, which pushed his joining date at Wipro from the original 3 months to 4-5 months. Fortunately, Wipro was cooperative and extended the deadline.
Yogesh's Approach to Wrapping Up
- Clean break philosophy: "Once I'm going forward, there should be no looking back"
- Rejected the trial approach: Some friends suggested going to India first and selling later, but he wanted everything done before leaving
- Selling belongings: Accumulated stuff over 4-5 years had to go — resale in the US doesn't work like India, sometimes you pay to get rid of things
- Shipping: Sent about 35 boxes via container shipping
⚠️ The Dilemma of Half-Measures: "If you have one foot over there and one foot here, you're always in dilemma. It's not an easy decision. Once I have made up my mind, whatever it is, I'll go there and just make it happen."
For detailed guidance on shipping, see our article on how to ship items from US, Canada, and UK to India.
Arriving in India: The Reality Check
After wrapping up in the US, Yogesh took 2-3 weeks to visit relatives before starting work. The timing was brutal — April-May in India, the hottest season, and he hadn't experienced Indian summers since moving to the US.
Getting to Bangalore itself was an adventure. With no direct tickets available, he had to route through Chennai by train. Wipro offered a week or 10 days of hotel stay, during which he had to find an apartment.
Without internet for property searches, everything was done in-person. The challenge: signing an 11-month lease immediately without knowing the area, while having only 10 days to find a place.
The shipped belongings — those 35 boxes — arrived about a month or two after he moved into the apartment.
The First Day Commute That Changed Everything
Yogesh's first day at Wipro's Electronic City campus was a wake-up call about Bangalore's traffic.
With Wipro, Infosys, and other companies all having 50+ buses leaving at 6 PM, the roads were gridlocked. But Yogesh adapted — as he puts it, "there are going to be challenges everywhere."
From Bangalore to Pune: Finding the Right City
Yogesh stayed in Bangalore for less than a year — about 9 months. His eldest child was born there, which he sees as destiny's way of bringing him to that city.
But the desire to be closer to Mumbai and family remained strong. When an opportunity came up in Pune, he took it.
He moved to Pune in 2006 and stayed there until 2015 — nearly 9 years. His second child was born in Pune in 2008. Both children started their early education in India.
The career journey in India had its ups and downs. He worked at Wipro, then Symantec (which went through a merger), switched jobs due to management changes, and even returned to Symantec later. The cyber security field was still nascent in India during 2004-2005.
Work-Life Balance in India: The Unexpected Challenge
One of the surprises for Yogesh was that work-life balance in India wasn't necessarily better — especially when working for companies with US headquarters or clients.
This is a reality many NRIs don't anticipate. Working in India for global companies often means straddling time zones, which can be more demanding than working directly in the US.
India vs. US Work Culture: Yogesh's Observations
| Aspect | India | US |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life boundaries | Often blurred, especially for global roles | Generally more respected |
| Social connections at work | Strong bonding, know colleagues' families | Professional distance, may not know family details |
| Career exposure | Often Level 1-2 work, core functions stay in US | Access to core functions and decision-making |
| Time zone challenges | Late nights for US clients/HQ | Standard business hours |
For more insights on career transitions, check out our guide on work culture differences between US and India.
Raising Kids in India: The Timing Factor
One of Yogesh's smartest decisions was timing the move before having children. Both his kids were born in India — the eldest in Bangalore, the second in Pune — and they started their education there.
This avoided the common challenge of uprooting school-age children. As he noted earlier, once kids start school, relocation becomes much harder on them.
Key Insight: If you're planning to return to India, the window before kids reach school age is often the easiest time to make the move. After that, every year adds complexity.
For guidance on school decisions, see our comprehensive guide on the best schools in India for NRI kids.
Why Did Yogesh Move Back to the US in 2015?
After 10 years in India (2005-2015), Yogesh's family made the decision to move back to the US — this time to Los Angeles. The reasons were primarily family-related, which he chose not to detail.
His family moved first. Yogesh stayed in India, doing back-and-forth trips while searching for jobs in the LA area. This was challenging because LA isn't a hub for cyber security jobs (unlike New York or San Francisco).
Getting interviews from India was difficult even with a US phone number — calls would go to voicemail or ring while he was sleeping. In 2015, video conferencing was just getting started.
He eventually moved to the US in 2015 and started with a consulting opportunity within 3 months of arrival.
The Immigration Advantage
One thing that made the return to the US possible was Yogesh's foresight with immigration status. Despite initially hoping he wouldn't get a green card (so he'd have no choice but to stay in India), he did get it and kept it active through periodic visits.
This citizenship proved invaluable when the family decided to return to the US.
What Did Yogesh Miss About the US While Living in India?
During his 10 years in India, several aspects of US life stood out as missing:
What He Missed About the US
- Technology and convenience: No broadband, frequent outages, couldn't work from home reliably
- Online services: Paying bills online didn't exist — had to stand in line for hours
- Shopping experience: Malls and e-commerce (Amazon) came much later, after 2010
- Driving discipline: Traffic rules, road conditions, driving sense
- Getting things done: "People always ask you for their share or what's in for them — whether it's a government office or even for your house agreement"
However, he acknowledges that India has improved significantly in the last 10 years. His annual visits show him the progress.
What He Gained in India
The flip side was the human connection that's harder to find in the US:
- Strong social bonds with colleagues who become like family
- Household help (though this creates dependency)
- Being in the same time zone as family
- Festivals, weddings, and social events with relatives
- The ability to spend time with aging parents
Key Lessons for NRIs Considering Return to India
After living in both countries multiple times, Yogesh offers these insights:
Go All In — No Half Measures
"If you decide to move, go in with your full heart and mind. If you are uncertain about certain things, then always, as they say, grass is always green on the other side."
Write It Down
"Write the points — what are the benefits of moving, what are the benefits of staying — for yourself, for your family. Consider holistically."
Don't Ask Too Many People
"The more people you ask, the different answers are going to make you even more confused. I have seen people taking someone else's advice and then they end up like, 'Oh, I should have moved two years back' or 'Why did I move?'"
Follow Your Heart
"Just go where your heart is because success and money will follow. If you're content and satisfied, otherwise I've seen people living in mansions and just not happy."
Expect Challenges on Both Sides
"There are positives both sides. There are areas which you may not like being in one place or the other. The travel makes it much more difficult. The time zone makes it even more challenging."
On Surviving Without a Job: "It's comparatively easier to survive in India because of the mandatory expenses. You have to have your health insurance, your car insurance, your rent [in the US]. In India, in a fraction of money, if you own your own house, you can still survive if you don't have a job."
The Parent Factor
One of Yogesh's biggest takeaways relates to aging parents — a common concern for NRIs.
His 10 years in India allowed him to be present for his parents in a way that wouldn't have been possible from the US.
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Where Is Yogesh's Heart Today?
Even after returning to the US in 2015, Yogesh's connection to India remains strong.
COVID disrupted this pattern — he couldn't visit for 3 years. But since then, he's resumed annual visits, spending 4-5 weeks each time.
His long-term plan? Once his kids are settled and independent, he has strong desires to return to India.
For now, with his daughter in college and wanting to be close to his children, he remains in the US. But the pull of India never fades.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long should you plan before moving back to India from the US?
Based on Yogesh's experience, you should plan at least 3-4 months for the move. He started applying for jobs in India around summer 2004 and communicated transparently to his new employer that he would need at least 3 months to wrap up everything — selling the house, getting rid of belongings, and shipping items. The house selling process alone took from after Thanksgiving until April. He shipped about 35 boxes of belongings which arrived 1-2 months after he moved into his apartment in India. The key is finding an employer willing to wait for you to complete the transition.
What are the biggest challenges NRIs face when returning to India?
Yogesh experienced several challenges: First, the traffic and infrastructure — his first day commute from Electronic City to MG Road in Bangalore took 3.5-4 hours. Second, language barriers — he didn't know Kannada and back then there weren't many North Indians in Bangalore. Third, lack of internet and online services — paying bills online didn't exist, and you had to stand in line for hours. Fourth, the "what's in it for me" culture — even for basic services like house agreements, people would openly ask for extra money. Fifth, finding housing with no local references and having to sign 11-month leases immediately.
Is work-life balance better in India or the US for NRIs?
According to Yogesh's experience, it depends on your role. While working in India for US-based companies, he had to be available in late evenings and sometimes at night because most customers and parent companies were in the US. He said: "The work life balance was not that great" despite working day hours, because he was doing 24/7 support across the globe. In the US, work-life balance is generally more respected, but you lose the social connections at work — "You can work with someone for like 5 years and you hardly know about their family." The trade-off is professional boundaries vs. personal connections.
Should you secure a job before moving back to India?
Yogesh strongly recommends securing a job before moving. He said: "I did not want to move without a job not just like you know move and then do nothing because obviously I'm passionate about what I do." He applied through Naukri.com (the main job portal at the time) and found it difficult to get responses from India while in the US because companies preferred in-person interviews. He eventually found Wipro who were building their security function and were willing to wait 3+ months for him to wrap up and relocate. Having a job lined up gave him purpose and financial security from day one.
What should NRIs do with their US house when moving to India?
Yogesh chose to sell his house before moving, which he recommends for a clean break. He put the house on the market after Thanksgiving when the market was decent. Despite a snowy President's Day weekend open house with only three visitors, he found a buyer. The closing happened in April. He advises: "Once I have made up my mind whatever it is I'll go there and just make it happen... if you have one foot over there and one foot here you're always in dilemma." Some friends suggested going to India first and selling later, but he preferred completing everything before leaving.
Can you return to the US after moving back to India?
Yes, Yogesh's story proves this is possible. He kept his green card active while living in India for 10 years by visiting the US periodically. He eventually converted to US citizenship, which helped him return in 2015 without visa complications. He said: "I kept it active actually was something that you could keep it active and then keep visiting." When family circumstances led to the decision to move back to the US, having citizenship made the transition much smoother. He notes this wasn't his original plan — "I was never like in fact I was hoping I don't get a green card" — but it turned out to be valuable.
What documents and items should NRIs keep before leaving the US?
Based on Yogesh's experience, keep everything — even items that seem useless. He shipped about 35 boxes of belongings to India. For selling household items, he notes that "resale does not work the same in US similar to India" — sometimes you have to pay to get rid of stuff. He was fortunate to hand over most big items to people who could use them, though not at good prices. The key lesson: don't assume you won't need something later. Keep important documents, maintain your US bank account, and preserve any items that might have sentimental or practical value.
How do NRIs find apartments in India without local references?
Yogesh faced this challenge in Bangalore with no friends or relatives to provide references. He said: "For me the downside was I did not have any friends or relatives. Maybe one or two friends but long long back." His company (Wipro) offered a week or 10 days of hotel stay, during which he had to find an apartment. Without internet for property searches, everything was done in-person through agents found via word-of-mouth. The challenge was signing an 11-month lease immediately without knowing the area well. He recommends building new connections quickly and getting referrals for reliable agents.
Planning Your Return to India?
Yogesh's journey shows that returning to India — and even returning again — is possible with the right planning. Whether you're considering your first move back or navigating life between two countries, connect with others who understand the journey.
Join a community of NRIs who are planning, executing, or have completed their return journey. Get support, share experiences, and learn from others.
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