Benefits for US-Born Kids as a US Citizen Living in India

My younger son was born in California.

Three years later, he was eating idli with his hands in a Kochi apartment. Speaking a mix of English, Tamil, and whatever language toddlers invent on their own.

That was 2017. He’s a teenager now. He holds a US passport. He has an OCI card. He goes to school in India. And he has options that most kids his age simply don’t.

When I tell people about his setup, the first reaction is always the same. “Wow, that’s the best of both worlds.”

And it is. Mostly.

But there are catches. Obligations. Paperwork. Tax stuff that will make your head spin.

I’ve spent years fielding questions about this in our BacktoIndia WhatsApp community. From parents who are confused, anxious, or just curious about what their US-born child’s citizenship actually means while living in India.

This is everything I know. From personal experience. From our community. From the experts I’ve spoken to over the years.

The Legal Foundation: What Your US-Born Child Actually Has

A child born on US soil is automatically a US citizen. This is called birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. No application needed. No conditions.

Your child gets:

• A US birth certificate
• Eligibility for a US passport
• Full US citizenship rights for life

India does not allow dual citizenship. So your US-born child cannot also be an Indian citizen.

But they can get the next best thing. An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card. This is essentially a lifelong visa that gives them most of the rights of an Indian citizen, minus voting and government jobs.

Here’s what the setup looks like in practice.

Document	What It Does	Where to Get It
US Passport	Proves US citizenship, international travel	US Embassy/Consulate in India or in the US
OCI Card	Lifelong visa-free entry and stay in India	Indian consulate (apply via ociservices.gov.in)
US Birth Certificate	Proof of birth and citizenship	Vital Records Office of the state of birth

Your child carries two documents when traveling. The US passport and the OCI card. Together, they open doors in both countries.

If you haven’t started the OCI process, read our OCI card application guide. Start early. It takes 4 to 8 weeks for processing, sometimes longer.

Benefit 1: One of the World’s Most Powerful Passports

This is the one everyone talks about first. And for good reason.

A US passport gives your child visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 180 countries and territories as of 2026. Compare that to an Indian passport, which provides visa-free access to roughly 60 countries.

Feature	US Passport	Indian Passport
Visa-free countries (approx.)	180	60
Global ranking (Henley Index 2026)	10th	80th+
Consular protection worldwide	Yes, through US embassies	Yes, through Indian embassies
Renewal process from India	Through US Embassy (Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata)	Through Passport Seva Kendra

Sources: Henley Passport Index 2026, Wikipedia visa requirements page, US State Department

When my son’s school organized a trip to Singapore last year, half the parents were scrambling for tourist visas. My son just needed his passport. That’s a small thing. But it adds up over a lifetime of travel.

Your child can also get consular assistance from any US embassy or consulate worldwide. If something goes wrong during travel, that safety net matters.

Benefit 2: Education Advantages in Both Countries

This is where things get really interesting. Your US-born child essentially has two doors open for higher education.

In the United States:

• Eligible for in-state tuition at public universities (if they establish residency)
• Can apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA)
• Eligible for scholarships reserved for US citizens
• No international student restrictions or additional fees
• Access to community colleges, state universities, Ivy League, everything

In India (with OCI card):

• Parity with NRIs in educational admissions
• Can apply to any school or college, including medical and engineering institutions
• Same fee structure as Indian citizens in many institutions (with OCI)
• Eligible for NRI quota admissions in many top colleges

The difference in tuition alone is staggering. An international student at a US state university might pay $30,000 to $50,000 per year. A US citizen at the same university could pay $8,000 to $15,000 with in-state rates.

That’s a potential saving of $80,000+ over a four-year degree.

And here in India, your child is not treated as a “foreign student” if they have an OCI card. The government grants OCI holders parity with NRIs for educational purposes. That means access to the same admissions process and fee structure as NRIs.

For younger kids, read our guide on the CBSE school admission process for NRIs and our comparison of CBSE vs ICSE boards to decide what works for your family.

Benefit 3: Career Flexibility Across Two Economies

Your US-born child can legally work in both countries without visa restrictions.

In the US, they’re a citizen. No H1B lottery. No work visa sponsorship. No employer dependency. They can work for any company, start a business, freelance, anything.

In India, with the OCI card, they can work without needing a separate work visa. OCI holders have parity with NRIs for economic and financial activities.

Career Aspect	In the US	In India (with OCI)
Right to work	Unrestricted	Yes, parity with NRIs
Start a business	Full rights	Yes, subject to FEMA rules
Government jobs	Eligible (with some exceptions)	Not eligible
Practice as doctor, lawyer, CA, etc.	Yes, with local licensing	Yes, parity with NRIs
Military service	Eligible	Not eligible

Source: Citizenship Act 1955, Section 7A; USCIS.gov

Think about what this means. If the Indian job market doesn’t work out, your child can move to the US and start working immediately. If the US feels too expensive, they can come back to India.

This kind of global career flexibility is rare. And it comes built in.

Our community has dozens of stories of young adults who grew up in India and moved to the US for college or their first job, with zero visa stress. Check out our guide on jobs in India that value international experience for the India side of things.

Benefit 4: Property and Financial Rights in India

With an OCI card, your child can:

• Own residential and commercial property in India
• Open NRE and NRO bank accounts
• Invest in mutual funds, stocks, fixed deposits, and other financial instruments
• Inherit property (including agricultural land, which they can’t purchase directly)

The only restriction? OCI holders cannot purchase agricultural land, plantation properties, or farmhouses directly. But they can inherit them.

This means if you buy a flat in Bangalore today, your US-born child can inherit it later without any issues. They can also sell inherited property, though they’ll need to follow FEMA repatriation rules.

For investment options, read our best investment options for NRIs guide. And if you’re thinking about property, our guide on whether NRIs can buy property in India covers the rules clearly.

Benefit 5: Social Security and Long-Term US Benefits

This one plays out over decades. But it matters.

Your US-born child is eligible for US Social Security benefits and Medicare once they meet the qualifying criteria (typically 40 quarters or about 10 years of work). Even if they work in India for most of their career, a few years of US employment could qualify them.

They’re also eligible for:

• Veterans’ benefits (if they serve in the US military)
• Federal emergency assistance
• US healthcare programs (when residing in the US)
• Consular protection and assistance worldwide

Note: The US and India do NOT have a Social Security Totalization Agreement. This means work years in India do not count toward US Social Security credits, and vice versa. Your child would need to work in the US specifically to earn those credits.

For parents thinking about the financial long game, read our guide on Social Security tax for NRIs after moving to India.

Benefit 6: Travel Convenience for the Whole Family

This is one of those practical benefits that makes life easier in small, daily ways.

Your US-born child doesn’t need a visa to visit India (OCI provides indefinite stay). And they don’t need a visa to visit the US (they’re a citizen). Most of the world’s popular destinations are visa-free with a US passport.

Family trips become simpler. No visa applications for the child. No consulate visits. No waiting periods.

And at Indian airports, OCI holders can use the OCI immigration line, which is faster than the regular foreigner queue.

One more thing. When your child turns 18 and wants to travel independently, whether for college visits, internships, or just backpacking, the US passport makes it dramatically easier.

Benefit 7: Future Family Sponsorship Options

This is the long game. And many parents don’t think about it until much later.

Once your US-born child turns 21, they can sponsor their parents for a US Green Card through the family-based immigration system. This falls under the “Immediate Relative” category for parents of US citizens.

This is a real option if you:

• Move back to the US later in life
• Want to spend retirement years in both countries
• Need access to US healthcare as you age

The processing time varies, but parents of US citizens are in an uncapped visa category, which means shorter wait times compared to other family sponsorship paths.

This is a benefit that might matter 15 or 20 years from now. But it’s worth knowing about.

Now Here’s the Catch: The Tax Obligations

Every benefit comes with a responsibility. And for US citizens, that responsibility is taxes.

The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income. Regardless of where they live. This applies to your US-born child even if they’ve lived in India since they were a toddler.

Here’s what this means practically:

When your child is a minor:

• If they have unearned income (interest on a bank account, investment returns) above the IRS threshold, a tax return may be required
• If you open a bank account in India in your child’s name and the combined value of all their foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year, an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) must be filed
• Parents typically file on behalf of the child

When your child starts earning:

• They must file a US tax return every year if their income exceeds the filing threshold (around $15,000 for single filers in 2025)
• They may also need to file FATCA Form 8938 if foreign assets exceed $200,000 (for those living abroad)
• Double taxation can be avoided using the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), Foreign Tax Credit, and the US-India DTAA

Tax Obligation	Threshold	Filing Deadline
US Federal Tax Return	Income above ~$15,000 (single, 2025)	April 15 (auto extension to June 15 for those abroad)
FBAR (FinCEN 114)	Foreign accounts exceeding $10,000 aggregate	April 15 (auto extension to October 15)
FATCA (Form 8938)	Foreign assets above $200,000 (abroad, single)	Filed with tax return
State Tax Return	Varies by last state of residence	Varies

Sources: IRS.gov, FinCEN.gov

This is not something to ignore. FBAR penalties alone can reach $10,000 per violation for non-willful failure to file. And the IRS does track this.

I cannot stress this enough. Find a cross-border tax advisor who understands both US and Indian tax law. A regular CA in India won’t know the FBAR rules. A regular CPA in the US won’t know Indian tax law. You need someone who does both.

Our US NRI tax filing guide is a good starting point.

The Citizenship Question at 18

India does not allow dual citizenship. Your US-born child holds US citizenship and an OCI card (which is not citizenship).

So technically, there’s no “choice” to make at 18. Your child is a US citizen. Period.

However, if your child wants Indian citizenship later in life, they would need to renounce their US citizenship first and then apply for Indian citizenship. This is a one-way door. Once you give up US citizenship, getting it back is extremely difficult.

My advice? Don’t rush this decision. The OCI card gives your child nearly all the practical benefits of Indian citizenship. The only things they can’t do are vote in Indian elections and hold government office. For most people, that’s not a dealbreaker.

Read our guide on whether India allows dual citizenship for the full picture.

OCI Card Maintenance: The Paperwork You Can’t Skip

The OCI card is not “set it and forget it.” There are update requirements.

• Before age 20: Every time your child gets a new US passport, you need to upload the new passport details and a recent photo to the OCI online portal
• After age 20: A physical OCI reissue is required once, when the passport is renewed for the first time after turning 20
• After age 50: Upload passport details and photo to the OCI portal

If you don’t update the OCI when the passport changes, your child could face issues at Indian immigration. I’ve seen this happen in our community. It’s a quick fix but can cause major stress at the airport.

Our guide on the OCI match-up process explains the update process step by step.

Real Talk: What It’s Actually Like Raising a US Citizen Kid in India

I’ll be honest about what it’s like on the ground.

My son doesn’t feel “American” in the way you might imagine. He’s grown up in India. His friends are Indian. His school is Indian. He watches IPL, not the Super Bowl.

But the US citizenship gives him a safety net. A backup plan. Options.

When he’s old enough for college, he can choose. Study in India where we are. Or apply to US universities as a citizen, not an international student. That choice is a gift.

The challenges? There are a few.

The annual tax filing is annoying. Even when there’s no tax owed, the paperwork exists. We file a return every year for him because of interest earned on his bank account.

The OCI updates are tedious. Every time we renew his passport, there’s the OCI update dance. It’s not hard. But it’s one more thing on the list.

Some schools ask confusing questions. When enrolling, schools sometimes don’t know how to categorize a child with a US passport and OCI card. Is he NRI? Foreign? Indian? The answer is: OCI cardholder, treated at par with NRIs. Having the OCI card and a copy of the relevant government notification helps.

Bank account rules can be tricky. Opening accounts in a minor US citizen’s name in India involves extra documentation. The bank needs to comply with both Indian KYC and the US FATCA requirements.

Despite all this, I wouldn’t trade the setup. The freedom it gives my son is worth the paperwork.

Quick Checklist for Parents of US-Born Kids in India

If your child was born in the US and you’re now living in (or moving to) India, here’s what you need to have in order:

• [ ] Valid US passport for the child (renew before it expires, apply through US Embassy in India)
• [ ] OCI card applied for and received
• [ ] OCI updated with current passport details
• [ ] US birth certificate (original and copies, consider getting it apostilled)
• [ ] Annual US tax return filed (even if no tax owed)
• [ ] FBAR filed if foreign accounts exceed $10,000 aggregate
• [ ] Cross-border tax advisor identified
• [ ] School enrollment documents organized (OCI card, US passport, birth certificate)
• [ ] Health insurance arranged (US insurance won’t work in India)
• [ ] Aadhaar card applied for (OCI holders can get Aadhaar)

FAQ: Questions Our Community Asks Most

Can my US-born child get an Aadhaar card in India?

Yes. OCI holders are eligible for Aadhaar. You’ll need the OCI card, US passport, and proof of Indian address. Read our Aadhaar for OCI holders guide.

Can my child get an Indian passport instead?

Not while holding US citizenship. India does not allow dual citizenship. They would need to renounce US citizenship first. For minors, parents cannot renounce the child’s US citizenship. The child can only do this themselves after turning 18.

Do I need to file US taxes for my minor child?

If your child has unearned income (bank interest, dividends) above the IRS threshold, or if FBAR/FATCA thresholds are met, yes. Consult a cross-border tax professional.

Can my US-born child join the Indian military or civil services?

No. OCI holders are not eligible for government jobs, military service, or elected office in India.

What if we move back to the US later? Will my child lose OCI status?

No. OCI is a lifelong document. Your child keeps it regardless of where they live. They just need to update it when the passport is renewed.

Can my US-born child sponsor me for a US Green Card?

Yes, once they turn 21. Parents of US citizens fall under the “Immediate Relative” category, which is uncapped.

Is it worth renouncing US citizenship for Indian citizenship?

This is deeply personal. My strong advice: don’t do it on impulse. The US passport, tax filing included, offers more flexibility than Indian citizenship alone. The OCI card covers almost everything your child would need in India. Talk to a legal and tax professional before even considering this.

The Bottom Line

Your US-born child has a unique advantage that most kids don’t. Access to two of the world’s largest economies. A passport that opens doors globally. And the flexibility to build a career, study, and live in either country.

Yes, it comes with tax obligations. Yes, there’s paperwork. Yes, you’ll deal with bureaucracy on both sides.

But the optionality is priceless.

My son doesn’t fully appreciate it yet. He’s a teenager. He’s more concerned about his cricket match than his citizenship status.

But one day, when he’s applying to college or starting his career or deciding where he wants to live, he’ll have choices. Real choices. And that’s the greatest benefit of all.

If you’re planning your move back to India with US-born kids, join our WhatsApp community at backtoindia.com/groups. 20,000+ NRIs helping each other with real, lived experience. It’s free and volunteer-run.

See you there.

• Mani

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Tax, legal, and immigration rules change frequently. Consult qualified professionals (cross-border tax advisor, immigration attorney) for advice specific to your family’s situation.

Sources: IRS.gov, FinCEN.gov, US Embassy India, ociservices.gov.in, Citizenship Act 1955, Henley Passport Index 2026, BacktoIndia.com community insights from 20,000+ members.