Author: Mani Karthik

  • Top Credit Cards for Returning NRIs: The Ultimate Guide

    Hey there! Mani here. When I moved back from SuperMoney in California in 2017, one of the most frustrating things wasn’t the reverse culture shock or finding good Mexican food in Bangalore. It was getting a decent credit card. Picture this. I’m back in India after 8 years in the US. I have a stellar…

  • Complete Guide to FATCA for NRIs: Everything You Need to Know

    When I was wrapping up my time at SuperMoney in California back in 2017, preparing for our move back to India, one thing kept me up at night. It wasn’t the job search or school admissions for the boys. It was FATCA. My accountant in San Francisco had mentioned it casually during our final tax…

  • Renew Indian Driving License For NRIs: The Ultimate Guide

    Hey! Mani here. When I moved back from California in 2017, my expired driving license was one of those small but super annoying problems I hadn’t thought about. Picture this. I’m at the Bangalore airport after 8 years in the US. My mom picks me up in her old Maruti. She hands me the keys…

  • Overseas Citizen of India (OCI): Meaning, Types, Eligibility and Benefits

    Let’s talk about OCIs. The full thing! When I moved back from the US in 2017 with my family, getting our OCI cards was one of the first things on my checklist. My wife and I had been planning this move for months. My mom was alone in India after dad passed away during my…

  • What is Form W-2 For NRIs While Filing US Taxes?

    2016. I’m sitting in my Santa Barbara office at Citrix, staring at this official looking document my HR team just handed me. Form W-2. I thought, “Great, another tax form to confuse me.” Back then, I had no clue how crucial this little piece of paper would become for my US tax filing journey. Fast…

  • What is FBAR? A Complete Guide for NRIs

    Picture this. It’s April 2018, my first tax season back in India after returning from the US. I’m sitting in our Bangalore home, staring at my laptop screen in complete confusion. My US tax advisor had sent me a reminder about something called “FBAR filing.” I thought, “What the heck is FBAR? Another government form…

  • Gold ETF vs Gold Mutual Fund – Which is Better for NRIs

    Remember when I was working at Citrix back in 2016? My wife constantly worried about our savings being too dependent on US markets. That’s when I first started exploring gold investments seriously. After losing my dad early during college, I learned the importance of financial security. When mom was alone in India and we decided…

  • Can NRIs Invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds?

    Back in 2016, just before I moved from Silicon Valley to Bangalore, my mom called me during Dhanteras. “Beta, buy some gold,” she said. I was working at Druva then, completely clueless about Indian investment options. Fast forward to today. I get WhatsApp messages daily from my BackToIndia community asking about Sovereign Gold Bonds. Can…

  • Do You Need to Disclose Your Foreign Assets in India as an NRI?

    I was sitting in my home office at our place near Tesla’s factory. Wife is fast asleep. Kids are dreaming about Pokemon cards. And me? Having a complete meltdown about whether I need to tell India about my Chase Bank account. 🎯 Reality Check: This single question has generated more panic in my BackToIndia community…

  • Black Money Act for NRIs: Your Complete Survival Guide

    Picture this: It’s 2017, I’m sitting in my San Francisco apartment at 2 AM. My wife Priya is asleep, my boys are dreaming about their next gaming session. And me? I’m having a complete meltdown googling “Black Money Act penalties for NRIs.” Why the panic? We’d just decided to move back to India. Mom was…