Author: Mani Karthik
-
NRI Guide to Indian Consulates & VFS: Navigating the Paperwork Maze
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember that sweltering July afternoon in 2016 when I stood outside the San Francisco Indian Consulate with my family? Four hours in line. My US-born son Arjun was cranky. My wife was giving me death stares. All because I needed a simple passport renewal before our move back to India. “This…
-
How NRIs Can Get Aadhar in 2025: A Complete Guide
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember my first week back in India in 2017? I was jetlagged, confused, and standing in an Aadhaar enrollment center in Kochi with a stack of documents. The officer looked at my US driver’s license and chuckled. “Sir, this won’t work here.” My son whispered, “Dad, I thought you researched this?”…
-
Transaction Reference Number – The Unsung Hero of International Transfers
Hey there! Mani here. Remember that time in 2016 when I sent money from my Bank of America account to my dad’s SBI account in Ernakulam? The money vanished. Poof! Gone for 9 days. My dad needed that cash for his heart medication. I was freaking out in my Irvine apartment. Customer service kept asking…
-
Top NRI Bank Accounts: Cracking the RFC Account Mystery
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember when I was moving back from California in 2017? That moment when I stared at my Bank of America account realizing I needed to figure out the whole “India banking situation” before landing? I spent nights researching NRE, NRO, and RFC accounts while my wife wondered if I’d lost my…
-
IPO Investment Tips for NRIs: Navigating the Grey Market
Remember when I was working at Citrix in the US and got super excited about the Zomato IPO? I had to navigate a maze of regulations while sitting in my California apartment. That experience taught me how confusing IPO investments can be for NRIs. Especially when everyone back home was buzzing about “grey market premiums.”…
-
American Express Gold Corporate Card: Guide for NRIs
Hey folks! Mani here. Man, I still remember the day I had to return my American Express Gold Corporate Card when I left my job at Citrix in California. That shiny gold card had been my trusted companion for business trips across the US. Fast forward to my return to India in 2017. During my…
-
Corporate Gold Card: Guide for NRIs
Remember when I landed back in India after my 10-year stint in the US? Man, what a ride that was. One of the biggest shocks wasn’t the traffic or power cuts – it was banking. I had this fancy American Express Gold Card back in California. It got me into airport lounges. Gave me cash…
-
How Much Gold Can I Carry In International Flight: NRI Guide
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember when I was flying back from San Francisco to Kochi in 2017? My mom had asked me to bring her old gold bangles that I’d kept in my bank locker in the US. I was sweating bullets at SFO. Not because of the AC. But because I had no clue…
-
Amex Corporate Gold Card – The Secret Weapon for NRIs
That chaotic day in 2016 still haunts me. I was sitting in my Irvine apartment surrounded by moving boxes. My return to India was just weeks away. Then my phone buzzed. A text from my company finance team. “Mani, we need to discuss your Amex Corporate Gold Card before your relocation.” My heart sank. This…
-
NRI Guide to Life Certificate Process: What Every Overseas Pensioner Needs to Know
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember when my mom almost lost her pension in 2018? We were still settling into our Bangalore home after moving back from Irvine. Mom was staying with us temporarily. Her pension suddenly stopped. No warning. No explanation. The reason? She hadn’t submitted something called a “life certificate.” I had no clue…