Planning to Move to India Soon? Here are 10 Things You Should Do While in USA

I made a mistake in 2017.

I was so focused on the India side of things. Finding a school in Bangalore. Setting up our apartment. Figuring out the banking.

I completely ignored the stuff I should have done while still in the US.

Dental work. Credit history. Documents. Things that are easy (and cheap) in America. And painful (or impossible) once you land in India.

My wife still brings up the root canal I could have gotten in Dallas for $200 with insurance. Instead I paid Rs 15,000 in Bangalore without any coverage.

I’ve been running the BacktoIndia community since 2017. Thousands of NRIs have shared their “I wish I had done this before leaving” stories. This list is the distilled version of all that collective regret.

If you’re still in America, this is your window. Use it.

1. Get Every Medical and Dental Procedure Done

This is number one for a reason. Every single NRI in our community says the same thing. Get it done while you have US insurance.

Dental cleanings. Fillings. Root canals. That wisdom tooth your dentist has been watching for two years. Get it out.

Eye exams. Update your prescription. Stock up on contacts if you wear them.

Full body checkup. Blood work. Any specialist visits you’ve been putting off.

Your US health insurance is gold. You don’t realize how good it is until you don’t have it anymore.

Procedure	Approximate Cost in USA (with insurance)	Approximate Cost in India (without insurance)
Dental cleaning	$0 to $50	Rs 1,000 to 3,000
Root canal	$200 to $500	Rs 5,000 to 15,000
Full body checkup	$0 to $100 (preventive care)	Rs 3,000 to 10,000
Eye exam with prescription	$0 to $30	Rs 500 to 2,000

Costs are indicative. US costs assume typical employer insurance with copay. Indian costs based on private hospital rates in metros.

Also. Get copies of every medical record. Vaccination records for kids. Prescription histories. Radiology reports. Everything. Download them from your patient portal before you lose access.

I lost access to my MyChart account 6 months after leaving the US. Getting records after that was a nightmare of phone calls and fax machines. Yes. Fax machines. In 2018.

Before you leave, also research health insurance for returning NRIs. You want coverage from day one in India.

2. Build and Freeze Your US Credit History

Your US credit score does not transfer to India. It just doesn’t exist there. But here’s the thing. You might need it again someday.

Maybe you come back to the US for a project. Maybe your kid goes to college here. Maybe you need a US credit card for online subscriptions.

So before you leave:

• Pay off all credit card balances
• Keep one or two no annual fee credit cards open. Don’t close everything.
• Download your full credit report from all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Free at annualcreditreport.com.
• Set up autopay on the cards you keep. Even a small recurring charge (like a streaming service) keeps the account active.

A dead credit file is hard to revive. An active one with a small monthly charge and autopay takes zero effort.

Read our guide on what happens to your US credit score after moving to India. And once you’re in India, here’s how to build your Indian credit score from scratch.

3. Stock Up on Medications and Prescriptions

If you or anyone in your family takes regular medication, get a 3 to 6 month supply before you leave.

Yes, most medications are available in India. Often cheaper. But the brand names are different. The formulations sometimes vary. And finding the exact equivalent of your US prescription takes time.

Ask your doctor for:

• A written prescription with the generic drug name (not just the brand)
• A letter explaining your medical condition and medication history
• Refills for the maximum allowed period

For kids with any ongoing treatment (allergies, ADHD, asthma), this is especially important. Pediatric formulations can be different.

One community member told me she spent three weeks in Hyderabad trying to find the specific inhaler her daughter used in the US. Three weeks of pharmacy visits and doctor consultations. She could have carried a 6 month supply in her suitcase.

4. Get Your Documents Apostilled and Organized

This is boring. I know. But future you will thank present you.

Get these documents apostilled (officially certified for international use):

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificates (especially for US born children)
• Education degrees and transcripts
• Employment verification letters

Apostille is done through your state’s Secretary of State office. It costs $5 to $25 per document. Takes about 2 to 4 weeks.

In India, getting a US document apostilled after you’ve left? Almost impossible without sending it back to someone in America.

Also make digital copies of everything. Store them in Google Drive or a similar cloud service. Passport pages. Tax returns (last 5 years). Bank statements. Insurance policies. Investment statements.

Check our full return to India from USA checklist for the complete document list.

If your child has a US passport, understand the OCI card process and start it early. That process can take months.

5. Sort Out Your Tax Situation

This is the one area where spending money on a professional saves you money in the long run.

Find a cross border tax advisor. Not your regular H&R Block person. Someone who understands both US and Indian tax law.

Before you leave, you need clarity on:

• What happens to your 401(k)? Leave it? Roll to IRA? Cash out?
• FBAR filing obligations. These continue even after you leave the US if you’re a citizen or Green Card holder.
• Your residential status for Indian taxes and how to time your move for maximum benefit
• DTAA provisions that prevent double taxation
• FATCA compliance if you hold Indian financial accounts

Tax Obligation	Applies To	Continues After Moving?
US Federal Income Tax	US citizens, Green Card holders	Yes, for life (until you renounce)
FBAR (FinCEN 114)	Anyone with $10K+ in foreign accounts	Yes, as long as you’re a US person
FATCA (Form 8938)	US persons with foreign assets above threshold	Yes
State Income Tax	Varies by state	Most states stop after you establish residency elsewhere
Indian Income Tax	Based on residential status	Starts once you become tax resident in India

Source: IRS.gov, FinCEN.gov, incometaxindia.gov.in

File all pending tax returns before you leave. Get current with the IRS. Dealing with IRS issues from India involves time zone nightmares and international calling charges.

Our US NRI tax filing guide covers this in detail.

6. Open NRI Bank Accounts in India (If You Haven’t Already)

If you don’t have an NRE or NRO account in India, open one now. While you’re still in the US.

Several Indian banks have branches in the US that can help. SBI, ICICI, Bank of Baroda, and others have US presence specifically for NRI banking.

Why do this now?

Because opening an NRI account from India after you’ve moved is a regulatory gray area. Once you’re a resident under FEMA, you’re supposed to convert to resident accounts. Having the NRE account already open gives you a landing pad for your money.

Start transferring funds to India in batches. Don’t wait to move everything at the last minute. Exchange rates fluctuate. Spreading transfers over months averages out the risk.

For large transfers, read our guide on sending large amounts from USA to India. And know your purpose codes. Wrong codes cause delays.

Compare your options with our NRI banking comparison guide before choosing a bank.

7. Sell, Donate, and Declutter Ruthlessly

You will not need 80% of what you own in America.

I shipped 22 boxes from Dallas to Bangalore. I use things from maybe 5 of them regularly. The rest is sitting in a storage closet.

Here’s my honest advice on what to bring and what to leave.

Bring to India	Sell in the US	Donate or Trash
Laptops, cameras, good headphones	Large furniture (couches, dining tables)	Winter clothing (heavy coats, snow boots)
Kids’ special toys and memory items	Kitchen appliances (110V only)	Duplicate household items
Important documents (originals)	TVs larger than 55 inches	Old magazines, books you won’t reread
Professional tools and equipment	Cars	Garage and lawn equipment
6 months of medications	Extra electronics	Holiday decorations

Based on shipping decisions shared by 500+ community members

Start selling 3 months before your move. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp. Check our list of best apps to sell stuff.

For electronics, read our guide on should you take your electronics when returning. Voltage differences (110V vs 220V) make many US appliances useless in India. Even with transformers.

The emotional part is harder than the practical part. I kept my first coffee mug from my apartment in Irving, Texas. I still drink chai in it every morning in Bangalore. Sometimes it’s the small things.

8. Keep Your US Bank Account and Phone Number Active

Do NOT close everything.

Keep at least one US bank account open. Preferably one with no monthly fees and good international ATM access. Charles Schwab, Fidelity, or a major bank with fee waivers.

You’ll need it for:

• Receiving any US income (tax refunds, rental income, freelance payments)
• Paying US obligations (student loans, storage fees, subscriptions)
• Your next US visit

Read our detailed guide on should you keep your US bank accounts after moving.

Same with your phone number. Port it to Google Voice ($20 one time fee) or a similar service. You’ll need a US number for:

• Two factor authentication on US banking and financial apps
• IRS communication
• US based services that require a US phone number

I almost lost access to my Fidelity account because I’d disconnected my US number. Took weeks and multiple verification calls to recover.

9. Get Reference Letters and Professional Documentation

This is the one people forget until it’s too late.

Before you leave your job, get:

• A detailed experience letter on company letterhead
• Reference letters from 2 to 3 managers or senior colleagues
• Your complete employment history (dates, titles, responsibilities)
• Pay stubs or salary documentation (last 6 to 12 months)
• Any certifications or training completion certificates

If you’re job hunting in India, these documents carry weight. Indian employers value international experience. But they want it documented.

Read our guide on updating your resume for the Indian job market. Indian resumes are different from American ones.

If you’re exploring the Indian job market, check which industries are hiring NRIs and our list of top companies hiring NRIs in India.

Also. Update your LinkedIn before you leave. Start connecting with recruiters and professionals in India. A warm network is worth more than a perfect resume. We have a whole guide on how NRIs can use LinkedIn to find jobs in India.

10. Have the Real Conversation with Your Family

This isn’t a financial or logistical item. But it’s the most important one on this list.

When I decided to move back, my primary reason was my mom. She was alone in India after my dad passed away when I was in college. I couldn’t keep living 8,000 miles away.

My wife had apprehensions. My older son didn’t want to leave his friends. My younger one was too small to have an opinion. But he would eventually.

We sat down as a family and talked about it. Not once. Many times. Over months.

I didn’t pretend it would be easy. I didn’t promise everything would be better. I told them the truth. That I needed to do this. That it would be hard at first. And that we’d figure it out together.

That honesty mattered more than any checklist.

If your spouse has concerns, listen. Really listen. Don’t dismiss them. The move affects everyone differently. Read about the challenges NRIs face when moving back and share it with your family. Read about how different daily life in India is compared to the US. Go in with open eyes.

If your kids are old enough, involve them. Let them research their potential new city. Let them look at schools. Give them some ownership over the change.

Our guide on dealing with family and friends after returning covers the emotional side in depth.

Bonus: The Timing Hack

If you can control when you leave, here’s what I tell everyone.

Leave the US between January and March.

Why?

• You’ll be in India for the start of the new academic year (April) which is ideal for school admissions
• You’ll likely stay under 182 days in India for that financial year, which means you remain NRI for tax purposes for one extra year
• You get RNOR status from the following financial year, giving you 2 to 3 years of tax benefits on foreign income
• Spring weather in most Indian cities is manageable (avoid the May heat for your first few weeks)

This one timing decision can save you lakhs in taxes and make your kids’ school transition smoother. Read our guide on taxes when returning back to India for the full picture.

The Real Talk

Moving back to India is not a logistical problem you can solve with a checklist.

It’s a life decision. It comes with grief for the life you’re leaving. And excitement for the one you’re building.

But the logistical stuff? That you can control. And doing these 10 things while you’re still in America will save you time, money, and a lot of headaches once you land.

I’ve been back since 2017. My mom is happy. My kids are thriving. My wife has built a life she loves. And I’m running this community that I’m deeply proud of.

Was it perfect? No. Was it worth it? Every single day.

If you’re planning your move back, 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 on the other side.

• Mani

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Financial, tax, and legal situations vary by individual. Consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.

Sources: IRS.gov, FinCEN.gov, incometaxindia.gov.in, annualcreditreport.com, BacktoIndia.com community data from 20,000+ members.