Indian man on Green Card queue asks if Rs 6 crore is enough to survive in India without a job after layoff

A recent tech layoff has prompted an Indian man in the United States to consider a drastic life change: returning to his home country with a substantial financial cushion. The man, who is on a Green Card EAD, faces the prospect of moving back to India with approximately Rs 6 crore (around $718,000) but without a job.

“

Got hit by the recent tech layoffs. I'm on a GC EAD with about a 5-month financial runway. Given the current job market, I'm trying to plan for the worst-case scenario: moving back to India.

His dilemma, shared on Reddit, centers on two major concerns. Firstly, he is hesitant to sell his house in the US at a potential loss. Secondly, and perhaps more crucially, he worries about his children's ability to integrate into the Indian education system without knowing any local languages. He specifically asked for advice on transitioning children into Indian middle schools without language skills.

“

Has anyone transitioned kids into middle school in India without language skills? And is it worth sticking out the 5 months to try and find a US role on an EAD, or should I start prepping the move now? Can I survive with 6 cr in India without any job?

"Can I survive with 6 cr in India without any job?" he questioned, also pondering whether to use his remaining five months of financial runway to search for a new role in the US or to begin preparations for the move. Unlike H-1B visa holders who have a grace period after job loss, Green Card EAD holders can remain in the US as long as their I-485 application is pending and they meet other requirements.

“

6 crore with no debt? You'll be fine lol. That's way more than what most families retire with in India. Honestly, the bigger issue here doesn't sound like money. It sounds like uprooting two kids right before middle school and figuring out the house situation.

Responses on the platform were split. Many users assured him that Rs 6 crore would be more than enough for a comfortable life in India, with some noting it exceeds what many families retire with. However, others advised him to leverage his EAD status to continue his job search in the US, as leaving the Green Card queue might not be advisable. The issue of children's adaptation was also addressed, with some suggesting that kids adapt quickly and that many schools in larger Indian cities cater to students with varying language proficiencies.

“

I'd probably use those 5 months and keep searching. You're on an EAD, which removes one headache employers usually have. No reason to rush into a move if you don't have to. Also, kids adapt faster than we give them credit for. Plenty of CBSE schools have kids who barely know Hindi, especially in bigger cities. I wouldnt stress about that part too much.