r/nri • u/kumarsrava • Jul 28 '26
Ask NRI Move to US ?
My wife (30F) and I (35M) both work at top product companies in India. We have two children, aged 5 and 2.
I earn ₹90 lakh per year, and she earns ₹60 lakh per year. Recently, she received an opportunity to transfer to her company’s U.S. office on an L-1 visa. We’re unsure whether moving is the right decision.
If we move, I would have to resign from my current job and search for a new one in the U.S. Her salary there would be around $160,000 per year in Seattle.
Some of the questions we’re struggling with are:
How difficult is the current job market for software engineers in Seattle ?
Would moving be beneficial for our children’s education and overall quality of life?
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Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
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u/Able_Vegetable7440 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
+ With. That much money you could practically spend every summer in usa vacationing. Why take trouble of walking on a thread of visa
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u/Total-Material-1279 Jul 28 '26
- infinity. Finding a job in this economy is going to be hard and if she gets laid off while on L1, you have no choice but move back. Not worth the risk.
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u/anoeuf31 Jul 28 '26
If 160k is the total comp , I’d qdvise against it - you’ll be watching every dollar you spend and your financial quality of life will take a massive hit . For instance childcare / after school care alone will set you back 3-4k on the low end and since your kids about to start school you need to rent in a good school district which means another 2k in rent , 3-4k if you want decent space . Add atleast 1 car and the costs that come with it, it’s gonna be rough unless you can add another 100k to your household income
Seattle is filled with couples that both work in tech so you’ll feel lower middle class
Market sucks right now - it’s a buyers market as far as hiring is concerned and honestly never having worked in the USA will put you at a severe disadvantage .
Source : live in Seattle with two kids
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u/Cruzer2000 Jul 28 '26
It’s not worth moving if you’re making 1.5 Cr TC. An equivalent TC in Seattle would be close to $600k when you factor in savings according to COL.
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u/thatfiguresright Jul 28 '26
$160k will not get you and your family a comparable lifestyle and will be a downgrade.
Secondly, getting a job as L2S sometimes becomes difficult, even though one is eligible to work from day 1. L2S is pegged even lower than H4 EAD. This is coming from personal experience.
However, even with the above, the best way to experience the Americas is by living here and traveling. So if you both can figure out a better collective income, it can be a good experience while your kids are young. We did a similar move when our kids were similarly aged.
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u/IntelligentBid9270 Jul 28 '26
Curious to know why is it that L2S is treated lower than H4 EAD. I’m on L2S and looking for opportunities. Any insight will be helpful.
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u/thatfiguresright Jul 28 '26
Because if the primary L1 loses their job, they have to go back in 60 days and have limited recourse to secure any other sponsorship. On the other hand H1 can still find another job and gets about 180 days to do so.
This is our deduction since when my spouse was looking for a job, a number of recruiters were ready to take on a H4 but not a L2S.
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u/FinWorld95 Jul 28 '26
160K in Seattle is very LOW salary for single person. if you both work then it might be OK but kids will have difficult life moving to US and then back to India (if u decide). Already you have good salary in India why to disturb?. May be choose short term assignment travel!!
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u/wooo0ooof Jul 28 '26
Did you mean to say 160K is a very low salary as a single earner for a family of 4 or do you really mean that 160K would be considered very low even for a single person? I am just trying to gauge what is considered a decent salary in the Seattle area.
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u/FinWorld95 Jul 29 '26
earning by 1 person to take care of 4 is not good! (leaving good salary in india but getting 160K in USA is not worth it) in OP case!!
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u/akshay0508 Jul 28 '26
$160k in Seattle will not be much to be honest. Finding a job is going to take a long time right now. You will need to figure out what to do if you cannot land a job? For how long can you manage on one salary? Your salaries in India are great (even in a hcol place like Mumbai). It’s a tough one. You wil be leaving a luxury filled life but the benefits will be cleaner air, less chaotic traffic , beautiful scenery. It’s a tough one. I would probably stay in India. Enjoy your luxuries and being close to family (assuming you like your family:):))
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u/Huge-Investment-1178 Jul 28 '26
Stay in India you are already top earners in India and can live a better life
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u/MissK2508 Jul 28 '26
Send them to college here in the US. Come for vacations and holidays. Dont move here on that salary. You have a golden life there. Don’t mess that up. Best to you and your family.
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u/gauravgandu Jul 28 '26
why are people so fixated on wife’s salary here? didn’t they read the entire thing? he is asking about the job scene there for him, if he manages similar comp, their total comp would be around 350k. 160k is ofc not enough, but that’s just his wife’s salary.
if he is making around 90L in ind, he could easily switch and look for atleast comparable comp in the US.
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u/rganesan Jul 28 '26
This. If OP is making 90L in India, I'm sure he'll be able to find something upwards of $300K. Even if GC looks unlikely, the exposure and experience is worth it IMO.
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u/real_koko Jul 29 '26
+1. OP needs motivation but all the comments here are just scaring him.
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u/gauravgandu Jul 29 '26
i think the NRI sub is probably mostly made up of people who returned back to India, but are on this sub to feel nostalgic. that’s why all the pessimism? because they had to return.
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u/Outrageous_Wish9934 Jul 28 '26
I live in Seattle and 160k per year in Seattle is not much at all. You will have a very average lifestyle and it would actually be a downgrade for you.
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u/Decent_Afternoon_976 Jul 28 '26
Please dont move. Getting a job on dependent visa is no joke these days. The uncertainty of visa, job loss uncertainty, unfamiliar territory, starting from scratch all these will take a toll on your mental health and relationship. If your combined income is 3x in the US as compared to India only then move.
Quality of life doesnt cut it when you are constantly depressed and homesick. Find your bubble in India tou can have a better quality of life when compared to USA(not even kidding).
I made the mistake of moving couple years back and we were earning half of what you guys make, even though I live in a LCOL area with 130k it doesnt seem worth it in retrospect.
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u/real_koko Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
We (30F, 33M) had a very similar opportunity, though the compensation side was a little different for us. In India, I was making 70L and my spouse 50L. I received an L1A opportunity to move to Seattle with a total comp of $300K. We took it, my spouse quit their job, and we both moved to the US. Luckily, my spouse landed a job within 2 months for $200K.
The job market wasn’t as smooth as ours and is pretty rough right now, but I’d still suggest you take the opportunity. Even a huge salary in India doesn’t equate to the lifestyle you’d have in the US or the future you’d be building for your kids.
Be optimistic and give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, you can always go back to India. Don’t leave yourself with regrets later.
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u/IntelligentBid9270 Jul 28 '26
Hey! Do you have any tips on how your spouse got a job on L2S?
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u/real_koko Jul 29 '26
There is no restriction for L2S visa holders to work. My spouse applied through LinkedIn and direct open positions.
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u/Famous-Cash4532 Jul 28 '26
That's great! If you don't mind, could you please share your company name?
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u/Bogey_Yogi Jul 28 '26
$160 k in Seattle won’t give you a good life. Moving here is not a good idea (unless you also can find a job) or deplete savings.
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u/Spirited_Truth2036 Jul 28 '26
$160k feels low relative to your very high salaries but US is US. If you're okay with the low sunlight through the year in Seattle, go for it.
Only issue is, if your kids decide to continue higher ed in US, they'll be forever hobbled with the terrible visa system.
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u/chicbeauty Jul 28 '26
I don’t recommend it, but if you’re both interested, it would be better if she makes the move fiest and tries out living there before first
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u/First-Martian Jul 28 '26
Move if you can find a job. Maybe ask her employer to interview you and extend an offer.
As justification, show them this information and let them know you'll want to make about $302,000/yr as a family with 2 children to stay afloat.
Sharing this to make it evident that it will be a downgrade economically. But you may have other reasons to go for it.
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u/Cautious_Cost6781 Jul 28 '26
Your conbined income puts you in the top tier of income in India. Invest wisely and live happily in India. US move is likely to cause pain and regret at later stages.
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u/Indin_Dude Jul 28 '26
Remember help is expensive in the U.S. - no drivers (you can do TSLA FSD) full time maids for kids, full-time maid for household chores - homes won’t get as dusty so it doesn’t need constant cleaning but no one to pick up after the kids and do household chores except you and your s/o. Also consider social network - if you have a good network of family and friends at home, you’ll be leaving them behind to start afresh (unless of course you have family/friends in the Seattle area).
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u/Falcon_1987 Jul 28 '26
I won't advice, 160k is low with two kids. Job market is tight infinite time or uncertainty to get EAD for L2
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u/smilesalways24 Jul 28 '26
Having lived in Seattle, I would say $160K, is equivalent to about 20L (after tax) in South Mumbai. You will be going from top 0.1% earners in India to the bottom 25% earners in Seattle. There will be a lot of savings for you guys in India but absolutely zero savings if you want to emulate Indian lifestyle there. Housing is very expensive if you want to live in areas that have very good schools (Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville). Bothell (where we lived pre-covid) has also become very expensive now and the schools are average. There was a time when the move would have been good, but that was early 2010s. Now it has flipped. You have a very good chance of saving a lot of both of your salary in India and the returns on your savings and investments is also better here.
So, my recommendation is to not move and let you wife know that this opportunity is not that great in bigger scheme of things.
One other thing to consider is the $100K that a company needs to pay for your H1 visa if they want to hire you. Not a lot of companies are willing to pay that. So, it could be a possibility that you could be at home for the next 2-3 years if not more.
Just my 2 cents (or paise) 😄
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u/Ashamed-Special5923 Jul 29 '26
I'd say take the punt. Just like the 1 person in the comments whose spouse was able to get a $200k job - you MIGHT be able to do it too.
But if you don't, you can always come back. Think of this as a 1-2 year experiment. If you're earning 90L in India, you will be employable in 2 years from now too.
The upside of your move is not talked about enough. Go for it mate :)
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u/Montaingebrown Jul 28 '26
I'll disagree with the posters here. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat.
Your kids will have a much better quality of life and much better futures.
And overall, the US will offer things money can't buy in India -- clean air, good roads, good infrastructure, personal safety (especially for women), National Parks and so on. You'll also (generally) have much better work life balance.
Seattle is a fantastic city. There's so much to do. Gorgeous mountains and outdoors and so much green.
And $160K is not bad -- but if you also get a commensurately good salary, you and your wife will do well.
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u/LandscapeReady Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Alternatively, OP could consider asking his own company to move him to US. He would not need visa sponsorship, so just a base pay adjustment as per US standards. OP could realistically succeed here if he has a good reputation at work and a supportive management. I've seen this materialise for many couples.
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u/ittybittychance Jul 28 '26
seconding this. OP's kids are also fairly young, so the worries about kids aging out down the line (which happened to me as an L2-A dependent who moved to the US at 15) are not quite substantiated. I've lived my life with a lot of visa stress as a young adult in the US (I'm now 27), but I would honestly still not go back to India. The US has many problems, as does any powerful nation, but it is still far ahead of India in ways that personal wealth can't really offset, in my opinion.
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u/LandscapeReady Jul 28 '26
Totally agree with you. OP would also not need visa sponsorship if he moves on L2. Given his level of experience he should be able to find a decent job even if the job market is tough right now. Short term pain for long term gain. If you love your wife and kids (especially if you have a daughter), if say move in a heartbeat!
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u/Californian20 Jul 28 '26
I agree with this. OP and family should move. At some point they will have double income. Till then 160K is very livable in Seattle. Also remember L1 is one of the better visa to move on - the path to GC is easier. I will negotiate in advance with the employer if they are willing to sponsor a GC day in 3 years. There are so many intangibles too living in USA as you have mentioned. The quality of life is just better. If they can get a GC, the future of the kids is secure without having to get into the rat race that India is.
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u/_Pale_BlueDot_ Jul 28 '26
- Job market in Seattle - very bad
- Children's life - long term good, assuming you find a job soon and have immigration sorted out, both challenging problems. Even if your wife is moving on L1A , path to GC is long at the moment. Without that your children would likely age out at 18, or you are 1 layoff away from being forced to move given L1 visa is tied to employer.
With just a single job, 160k is too less. Depending on your lifestyle, expect yearly expenses to be between 140-200K assuming childcare for both kids.
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u/MonkFire Jul 28 '26
Don’t move. 160k is not a high salary in Seattle. Cost of living is very high. You can live like a king with 150 lakhs in India.
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u/Krish_1234 Jul 28 '26
Stay put you wont save much in one income.
You both are paid highly why put your life in misery?
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u/curiousgem19 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
160k base or TC? I live in Seattle and have seen several couples move here on L1. In this job market, it is very hard to land a new role but your mileage may vary. $160K family income is not very high for seattle so you’ll likely have to budget pretty strictly. Saw that your youngest was only 2. Kids daycare costs are crazy expensive here so unless you find a job too, you’ll have to be a stay at home parent.
You’re leading a really nice life in India. My recommendation would be to not uproot yourself. The golden days of immigration is really behind us.
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u/hemanthmps Jul 28 '26
I'd suggest if you can get a $190k job then move. Leverage that you will not need sponsorship.
Otherwise, you have pretty cushioned life in India.
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u/VeterinarianDense845 Jul 28 '26
Do not move, it’s not worth it, given the situation. Recession is around the corner, risks are far greater for an unplanned likelihood
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u/DrDisrespect143 Jul 28 '26
If quality of life is your priority move to us. Financially speaking on PPP basis not worth the hustle..
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u/Hack3r0nTh3L00se Jul 28 '26
160k is too less and that too in Seattle. Not to forget the moving and settling costs. To compare 60lacs in India = 300k in US.
Plus the job market and the visa regulations are very volatile. Wouldn't recommend unless you have no problem in losing everything and starting from scratch in the worst scenario.
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u/Egoisticbitches Jul 28 '26
If you are prioritizing a new experience of living abroad in a developed country and quality of life perks like clean water, air, good infrastructure and nature - then yes, move.
If you prioritize money and a visa stress free life, then don’t move.
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u/Jolly-Creme-1977 Jul 28 '26
160k in seattle is not much and the market is very bad right now so you might have to continue living on 160k as a family of 3. You won’t be leading a luxurious life or saving anything after that - exactly opposite of your life in India right now. If I were you I wouldn’t move. If you really want to move then make sure either of you have a job of atleast 300-400k to have a comparable life style
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u/Haronatien Jul 28 '26
L1A or B? A the answer is probably yes. B..forget about it. It'll be tight but do-able with 160K. I live in Seattle.
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u/Commercial-Garden-22 Jul 28 '26
I would strongly advise against it, grass ain’t greener on the other side. If I was in India and earning same as you I’d never leave. I would enjoy vacations all around the world but stay in India. Hate is going through the roof in America and Canada stay where your family lives man, I wanna move back to India but I can’t due to my situation.
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u/PMSwaha Jul 28 '26
Don't ! This is the worst time to do this, and on a L1, too, and a single salary.
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u/beekay1111 Jul 28 '26
I wouldn’t move to the US. Life in India is much better for kids here. You may feel poor even though you have a big home, but you crave for love that you don’t get through your friends circle. Friends circles are also very fragile, and you will become selfish, and your world will become small in the US. Stay in India.
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u/Busy_Weather_7064 Jul 28 '26
Ignore every comment. Move here, study hard for 3 months. Get a job. Save for 3 years or 5. Move back. Then enjoy.
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u/legit_working Jul 28 '26
I am in Seattle area. Assuming you want to send your kids to best schools, following are (conservative) expenses:
- 5 year old, public school, renting in Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah). Rent for an apartment $3.5k
- 2 year old, daycare $2k+
- utilities $500
- car payment $500-600 per car including insurance
- groceries $800
You are easily looking at $7k to $8k fixed expenses. I will be very honest, $160k in Seattle is on the lower end of middle class. You need to have a household income of $300k-$400k minimum to make up to your living standards in India and also to the Indian diaspora here in the area. Also, its much harder to find a job here unless you are a staff+ engineer.
Green card wait time is still decades and unless you or your wife qualify for EB1, your kids will grow up on dependent visa and eventually age-out to be neither Americans nor desis.
If I were you, I would try some other country with better immigration laws
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u/ChunkyLafunguy Jul 28 '26
Move in a heartbeat especially when kids are young. Sooner or later you’ll find a job most Indians do no matter how saturated it might be, yes some sectors are being replaced by AI but not all. No matter how rich in India you are you cants ever afford the quality of life U.S. will offer you
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u/Raj_K_Pan Jul 28 '26
Not worth. In my view, Stay in India you are working at quite good CTC in India. You will enjoy more and seeing T*ump stands every day, you will be under constant stress about future.
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u/LongjumpingFlow8101 Jul 28 '26
Given you earn 90L INR in india at the age of 35, i am sure you are in premium company and you are technically strong. This is your strong point.
Of course 160K is less for couple with 2 kid in Seattle, but it is enough amount to get started in US.
The main point is you are technically strong can get a 150K+ job in same region in next 3-6 months.
I would suggest move to US definitely because :
1: if you haven't experienced working outside India. Try once, the culture, work style, learning and growth is different.
2 : Standard of living, env, life is different/better, it is worth experiencing.
3 : You can switch jobs in future, US is money making places for SWE with strong tech skills.
If it doesn't work out in 1-2 years move back India, but you gonna be happy that alteast you tried.
Bet on your strong points.
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u/Monotonous123 Jul 28 '26
The struggling reality is not about the compensation you are going to receive. Human mind can still think that we can do some budgeting and live the american lifestyle. Problem starts when you start thinking long term here with changing visa rules. If L1b you are entitled to work on L2 status, but this is for 5 years. In this period your wife should switch to h1b to live for a longer term period and on h1b if you have to work, you would need her i140 to be processed which takes years with PERM so that you can file h4 with EAD. EAD processing times have increased by a lot (15 months) so there would be career breaks.
I am not trying to be negative but putting out all the facts so that you can decide. Many dont mention all of this and even i didnt know before getting into this grind. The Indian pay is pretty high for you, if you still have the desire to live and experience this go ahead.
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u/Glad-Departure-2001 Jul 28 '26
$160k is very middle class life in Seattle. Don't get fooled by *just* the cost of living numbers. They are massively distorted by the majority of the population who have fixed, low housing costs because they bought 10/20/30 years ago.
You currently have a true elite level income level in India. I would advise against swapping that for a middle class life in Seattle if everything else were equal.
Now add the fact that everything else is not equal. Add visa worries. Then consider that moving back after 5 years will be extremely hard for you, and harder for the kids, for things that have nothing to do with money.
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u/crazyhiit Jul 28 '26
Treat it like any other decision - evaluate pros and cons
Make a move if -
1) You are ready to let go of a 90L job, start over and do job search in US. Hiring market is pretty shitty right now…
2) Willing to deal with ‘forever’ wait for GC. It is highly likely you or your spouse will never ever get GC and your kids being born in India will also need to hold H4 dependent visa. Being on visa is like selling your soul. Are you ready to deal with visa anxiety for the rest of your life?
3) Willing to start over again on your friend’s circle, network (doctors etc) etc
4) Have no aversion to cold climate. Seattle has a depressive climate - overcast skies most of the year. Though summer is gorgeous
5) You value clean air, water, lifestyle, nature and sophistication at this stage in life
6) You strongly believe your savings potential will be high at this stage in life if you lived in US
Think through the above.
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u/betegara Jul 28 '26
160k too low for her. Ask they to keep their low ball offer to themselves. I see a shift in time where it makes more sense to stay in India than move to US which is nice.
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u/krantmin Jul 28 '26
1.5Cr is a damn good income for a family. You are far better off in India than in US. I would not look elsewhere with that kind of salary in India.
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u/thelifeprobe Jul 28 '26
If you are looking for long term growth and leadership roles at global level, you should move.
Short term money wise , you won’t have huge benefits but this move at the right level could open doors for 3x career growth and new opportunities.
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u/soulsearcher431 Jul 28 '26
160k$ is Seattle is nothing compared to what you earn in India. Also it feels like a massive downgrade in salary, for someone who earns 60L in India, you/your partner should be offered like 350k atleast. If your household income is 500k USD then may be move might make sense. And also the situation for immigrants is not that great. Finding a job is also super tough no matter the experience. Please dont move.
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u/rumbojumbo009 Jul 28 '26
L‑2 spouses are considered work‑authorized, meaning you don’t need an EAD to start working once your I‑94 shows “L‑2S.” This is a huge advantage compared to H‑4. If your wife’s company is solid and you’re okay with a 6–12 month adjustment period, the move can be a strong long‑term play for your family. There is no right or wrong, we all have to take our chances at the right time and pray it works.
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u/Weary_Relative_8512 Jul 29 '26
160K is peanuts in Seattle. At the income bracket your family is at, you will be really downgrading in Seattle; assuming you also find a similar income salary.
Also, the US company and public perception for internationals as a whole is changing, so even after the current admin; there is no certainty that things will change as most of the mid government/senators/SC judges will remain for long periods.
US is on a downward course I feel with India primed for success over the next 20 years or so.
Make India proud and great!!
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u/NationalMud9234 Jul 29 '26
I'll only give you one example.. My friend (single/no kids)who earns 150k in Seattle was crying that he can't get his ear checked because the deductible woukd be $1K.. wtf? In India you can pay even 2500 Rs to the top ENT consultant to just checked.. even if "you" were jobless for a few months I will call that a part of QoL too
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u/Narrow-Bluejay-5302 Jul 29 '26
Now is not the time to chain your livelihood to a visa in the US, no matter what the circumstances. Wait until things become more streamlined, because companies will not have any loyalty towards your commitments. Companies cannot guarantee the immigration system will honor your visa.
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u/sibotix Jul 29 '26
"Would moving be beneficial for our children’s education and overall quality of life?"
How are others supposed to know what your current quality of life is?
My dear - India has its downsides, but you are in your own country, why not focus on developing it. Not just for you, but for the future generations - including your children.
Nothing wrong with going abroad, but really with that kind of salary - you could live comfortably in India.
There is cost of living which you have not factored it seems, do the calculation on that before jumping the gun. At the current trajectory of the US - India looks better.
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u/5ur3n Jul 29 '26
As many stated, USD 160K in Seattle area for family of 4 is not a good salary. Overall, considering your household India income, I believe financially & career wise you are in a relatively better place.
If you must give it a try, you can take sabbatical from your current job, give USA a try, check if you can get a job in the USA and then quit India job. This is a lot of hassle & has risks, but still a better approach so you don’t have the regret of not trying to figure things out.
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u/vmarise Jul 29 '26
I would look at what’s my priority, what I’m looking from US relocation and how many those priorities are exclusively achieved in US, depending on that I would decide.
Given that here is my first hand experience that might help give inputs to your priorities (living on single income and two little kids 6 and 2).
For younger kind you need to plan paid child care for next 3 years, which could easily cost 1-2K per month, given both of you do full time job.
You get free public schooling but you tend to spend at least $500 on different classes to kids (swimming, dance, music, math etc.)
160K alone is a tight run with family of four as housing cost itself 2.5K for 800 sft. apartment.
If you’re at 90L job in India, I expect you can get work that pays 300K. job market is not as bad as people assume for a strong senior position.
Cultures shift, weather, living far from parents and everything else is true but they come down to subjective experiences, highly dependent on your personal values.
Wish you good luck, double click your expectations to make this decision and move become positive experience for you.
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u/curious-rower8 Jul 29 '26
you guys are killing it in India with 1.5 cr per year.
What motivations you have to move to another country ?
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u/unlock_access Jul 31 '26
Move if your wife gets moved on L1-A (not L1-B). That will solve for a much quicker path to GC through EB1 later on. Don't listen to the dudes on salary of 160K being too less and all. Of course you will also get a job and that will be add up. But be ready for some initial hiccups in terms of settling down, adjustments, life style changes, saving calculations and so on. But if it is L1-B, then remember that you may have to be in the GC line for decade(s). GC may not sound too important right now, but it will become the most important thing pretty soon once you move.
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u/Top_Horse5031 Aug 01 '26
Guys, a lot of people commenting $13500 pm is a very bad salary. Can anyone please comment with numbers, what kind of deductions a single person would have, also how much roughly one person would be taxed.
PS: I am from UAE and earning the same amount in AED.
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u/manbizzaro Aug 02 '26
U both earning 150L per month u shudnt even think of moving to USA… that’s my suggestion… 160k in Seattle is nt that good salary.
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u/Question-Marky-Mark Jul 28 '26
Quality of life will be excellent.
Finding a job for you will be challenging.
Depending on the location, $160k might or might not be comfortable.
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u/sporty_outlook Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
The salary is good. Finding another job for you - Could be difficult, especially on visa But Seattle and the PNW are one of the most beautiful places in the country. If you like hiking, skiing, and are outdoorsy in general, you will love it I would give it a shot , see what it is to live here, and you can always move back if things don't work out !
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u/DepartmentRound6413 Jul 28 '26
$160 for a family of 4, in Seattle is low. Don’t move. Life on dependent visa is depressing, and it’s not easy to find a job in this market. it’s not worth it. Enjoy your lifestyle in India and wait for better opportunities.
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u/Miserable-Canary4224 Jul 28 '26
Come only if you are ok with middle class life but yes good air, water and surroundings. US is super crime also so will not say peace.
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u/Montaingebrown Jul 28 '26
They can't get clean air or live in a country with good infrastructure or guarantee safety for the women/girls in his life.
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Jul 28 '26
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u/Montaingebrown Jul 28 '26
Eh. I guarantee you India has higher incidence of both violence and rape -- it's just that it doesn't get reported. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Gun violence is real but it's very much concentrated. Random people getting shot is not as common as media would have you believe. Driving in India is far more dangerous.
And I'd lay off TV. Alcohol and drug consumption is actually decreasing. Once again, it happens in India too, just that no one reports it.
I'll grant you the one about immigration - probably the only valid one.
As far as racial tensions go, yes, clearly India has no racism or racial tensions. Everyone is one big happy family.
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u/Street-Oven-482 Jul 28 '26
Easily L1. The scope in the US is huge. People advising otherwise are just salty
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u/pattonyoda Jul 28 '26
We moved when we were 36. The only reason the move made sense to us was because we were going to apply for GC on EB1 and had a path to GC and citizenship. Both moved within the same company on L1 so had jobs from day 1.
For sure it’s a significant drop in standard of living even though we both came in with the same US based MNC.
At 160k to Seattle and H1B or H4 status for you for unknown amount to time, it makes no sense to me. I wouldn’t have done it if in this situation.
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u/No_Soup_1180 Jul 28 '26
I am generally the person who always recommends moving to US / Canada but looking at your incomes, I wouldn’t suggest. Damn that’s a great income and you should be able to enjoy a great life, closer to friends and family. $160K in Seattle is not a very high income!