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The great homecoming: Why India’s diaspora is choosing to return
There is a growing trend of individuals and families choosing to permanently return to India due to long Green Card wait times, job losses in the U.S., and a desire for better family and cultural life in India. We found out the latest!
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Pallavi Mehra - Thu, 20, Nov 2025
- 00:05 EST
- 14
Taj Mahal / Unsplash
“The American dream is now the Indian dream! I lost my job at a leading tech firm earlier this year and am heading back to New Delhi, where I’m planning on starting my own tech firm,” mentioned Kunal J, a San Francisco-based developer. Clearly, the script has flipped. For decades, the mantra for India’s brightest was ‘Go West.’ Today, a powerful undercurrent is reshaping this narrative: the ‘Reverse Migration’ is not just a trickle, it’s becoming a tide, driven by the lure of a booming, ambitious New India and the cold realities of the American dream deferred.
The unbearable weight of the wait
For highly skilled Indians, the U.S. Green Card backlog is a life sentence of uncertainty. Imagine dedicating your prime years, paying taxes, and contributing brilliance to the American economy, only to face a 50-to-100-year wait for permanent residency. The H-1B visa, once a golden ticket, has become a restrictive leash.
When the tech industry hit a rough patch and mass layoffs swept Silicon Valley, the fragility of the H-1B was exposed. Losing a job meant facing the terrifying prospect of abandoning the life you built within weeks. This, coupled with the systemic barrier of immigration, has fueled a profound realization: the career ceiling in America is often determined not by talent, but by nationality.
“I’m so happy to not be on the H-1B visa anymore. It’s so restrictive and unpredictable. I was constantly nervous while I was on it,” added Kunal J, the San Francisco-based developer.
Hawa Mahal / UnsplashThe pull of a thriving homeland
The decision to return is an active choice for better opportunity and a more balanced life. India, under its current growth trajectory, is offering a professional landscape that rivals the best globally.
Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune are not just outsourcing hubs, they are centers of innovation where global corporations are running their most complex, high-value operations. Returnees are finding leadership roles and the chance to work on projects that directly impact the future of global tech and finance.
Moreover, India now boasts one of the world’s most vibrant startup scenes. Professionals returning with global experience, capital, and a sophisticated understanding of international markets are perfectly positioned to launch their own ventures or take on C-suite roles in top companies. Additionally, the emotional value of proximity to family, the cultural ease for raising children, and the ability to achieve a superior work-life balance, particularly with the advantage of dollar savings, are proving irresistible.
“I’m looking forward to strengthening my bonds with my family and friends back home. I don’t think the sacrifice of being away from your home is worth it anymore,” added Kunal J.
A brain gain, not a retreat
This homecoming is not a ‘brain drain’ in reverse. It is a ‘Brain Gain’ for India. These are not people returning in defeat, but those who are empowered by their international exposure, equipped with advanced skills, and ready to inject capital and intelligence into the Indian economy.
The movement is shifting from a necessity-driven return to an aspirational one. The narrative is: “We came back not because the U.S. failed us, but because India is ready for us.”
The long-term impact will be transformative. As more global-minded professionals return, they will raise the bar for corporate governance and innovation in India.
The Green Card is no longer the ultimate prize. For India’s people, the real reward lies in building the future at home. The Great Homecoming is underway, and it is a powerful vote of confidence in the promise of the New India.
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