Whether you are a fresh college grad, a professional set to climb the corporate ladder, a green card applicant, or someone who has never set foot abroad, you may have good reason to list the pros and cons of migrating to the US. It is a big decision, and not easily reversible. This article provides a primer on what factors to consider and aims to help you make an informed choice. Your conclusion will likely be based on which of the listed factors hold the most important for you and your dear ones.
What to Expect
America has always welcomed immigrants as a source of talents that are in short supply locally. The US Department of Immigration regularly updates a list of skills, possessing which make applicants eligible for various visa categories. The number of applications under those categories invariably exceeds the quotas. If you plan to apply for US immigration, expect much competition, not just from other Indians but a diverse global community of variously skilled workers. It is a classic case of supply exceeding demand, which means the US authorities get to dictate all the terms. Strict immigration policies and employment guidelines regulate virtually every important aspect of new immigrants’ lives. The policies also change frequently, sometimes unpredictably.
Having noted these facts, it is equally important to state that skilled migrants can make great careers in the land of opportunity. You can expect a structured, professional work environment in the US, markedly better pay compared to similar positions back home, and an undeniable professional dignity, which is part of the appeal for many. Qualified professionals are highly respected and sought after, especially in the technical and medical fields. Dedicated workers with a long-term career focus will have little problem rising up the ranks in US firms. Following the necessary procedures, over time you can gain US citizenship, which places you on equal footing with US-born citizens. That means equal rights and social security, among other things.
For most green card aspirants there are two primary attractions – a better standard of living and improved quality of life. Let’s start with the first.
Standard of Living
The cost of living abroad (obviously) differs for singles, married couples, couples with children and depending on whether both partners have jobs. It will also depend on your lifestyle. If you like shopping sprees, parties, exotic vacations and the like, you will find plenty of avenues in most parts of the US. An American salary can sound like quite a handful by Indian standards. Someone earning 2,000 US dollars a month, which is no big cheese over there, amounts to about 138,000 INR. That figure is well over three times the per capita GDP of India (according to IMF 2017 estimates), and good cause to boast. In the early career stages, US jobs may pay significantly more than back home in currency conversion terms. At the same time, one has to consider the cost of living abroad. Rents in major cities can be quite high, and depending on lifestyle the cost of everyday living can vary a lot. Moreover, the gulf between salaries is not as wide as it used to be a few decades earlier. An increasingly large number of professionals are reporting that at senior levels salaries in India can match or exceed the compensation offered for similar roles on US soil. This trend is not uniform across professions, although it seems to be broadening. Add to it the fact that expats often characterize the US as a materialistic society. Peers and others may judge you by your possessions. It is common in married couples for both partners to have full-time jobs in order to accumulate the wealth which others must see you spending. Elevated stress is apt to accompany an elevated standard of living.
Quality of Life
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to experience living in a developed nation for any length of time are better poised to appreciate the following points. There are several things first world residents may take for granted. Good roads, uninterrupted power and water, dependable law and order, reliable connectivity, efficient public transit and similar factors relate to infrastructure. In addition, there are cultural aspects that may not seem immediately evident or important. These constitute road discipline, civic sense, clean public spaces, aesthetic outdoors, pollution levels, general order, interactions with strangers, and so on. These are things that directly contribute to the quality of life and you cannot buy them with money. Developed economies present more opportunities for outdoor activities, pursuing hobbies and sports, and checking things off your bucket list. You can cultivate a robust and fulfilling social network, and not just online. The more you adapt to the local culture, the longer the list of possibilities.
A surprising deviation from the benefits of living in a developed nation is the state of healthcare in the US. Most treatments are expensive, even for Americans, and US insurance companies are notoriously likely to deny claims. For several treatments such as surgeries, expats report that traveling back and forth to get the procedure done in India is significantly cheaper, even having factored in the flights and other expenses.
Another matter to consider is stress. US firms are much less tolerant of blunders and inconsistent performance at work. Employers pay top dollar and expect top performance. Accountability is at the heart of the work culture. The pressure to deliver in a competitive environment is ever present when you know that many are just waiting to fill your job.
The Family Perspective
Family was cited as the leading cause among Indians who returned after living in the US for years. The value and configuration of the family unit are where the two cultures differ the most. Divorces and single parenthood are common in the US. Caring for aging parents is undeniably higher on the priority list for Indians.
If your kids are born in the US, an unavoidable cultural rift will form between them and the family members who reside in India (including the grandparents), regardless of how frequently you call or visit. Even you will gradually start to lose touch (and interest) with some of your friends and family back home. As your children go to schools, make American friends and grow up, they will become increasingly American culturally. Most parents with US-born teens report that it is hard enough for them to adjust to India during visits, let alone consider moving back.
There is also the question of your parents. Most professionals cannot afford to immigrate their parents to the US, even if they are willing, during early career. By the time you advance to a better position and income, your parents may be too old to migrate. The cultural adjustment can be just too much beyond a certain age. Even their US visits can become uncomfortable for them (and for you). Living apart from your parents can make you feel helpless as they advance in age and care issues arise. At some point sending money to India may not be enough to keep everyone happy. Moreover, care is not the only issue. Your parents may get increasingly unhappy to have to live apart from you as their circle of friends and family diminishes. Meanwhile, you may decide that India is not the right environment to raise your own children. That thought might quickly dissipate once you figure out how much it can cost to send your kids to a good college in the US! The more time you spend in the US, the harder it generally becomes to move back.
In Summary
There is no absolute final answer to the question in the title, and certainly not one which will please everybody. There are droves of people wanting and trying to settle abroad. Of the multitudes that are already living in the US, a minuscule percentage ever wants to return. Everyone has their own priorities and is affected by a unique set of circumstances. Hopefully, this post provided a portion of the information and insight you need to answer the question for yourself.