Travel rules, money transfers, taxes, what to pack, where to buy your atta — written by NRIs who've been through it. Free, no signup, no ads.
What you can bring, what'll get flagged, and the OCI/visa changes that came into effect this year.
Personal effects + ₹50,000 worth of goods duty-free if staying >3 days. Drops to ₹15,000 for stays under 3 days. Laptops are separate — one personal laptop is exempt.
Gold: men 20g (₹50k), women 40g (₹1L) duty-free if NRI 6+ months. Above this — duty applies. Cash > $5,000 USD equivalent must be declared. Drones and satellite phones — prohibited.
e-Tourist visa now valid 5 years for US/CA citizens. OCI cardholders: re-issue no longer needed on new passport after 21 (rule paused Feb 2026). Always carry both passports if OCI.
DEL, BOM, BLR now have e-Gates for Indian passport holders — under 2 min clearance. OCI holders can use FTI-TTP (free) for biometric express lanes at 7 airports.
Bring a doctor's prescription for any scheduled medication. 90-day supply allowed for personal use. Narcotics (incl. some ADHD meds) — declare and carry Rx. CBD products — prohibited.
Packaged food: yes (vacuum-sealed). Fresh fruits, plants, seeds: no. Cheese, meat: declare. Vitamins & supplements: keep originals. Protein powder is fine but expect inspection.
Rated by NRI travelers on immigration speed, lounge access, food, and connectivity.
What's new for OCI holders, e-visa applicants, and people switching between study/work permits in 2026.
Simplified by MEA in Feb 2026. Old rules are gone for most cases.
Now valid 5 years for US, Canadian and most Schengen citizens. Multi-entry, up to 90 days per visit. $40 fee. Apply 4 days before travel.
Single or multi-entry up to 1 year. Indian sponsor/hospital invitation required. Useful for spouses of OCI holders attending family medical needs.
FY26 H1B cap reached again. 2026 update: beneficiary-centric lottery is now permanent — one entry per applicant regardless of multiple employers.
Cap on study permits extended into 2026. PGWP eligibility tightened to PGWP-eligible programs only. Express Entry CRS cutoffs hovering around 510.
Live mid-market rates and a head-to-head of the cheapest services this week.
What changed in India, the US and Canada in 2026 — for NRIs, residents-for-tax, and dual filers.
Premium estimator + curated plans that work for students, families, and visiting parents.
Budget reality-check + the tactics that actually work for new arrivals with zero credit.
The single most effective fix for no-credit-history. Landlords care about risk — prepayment removes it. Don't pay 6+ months; it's a red flag of its own and the deposit limit varies by state/province.
US: Insurent, TheGuarantors (~75–85% of one month's rent, one-time).
Canada: Singlekey, Liv Rent's RentPanda — acts as institutional guarantor with verifiable income from anywhere.
Offer letter or I-20/CAS, last 3 bank statements (translated), SSN/SIN application proof, India CIBIL score letter (yes, some accept it). Walk in prepared and most landlords skip the credit check.
Big property management firms (Equity, Avalon, GreenTree) have strict 700+ FICO rules. Individual landlords on Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, PadMapper are flexible. Always verify the listing in person.
Get a secured card (Discover It / Capital One Quicksilver in US · KOHO, Neo in CA) within week 1. Pay rent through Bilt, Boom, Borrowell RentAdvantage to start reporting on-time payments to bureaus.
For students & new arrivals. Check items off — your progress saves on this device.
Verified stores that ship Indian groceries, sweets, sarees and gifts to North American addresses.
The OG Indian supermarket chain. 50+ stores, also ships pantry staples nationwide via patelbrothersusa.com.
Fresh produce, sweets, hot tiffin from local restaurants. NYC, Chicago, SF Bay, Boston, Seattle, Houston.
Specialty spices, lentils, ready-meals. Premium quality, ships from California.
Mithai for Diwali / Rakhi gifting. Vacuum sealed, overnight ship to anywhere in US.
Iconic NYC store. Online catalog of 5000+ items including hard-to-find regional ingredients.
Wide assortment, frequent discounts, free shipping over $79. Ships to all 50 states.
Where NRIs actually hang out online and in person. Vetted, active, and free to join.
Largest open NRI community. Tax questions, return-to-India debates, OCI woes. Read first, post second.
F1, OPT, H1B journey threads. University-specific megathreads every admit season.
CRS draw watch, PGWP timelines, study permit refusals. Slightly chaotic but accurate.
Volunteer CAs answer DTAA + Form 67 questions. Most active Mar–Jul (filing season).
Search your university + “Indian students 2026” — every batch has one. Subletting, rides, masala swaps.
Indian tech professionals in N.A. Referrals, salary thread, conference meetups.
BAGC, IACO, KSANA, GVHO — chapter-based festivals, Diwali Mela, Holi events. Best way to meet families.
Language-learning meetups (great for second-gen kids), book clubs, classical music circles.