Indians in the USA: paperwork on both sides

Updated: 2026-10

In the US your paperwork follows your status: visa approvals, the I-94, maybe a long green card wait. Taxes reach your Indian accounts too. Here are the tasks most Indians in the US meet, with checklists for both countries.

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The US side

Social Security number
Apply for a Social Security number if your status allows you to work; you need it for payroll, taxes and credit. SSA
Visa, approval notices and I-94
Keep your visa, I-797 approval notices and I-94 record together: the I-94 shows how long you may stay, which can differ from the visa stamp. I-94
Green card
For employment-based green cards, the Visa Bulletin shows when you may file the I-485. Keep medical, financial and civil documents ready. USCIS I-485 · Visa Bulletin
Taxes and foreign accounts
US tax residents file on worldwide income. If your foreign accounts (including NRE, NRO and fixed deposits) pass the reporting thresholds, you may also need an FBAR and Form 8938. FinCEN FBAR · IRS Form 8938
Health insurance
Most people are covered through work; otherwise the ACA marketplace has an enrolment window and special periods after a move. HealthCare.gov
Driver's licence and REAL ID
Licences are issued by each state; rules for new residents and documents differ. USA.gov

The Indian side

NRE and NRO accounts
Under FEMA you tell your Indian bank when you become non-resident: resident savings accounts become NRO, and an NRE account takes money earned abroad. Interest that is tax-free in India can still be taxable in your US return. Check the current rules with your bank and the RBI.
PAN and Indian tax status
Your Indian tax residence depends on the days you spend in India. Keep your PAN record current and file an Indian return when you have Indian income such as NRO interest or rent. India and the US have a tax treaty. Check on the e-Filing portal.
Your parents' B1/B2 visa
Parents visiting from India apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa with an interview. Check the current fee and wait times on travel.state.gov.
Home loan and property in India
Tell your lender you are now an NRI, pay EMIs from an NRE or NRO account, give a trusted person a power of attorney, and keep property tax and rent (with tax deducted at source) in order.
OCI if you become American
The US allows dual citizenship, India does not: naturalising means giving up Indian citizenship. Surrender your Indian passport and apply for an OCI card; check the current fee on the OCI portal.

How Raaya helps

Two countries, one setup
Tell Raaya where you live and where you're from. It suggests journeys for both countries: in the US, for example, your green card or visa paperwork; in India, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN or your parents' visa.
Explain this letter
Snap or upload an official letter, from a foreigners' office, tax office, council or your bank in India. Raaya explains it in your language: who sent it, what it wants, the deadline and what to do. One tap adds the step and a reminder.
Expiry radar
Passport, residence permit, Blue Card, visa, driving licence and health insurance card: Raaya reminds you 6 and 3 months before they run out, flags a passport with less than 6 months left, and one tap starts a renewal journey with the checklist.
Two currencies
See dollars and rupees side by side across money and loans, and in splits (Pro), using the European Central Bank's daily reference rates. Totals across currencies are always marked as approximate.
Family in their own languages
Invite your partner or parents into the same journey (Pro). Each person reads the chat, updates and notifications in their own language, Hindi included.
Sub-journeys
Split a big move into one main journey with sub-journeys (visa, flat, bank in India). The parent shows progress like “5/8 · next: 14 Nov”, and you can share one sub-journey with just the people it concerns (sharing is Pro).

Ready-made checklists

Each checklist opens as a free page with the steps, documents and official sources; start it in Raaya with one tap.

Browse all templates

Indians in other countries

Questions

Do I need to report my NRE and NRO accounts in the US?

Possibly. US tax residents report worldwide income, and foreign accounts above the reporting thresholds can need an FBAR and Form 8938. Check FinCEN and the IRS, and ask a tax professional for your case.

How do my parents get a US visitor visa?

They apply for a B1/B2 visa from India and attend an interview. Check the current fee and appointment wait times on travel.state.gov; Raaya's B1/B2 checklist lists the documents, and a shared journey keeps their papers together.

Can I keep my Indian passport if I become a US citizen?

No. India does not allow dual citizenship, so you surrender your Indian passport after naturalising. An OCI card then gives you a lifelong visa for India.

Does Raaya work in Hindi?

Yes. The app, letter explanations and notifications work in Hindi and 27 other languages, and in a shared journey each family member uses their own language.

What does Raaya cost?

Raaya is free to start: journeys, an on-device document vault and 20 AI credits a month. Pro costs €7.99 a month or €69.99 a year (the store shows your local price) and adds 200 credits, a 5 GB cloud vault, sync, sharing with up to 5 people and World watch.

Official sources

General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and fees change: check the official source for your case before you act.

Indians in the USA: paperwork on both sides

The US side

Social Security number

Visa, approval notices and I-94

Green card

Taxes and foreign accounts

Health insurance

Driver's licence and REAL ID

The Indian side

NRE and NRO accounts

PAN and Indian tax status

Your parents' B1/B2 visa

Home loan and property in India

OCI if you become American

How Raaya helps

Two countries, one setup

Explain this letter

Expiry radar

Two currencies

Family in their own languages

Sub-journeys