Lure of US citizenship and NRIs return to India – Rajiv Krishna Saxena

Recently (starting Jan 22, 2025) I wrote a series of posts on the portal Linkedin.  These posts went viral and attracted more than 2 lac reads and thousands of likes.  I am archiving these posts on www.geeta-kavita.com  for all readers.  Rajiv Krishna Saxena

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US Citizenship and decision to return home

President Trump has announced that the children born of parents who are temporary residents working in the USA, will no longer be granted US Citizenship automatically. This is a big change. I am reminded of my own story that I would like to share.

My first post-doctoral appointment starting in July 1978, was in the National Institute on Aging at Baltimore. My wife was also a Visiting Fellow in the Immunology Section. We stayed there for 6 years on J1 visa and thoroughly enjoyed that time. I was somehow an age of innocence for America. Working in the lab and then going for a pizza at the South Point Mall or the Fish Sub at Mother Hubbard at Eastern Avenue, were heavenly!  We worked on the regulation of a new category of lymphocytes (Natural Killer Cells) that were recently discovered at that time. Our work went very well and we published about 30 papers including one in Nature, over 6 years.

Our supervisor Dr. Adler was very impressed and wanted us to go for further extension in his lab. We already had a little son (born in New Delhi), and a daughter born in Baltimore.  The latter became a US citizen by birth while our son remained Indian Citizen. When the 6 years were ending, we were in the same dilemma that most Indians who come to USA on J or H visas. Should we stay on or return?
In my opinion, if you don’t work hard for finding a job back home, the default option is that to keep living in the USA. Thereafter, when children grow up, it becomes impossible to return, even if you want. I therefore told my supervisor that I must return to India. That way, even if I don’t like my job in India, I shall not have the regret of not having tried it. We returned to New Delhi in 1984. After our return, we had a life full of turmoil for a few years and we almost decided to give up and return to USA. Fortunately, the situation improved and we stayed on to great careers. I shall in next several pieces share my experiences with you.

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