Lifestyle
Practical information about life as an NRI — customs duties, imports, and day-to-day matters.
The NRI Guide — paperback edition, available worldwide on Amazon
The NRI Guide by V. K. Chand, a reference handbook for NRIs, OCIs, PIOs and foreign nationals with India-related questions. Paperback edition available on Amazon in India, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and most other Amazon regional stores. Covers customs duty, visas, OCI, citizenship, property, taxation, banking, money transfer, inheritance and the practical questions that come up when dealing with India from abroad.
Driving your car from India to Nepal — 2026 practical guide
The current process for taking an Indian-registered car or motorcycle across into Nepal for tourism: the Bhansar Pass issued at the Nepal Customs border office, the daily fee by vehicle type, third-party motor insurance that has to be bought on the Nepal side because Indian insurance does not cover, the 30-day maximum stay and how to extend, the documents every driver needs, the main open border crossings and the reverse-direction Vehicle Permit for Nepalese-registered vehicles entering India.
Giving birth in the USA — pros and cons for Indian parents
What Indian parents on temporary US visas should weigh before and after a child is born in the USA — including the pivotal decision about whether to apply for a US passport, the tax implications of US citizenship, and how to keep Indian-citizenship options open.
Canadian government pensions when you retire in India
How CPP, OAS, and GIS work for Canadians retiring to India — which pensions follow you abroad, which stop, how the 2015 Canada–India social security agreement helps, and the tax withholding to expect.
How to get an International Driving Permit in Mumbai - Delhi
Where and how to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Mumbai and Delhi — the documents required, the Sarathi-era online process, the passport rule that trips up OCI holders, the RTOs in each city, and how to avoid fakes.
Overstaying in India — how to legalise your status
What happens if a former Indian citizen, now a foreign national, has overstayed in India — the Surrender Certificate rule, the role of FRRO and the Bureau of Immigration, exit permits, penalties, and how to get back on the right side of the law and eventually apply for OCI.
Cheaper Air Tickets — Buying from India vs from Your Foreign Country of Residence
A practical guide for NRIs deciding where to book international flights — the directional pricing patterns, currency and TCS implications, the aggregator vs direct-airline trade-off, refund and disruption protection differences, and concrete tips for the most common India travel scenarios.
Help Resources in India — Institutions and Helplines for NRIs, Senior Citizens, and Women
A consolidated directory of official helplines, commissions, and NGOs in India that NRIs, senior citizens, women, children, and victims of cyber fraud or consumer abuse can turn to for help — with the right numbers and portals to use in each situation.
NRI Marriage Problems — Where to Turn for Help
A guide for spouses trapped in NRI marriage fraud, desertion, dowry harassment, or cross-border custody disputes — covering the MEA's passport-impounding mechanism, state NRI cells, relevant Indian and foreign remedies, NGOs, and the preventive checks that avoid these situations in the first place.
Taking Gold Jewellery to India — A Trouble-Free Guide for NRI Passengers
Current duty-free limits on gold jewellery, updated duty rates after the July 2024 Budget, how to use Export Certificates to travel with jewellery out of and back into India, the Detention Receipt mechanism, and the concessional duty pathway for eligible NRIs carrying jewellery above the baggage allowance.