Home / Your Situation / Immigrant / NRI

🌏

Financial guide for immigrants and nris

US financial planning for immigrants — FBAR compliance, dual-country assets, and building a strong US financial foundation from day one.

Immigrant financial planning is genuinely different. You face unique compliance requirements (FBAR, FATCA, PFIC rules for Indian mutual funds), dual-country asset complexity, and the challenge of building a US financial foundation from scratch — sometimes while planning for a potential return to India. US financial tools — 401(k), Roth IRA, HYSA — are available to H-1B holders starting day one. Every year you defer US retirement savings costs compound growth you cannot recover. And every year you continue holding Indian mutual funds without addressing PFIC exposure adds to your tax risk.

Your action checklist

Work through each step — your progress saves automatically in this browser

Your progress—

Progress is saved in this browser only — no account needed.

Get compliant

Start here

Check your FBAR / FATCA filing requirements

Penalties for non-filing are severe.

→ FBAR Checker 📄 FBAR & FATCA for H-1B holders

Review PFIC exposure on Indian mutual funds

Foreign funds carry punitive US tax rules.

📄 PFIC rules for Indian mutual funds

Map priorities to your visa stage

H-1B vs GC pending vs citizen changes the plan.

→ Immigration Planner

Build a US foundation

First year

Build US credit from zero

A strong score in 12 months lowers every future rate.

→ Credit Building Roadmap

Start US retirement accounts now

401(k) and Roth IRA are available to H-1B holders day one.

→ Retirement Planner

Score your financial integration

See gaps across credit, tax, savings, and retirement.

→ Immigrant Financial Readiness

If you may return to India

Planning ahead

Model the return scenario

Corpus needed, savings gap, and currency risk.

→ Return-to-India Planner 📄 Returning to India — financial guide

Did you know401(k) and Roth IRA accounts are available to H-1B holders from day one — every year you wait costs compounding you can't recover.

Your curated tools

Free calculators and guides selected for your situation

Check your foreign account reporting requirements — penalties for non-filing are severe

Immigration Planner

Financial priorities specific to your visa stage — H-1B, GC pending, new GC, citizen

Retirement Planner

Project your US retirement savings — 401(k) and Roth IRA are available to H-1B holders

Immigrant Financial Readiness

Score your US financial integration across credit, tax, savings, and retirement

Return-to-India Planner

If you may return — calculate the required corpus, savings gap, and currency risk

Credit Building Roadmap

Build a strong US credit score from zero in 12 months

Recommended reading

→FBAR and FATCA explained for H-1B holders →PFIC rules for Indian mutual funds →Returning to India — financial transition guide → Browse all articles

Have a specific question?

Ask the AI Financial Tutor — instant, educational answers to any finance question.

For example: “I'm on an H-1B visa with a savings account in India exceeding $10,000. What do I need to report to the IRS, and what are my most important US financial priorities right now?”

Ask the AI Tutor →

Educational disclaimer: All content on WealthSerene.com is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Projections and calculations are illustrative — actual results will vary based on market conditions, your specific situation, and many factors outside this tool’s scope. Always consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation. View full disclosures →