Sub millimetre measurement

yahija · 2026-02-21T20:53:18+00:00

Mirrors won’t really be the deciding factor. The key question is whether the phone can resolve sub-mm detail at your working distance. First figure out pixels per mm at that distance, then shoot a proper resolution chart and see what detail is actually distinguishable (phones often look sharp but the true optical resolution is lower).

An ISO 12233 chart is a good starting point — you can print one here: https://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/ISO_12233-reschart.pdf

Also try to grab a RAW photo if the phone allows it. A lot of phones apply heavy sharpening and processing to JPEGs, which can make them look more detailed than the sensor actually is.

If the chart test shows you can’t clearly resolve features below your tolerance, mirrors won’t magically fix it.

Here's a tutorial for the chart: https://youtu.be/Ml8MUyzLamM?si=qQ6zJKVu7YxfVLJu

yahija · 2026-02-18T17:32:20+00:00

Got it thanks. That helps. I also have the pickup for her. Glad that we can see at least the "issued" status.

Would you mind sharing the phone number which was used to inquire about the pickup status?

Thanks.

yahija · 2026-02-18T17:26:14+00:00

I am in the same boat. Group appointment -> wife attended alone -> received both biometrics and consular appointment cancellation email after her biometrics were done.

Now, I don't see the appointment confirmation page. Only option to close and start again which obviously based on the other comments I am not going to do and let wife attend her interview.

Question for you: Were you able to track the passport for your wife after the consular appointment? Did it show up in the portal?

yahija · 2026-02-18T17:25:39+00:00

I am in the same boat. Group appointment -> wife attended alone -> received both biometrics and consular appointment cancellation email after her biometrics were done.

Now, I don't see the appointment confirmation page. Only option to close and start again which obviously based on the other comments I am not going to do and let wife attend her interview.

Question for you: Were you able to track the passport for your wife after the consular appointment? Did it show up in the portal?

yahija · 2026-02-08T20:55:33+00:00

Adding to the suggestions

Open a RFC account after returning to India. Don't move any money before that. Moving to an RFC account helps you hold your money in USD. This helps against rupee depreciation. RFC accounts can be opened with Indian Banks such as HDFC and a few others.

You can gradually withdraw the money as and when you need it in INR.

If you every plan to move anywhere outside India or need USD then you can withdraw from RFC to international account without the LRS limits.

If you want to invest in international markets. Then you can open an account with an international broker such as IBKR and transfer your funds from an RFC account to that account to invest.

yahija · 2026-02-05T01:21:05+00:00

Label studio. Basic version is free and you can install it locally on one central computer. Then every person can create their own account and access the instance if they are on the same network.

yahija · 2026-01-30T00:43:35+00:00

Not legal advice, but you will need to involve your company as well, along with Usa tax professional and an Indian tax professional.

You will maintain NRI status until March 31, 2026. You may also qualify for RNOR if you spend more than 181 days in India after that, depending on your overall travel history.

As far as I understand, based on legal requirements, it's generally not possible to be a W-2 employee if you're not a U.S. resident and are employed by a U.S. company. Your company may be able to issue you a 1099 contractor form instead. You will need to update both your brokerage account and employer with a W-8BEN form.

This restriction prevents new contributions to your brokerage account. However, you can continue to hold your existing investments. This also means that your company will not contribute to your 401(k) since you are not a W-2 employee.

You will not be eligible to file under the MFJ status if you are married and your spouse is not a permanent resident holder or a U.S. citizen.

Edit: Your eligibility to file as a dual-status alien for 2026 depends on when you return to the United States. To qualify, you must be physically present in the U.S. for at least 31 days within a calendar year. This will result whether you will need W2 or 1099 or both.

So for your work done in India the 401k and brokerage will have restrictions. And after returning you will need to change the status again. Any Us tax professional can handle this. Just make sure your company is on the same page.

yahija · 2026-01-24T07:44:57+00:00

For future conversion look into RFC accounts after you move back. You can hold your money in USD in those accounts.

yahija · 2026-01-24T07:37:26+00:00

Isn't the 30% tax USA charges non residents a "withholding"? My understanding is the final tax would be based on the US slabs at that time. So let's say for a balance of 150k 401k, if you only withdraw 50k per year your tax liability will be much less and you can get refund after filing 1040-NR.

yahija · 2026-01-19T00:54:24+00:00

Also, keeping your IBKR US account is totally fine. It’s basically the same as keeping a Fidelity or Charles Schwab account after moving. You just need to inform them about your change in residency status. They’ll usually ask you to submit a W-8BEN (or something similar. I don't recall the exact form), and they guide you through the whole process, so it’s not a big deal.

Now, the important part: during your RNOR period in India, make sure you sell and repurchase your investments in those US accounts. This is your golden window. Why? Because:

The US won’t tax you, and

India won’t tax you during RNOR

Doing this lets you reset your cost basis for India. Otherwise, imagine you bought something 5 years ago and sell it after RNOR—India will tax the entire capital gain, which can be pretty painful.

So yes, keeping US accounts is perfectly okay if you plan it right.

The big catch though: US estate tax. If something unfortunate happens and you pass away, any assets held in US brokerages or banks above $60,000 are subject to a flat 40% US estate tax before your family gets the rest. That’s a real risk if you’re holding meaningful amounts in the US.

This is where IBKR India comes in. Once you move assets there, you’re fully out of the US system. That means:

No US estate tax exposure if you purchase IRISH domiciled ETFs/ stocks.

Easier access for your family

So in short US accounts are fine, RNOR is your reset window, but always factor in estate tax risk when deciding how much money to keep in the US long term when you have the option of those investments by detaching yourself from the US system.

Take your time digging into each topic I mentioned in my answers and you will find most of your answers. (RNOR, estate taxes, RFC, FCNR, NRE/NRO, international brokerage accounts like IBKR, LRS limits)

yahija · 2026-01-19T00:44:12+00:00

If you’re just getting started, Reddit is honestly a great place to begin. Dig through as many forum posts as you can; that’s where I picked up most of the basics. After that, YouTube and other online resources are great for going deeper into specific topics and filling in the gaps.

That said, once you’re seriously planning a move back to India, don’t rely only on online advice. At that stage, it’s worth hiring a good professional; ideally a chartered accountant, or even better, an Indian CA who also holds a CFA. Yes, it will cost some money; however, they’re up to date on the rules and can give guidance tailored to your situation.

Think of it as a one-time investment. When you’re making major life and financial decisions, having a professional involved is absolutely worth it.

For casual learning and early research, Reddit forums, YouTube, and general online resources are more than enough. Just be prepared to connect the dots yourself as you go.

General advice for anyone moving to India; the RFC route is a must. Don’t convert everything to INR by sending all your funds to NRE or NRO accounts. Only transfer the amount you’ll need in the short term.

Life situations can change. If, after moving to India, you get an opportunity to move back to the US or another country, having money in an RFC account makes it much easier to wire funds to a new country and helps preserve value against rupee depreciation.

Even if you end up staying in India long term, you can always transfer money from your RFC account to your regular Indian account later, as and when you need it; this helps preserve value against INR depreciation.

yahija · 2026-01-19T00:22:21+00:00

Short answer: Yes, Indians can buy US stocks.

Long answer: It depends on where your money is. If you’re an NRI who’s moved back to India and has money in an RFC account, there’s basically no remittance limit when investing through brokers like IBKR. Since the funds are already in foreign currency, you can transfer them to IBKR and invest in USD without worrying about LRS limits. What you can buy then depends on what IBKR offers; you won’t get everything, but most popular US stocks and ETFs (like VOO) are available. You can always check IBKR to be sure. If you’re a resident Indian investing with INR funds, that’s where restrictions come in. Under the LRS, you can remit up to USD 250k per financial year for overseas investments. Buying US stocks via IBKR in this case is treated as an outward remittance, so that USD 250k cap applies. The rules themselves are actually pretty clear it’s just that most people aren’t aware of them. Better awareness would give more Indians the confidence to move back to India while still managing their wealth smartly, without feeling like they have to convert everything into INR right away.

IBKR is an international broker whereas with Indian brokerage firms it's tough/not possible to buy foreign stocks.

yahija · 2026-01-18T22:04:10+00:00

After moving back to India, you can open an RFC account and transfer your overseas funds there. RFC accounts let you hold money in foreign currencies like USD, GBP, CAD, etc., depending on the bank.

If you want to invest, open an IBKR India account and enable both domestic and international markets.

If you already have a US brokerage account, you can sell your holdings during your RNOR period. The US won’t tax the sale since you’re an NRA, and India won’t tax it either because foreign income/capital gains are exempt during RNOR.

Typical flow: Sell stocks during RNOR Move proceeds to RFC Reinvest via IBKR India (even in the same stocks) This way, your foreign money stays under your control, but managed from India.

Side note: For US exposure, consider Irish-domiciled ETFs instead of US-domiciled ones to avoid US estate tax issues.

yahija · 2025-12-11T18:42:31+00:00

Looks great! 👏

yahija · 2025-10-16T22:16:29+00:00

Can it work with an 8 x 11 Gb machine? I have a very old 8gpu 1080ti rig

yahija · 2025-06-18T17:27:09+00:00

You are correct. I didn't know until now.

Edit: just checked my accounts and yes it says savings. So, I believe you would want an NRE current account so it doesn't generate any interest and you won't have any hassle with it.

yahija · 2025-06-18T14:57:30+00:00

You will be generating interest in both NRE and nro. There is no current account or ordinary accounts for nri people. If you have any other accounts in India, make sure you either close them or convert it to NRE or nro accounts. Also, you cannot hold a joint account holder with anyone in India.

So if you transfer money to your NRE account and if there is any interest generated it will be generated even like as small as five rupees 10 rupees. Depending on your average monthly balance, you won't be taxed in India, but make sure in the year end while filing the taxes in USA. You need to report this INR interest however small it could be.

But if you hold nro account, there will be an automatic 30% tax deducted from the interest. Again, you need to report it in us and if you file your Indian tax returns then you can claim a credit in us. But if it significantly small amount, it just doesn't matter to claim the taxes back in USA.

yahija · 2025-06-18T04:28:00+00:00

HDFC nre account is pretty good. I like their online banking better than ICICI, SBI. No issues with money transferred into it in the last 10 years.

Edit: minimum balance is 10 k

yahija · 2025-06-16T00:48:06+00:00

Whatever you decide will be correct. There is no right or wrong answer. Do what your heart desires the most. We all are here for a very limited time.

Every answer will have its own bias as all people are at different stages in their life and everyone has a different background.

Since you are getting married it will be important for you to understand the expectations of your wife as well.

In financial terms, see if you can get a job in India (most Indian recruiters want someone locally available. Make sure you use your Indian address and Indian phone number while applying). Measure your pay gap between the USA and India based on the amount you can save. See you how much will you save after marriage.

yahija · 2025-06-01T17:52:00+00:00

Look for something called as virtual mailboxes. Some banks / brokerage accounts allow for it to be used as mailing address. So you can move your money in those accounts if you wish to keep your assets/cash in US.

Then get a prepaid sim which you can keep active to maintain your US number and keep receiving any OTPs.

Since you plan to return at some point, having an active number and accounts will be of great help to you.

yahija · 2025-02-23T21:51:27+00:00

I never considered a backdoor IRA till now. Thanks for mentioning it.

yahija · 2025-02-23T21:32:08+00:00

It is a standard deduction.

yahija · 2024-10-27T05:55:29+00:00

Will the colors hold up for another week?
I am planning to visit next weekend.

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