Pointers for NRI who is planning his return to India

An article from Economictimes

Here are some pointers for the NRI who is planning his return to India:

1. An NRI who is relocating to India as per ruling of the FEMA act, can bring back his assets and pay no tax on them in India. The assets accumulated in the foreign country would have been subject to local tax before being moved over to India.Wealth tax is also exempt up to 7 years. Wealth tax exemption is also available on any asset purchased in India from the money he brings back from the foreign country within one year of relocating.

2. After he becomes an Indian resident, he can continue to hold his assets in foreign currency in his RFC (Resident foreign currency account). He can freely spend or invest the amount held in the RFC account anywhere abroad without restrictions.

3. Also, the NRI can continue holding assets (broking account/mutual funds/gold ETFs) abroad and needs no permission to do so after relocating to India. He does not even have to declare that he is holding these assets abroad.

4. However, he will need RBI permission to serve a loan taken when in the foreign country.

5. As long the the NRI maintains the NOR (Not ordinarily resident) status, any income earned from his assets held abroad will not be taxed in India.

6. On NOR status the following rules apply for the NRI moving back:The government confers a special status on people who become residents under the Income Tax Act. If a person has been a non-resident for nine years, he can be an NOR for a year. If a person has been a non-resident for 10 years or more, he can be an NOR for two years. Further, under the Income Tax Act, there is a clause that if he has stayed in India for less than 730 days during the past seven years, he will be given an

Filing of income-tax return in India by NRIs--Procedure

An article from economictimes daily








If the NRI is not registered with the Indian tax authorities, the first step towards filing the income-tax return would be to make an application for allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN) in Form 49A. The PAN should be quoted in all correspondences with Indian tax authorities, including income-tax return. The application can be made either in physical form or electronically. Based on the nature of income, appropriate income-tax return form needs to be filled. The relevant forms for NRI's for tax year 2008-09 are as under: ITR 1 Individuals having income from salary/ pension/ family pension & interestITR 2 Individuals not having income from business/ profession ITR 3 Individuals who are partners in a partnership firm and do not carry out any other business/ professionITR 4 Individuals having income from business/ profession The income-tax return can be filed either in physical form or electronically on website of the income-tax department (www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in) Under physical filing option, the NRI must fill the relevant ITR form and submit the same alongwith the acknowledgment (ITR V) to the concerned income-tax office duly signed and verified. If the individual is not present in India, the income-tax return and the acknowledgement should be signed by a person duly authorised by him and holding a valid power of attorney.

Under the electronic filing option, the NRI is required to fill in the necessary details and validate the ITR form. Upon validation, a XML file is generated, which is uploaded on the website with a Digital Signature (NB: Digital signature is required to be separately obtained from specified Digital Signature Issuing Authorities). However, if the XML file is uploaded without a digital signature, the individual is required to print the acknowledgement and submit the same through ordinary post at the following address within thirty days from the date of uploading the income-tax return.

Income-tax Department - Centralized Processing Center (CPC) Post Box No 1, Electronic City Post Office, Bangalore - 560100, Karnataka

It is important to note that the acknowledgement generated upon uploading of return is a password protected file. The password to open the file is PAN number (in lower case) and date of birth (ddmmyyyy) of the individual. For eg, if the PAN of the individual is ABCDE9999X and his date of birth is 1 October 1975, the password to open the acknowledgment would be abcde9999x01101975.

Upon receipt of ITR V, the CPC would send a confirmation e-mail on the email address mentioned in the income-tax return. The due date for filing income-tax return for tax year 2008-09 is 31 July. Where the NRI is working partner in a firm or is engaged in business/ profession whose accounts are liable to be audited, the due date is 30 September.

Links to answer related questions

Who is a Non resident in India?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4808428.cms

Which income of NRIs is taxable in India?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4808419.cms


Why NRIs are required to file income-tax returns in India?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4808417.cms


Consequence of not filing income-tax return by NRI:-
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4808390.cms


Issues faced by NRI's in preparation & filing of income-tax return:-
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4808364.cms

The U.S. visa process, an overview

This Article has been taken from "Hindu" daily

Despite the recent economic downturn, travel between India and the U.S. remains robust, with more direct air routes opening all the time. Vibrant communities of Indian expatriates now exist in every corner of the U.S., from Silicon Valley to Atlanta, Georgia, creating an ever-increasing demand for Indian-made goods, cultural programs, business meetings and family visits. Americans of Indian descent are increasingly prominent in U.S. politics, education, medicine and popula r culture, stimulating further interest in India and its traditions.

Indian students continue to play an important role in U.S. higher education, with some 94,000 currently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. Indian students in the U.S. have earned a widespread reputation as hardworking, energetic representatives of their homeland, and many are heavily recruited for employment opportunities upon completion of their studies.
Skilled IT professionals from India play an important role in many U.S. industries, from developing new products for high-tech companies to providing back-office support for financial advisors.

In 2008, the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai issued more than 2,25,000 non-immigrant visas of all types. While it’s certainly true that work visas are an important part of our portfolio -- indeed, the Consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad continue to issue almost a third of all U.S. work visas worldwide -- frequently overlooked are the myriad non-work visas that we issue every day:

* The couple from Coimbatore going to visit their grandchildren in America for the first time;
* Groups of stone-carving shilpis who will help create Hindu temples;
* Troupes of traditional Carnatic musicians going to perform at a cultural festival;
* A pastry chef taking up a position on a cruise ship;
* College students participating in a youth leadership exchange with an American university.

Each of these cases represents an important opportunity for cross-cultural interactions, and has the potential for establishing further connections between our countries.De-mystified
Applying for a visa to the U.S. should not be a mysterious or intimidating process, and we continually seek ways to make the process as transparent as possible. To that end, we will present over the next few days a series of informative articles intended to “demystify” our approach to visas for work, study and tourism.
Recognising that there are many sources of potentially disastrous advice out there, we will also briefly discuss what not to do when making your application.

Visa Process

To schedule a visa appointment, your first stop should be the Consulate’s website: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov. You will find there a comprehensive guide to selecting an appointment time, paying the visa fees, completing your online visa application form and preparing your supporting documents. Thanks to an India-wide U.S. visa initiative over the past two years, appointments are generally available within a few days.

On the date of your scheduled visa interview, you should arrive at the Consulate no more than one hour before your appointment time. You will be escorted through a security screening, and then directed to an intake window. Once we’ve taken an electronic scan of your fingerprints and verified your personal information, you will be interviewed by an American Consular Officer.
During your interview, be prepared to explain to the Consular Officer why you wish to visit the U.S. It is helpful to have details of your itinerary, with dates, travel destinations and planned accommodations. Bear in mind that the Consular Officer has several responsibilities to consider during the visa interview: to allow legitimate travel to the U.S., to prevent unlawful immigration, and to protect U.S. borders from travellers with bad intentions. ‘Establish connections to India’
It is your responsibility to establish your connections to India by demonstrating your employment, family and social obligations. Such connections help us to see that your intention is to stay temporarily in the U.S. and then return to India, as is required for most types of non-immigrant visas.
While you are welcome to bring documents with you to demonstrate your ties to India, understand that the officer may not request to see the documents. Please don’t take it personally; the most important information will be conveyed via your interview, during which you should endeavour to answer the officer’s questions honestly and completely, in your own words. Memorised or rehearsed answers are typically not helpful in determining your connection to India, and will not help you obtain a visa. In short: relax, be yourself, and remember the officer is only human.

Of course, not everyone will qualify for a visa. If your application is refused, you will receive an information sheet explaining the immigration law that applies to your case. In most cases, you are welcome to reapply in the future if your situation changes.

In order to make your interview appointment as convenient as possible, the Consulate has implemented several physical improvements in the past year. We now have more intake and interview windows, more adjudicating officers, and an on-site photographer. In addition, VFS, our appointment contractor, has a waiting lounge at their nearby office, where for a small fee you can relax as you await. your appointment time.

We look forward to seeing you at the Consulate to discuss your travel needs, and hope that your trip to the Consulate will be an enjoyable precursor to your visit to the U.S.
U.S. Consulate General: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

GM Diet to lose your Weight

The following diet and health program was apparently developed for the employees and the dependants of General Motors Inc.The program was developed in conjunction with the grant from the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was first tried at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors of General Motors Corporation at a general meeting on August 15, 1995.

Day One
All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consists of all fruits you want. It is suggested you consume lots of watermelon and cantaloupe.
Day Two
All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the new and cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the account or type. Avoid oil and coconut while cooking vegetables. Have large boiled potato for breakfast.
Day Three
Any mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet and no potatoes today.
Day Four
Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. You can also have one bowl of vegetables soup.
Day Five
Today is a feast day. You will eat 1 (one) cup of rice. You also have to eat 6 (six) whole tomatoes and drink 12 (twelve) glasses of water today to cleanse your system of the excess uric acid you will be producing.
Day Six
Today is another all vegetables day. You must eat 1 cup of rice today and eat all the vegetables you want cooked and uncooked to your heart's content.
Day Seven
Today your food intake will consist of 1 cup rice, fruit juice and all the vegetables you care to consume. Tomorrow morning you will be five to eight kilograms lighter than 1 week ago. If you desire further weight loss, repeat the program again. Repeat the program as often as you like, however, it is suggested that you rest for three days before every repetition.

Tips and Pitfalls at the Table

Beginning
Developing the habit of taking a moment to observe which starting method will be operative at an event can be very useful in preventing awkward mistakes. It will ensure, for example, that an agnostic guest never finds himself with laden fork pushed halfway into his mouth just as the host begins to say grace.
There are two common approaches to determining how to begin, and, whichever method is used, it should be followed at the start of each course of the meal. At smaller events, it is common to wait to take a bite until everyone at the table has received a serving and the hostess has begun eating. Sometimes a hostess may urge her guests to eat immediately upon receiving the food. This is especially true at larger events, where waiting for everyone would allow it to get cold. In this case, wait until one or two of the other guests are ready to begin as well, so that you are not the only person at the table who is eating.

Posture:

("Elbows, elbows, if you're able -- keep your elbows off the table!")Proper posture at the table is very important. Sit up straight, with your arms held near your body. You should neither lean on the back of the chair nor bend forward to place the elbows on the table. It is permissible to lean forward slightly every now and then and press the elbows very lightly against the edge of the table, if it is obvious that you are not using them for support.

Eating Soup

Dip the spoon into the soup, moving it away from the body, until it is about two-thirds full, then sip the liquid (without slurping) from the side of the spoon (without inserting the whole bowl of the spoon into the mouth). The theory behind this is that a diner who scoops the spoon toward himself is more likely to slosh soup onto his lap, although it is difficult to imagine what sort of eater would stroke the spoon so forcefully through the liquid that he creates waves. It is perfectly fine to tilt the bowl slightly -- again away from the body -- to get the last spoonful or two of soup.

Eating Bouillon
It is not very well known, undoubtedly because it is no longer in fashion to serve it, that if you are given bouillon in a soup cup with a handle, you may pick up the cup and sip the broth directly from it, even if a soupspoon has been provided. If there are any bits of vegetables or meat in the bouillon, they should be eaten with the spoon before you begin sipping.

Finger Bowl:

The finger bowl has hovered on the brink of obsolescence for over a century without entirely disappearing. This is probably why it provides the critical obstacle in the story of the man, either a foreigner or a bumpkin (depending on the teller), who is a guest at a formal dinner party. When a servant offers him a bowl of water at the end of the meal, he drinks it. The hostess presiding at the event is so poised and utterly well-mannered that, without skipping a beat, she drinks her bowl down, too, thus saving him the embarrassment of realizing the extent of his faux pas. This tale has reached almost the status of urban legend, and it is told in many variations. The hostess may be a family matriarch or someone very well-known, say Eleanor Roosevelt or Queen Victoria, but the finger bowl seems to be a constant.
Fortunately, the main difficulty lies in recognizing the finger bowl when you see it, which, at formal events, will be either before or after the dessert course. Often there is a slice of lemon floating in the water. Once you are presented with one, all you need to know is that you should delicately dip your fingertips in the water (no scrubbing), dry them off with your napkin (equally delicately), and set the bowl to the side of your plate.

Offering Food
Take note, when you are the host of a party, of the way you offer additional servings to your guests. Urging someone to "have another (or a second or third) helping" can be seen as an unpleasant insinuation that the guest has eaten too much. It is best to phrase each offer of food as if the dish has just been brought out for the first time.

"Please Pass the Salt"

"Please Pass the Salt"
The proper response to this very simple sounding request is to pick up both the salt and the pepper and to place them on the table within reach of the person next to you, who will do the same, and so on, until they reach the person who asked for them. They are not passed hand-to-hand, nor should anyone other than the original requester sprinkle her food when she has the shakers in her possession. The reason for this, as Judith Martin points out more than once, is that American etiquette is not about efficiency. Often, the most refined action is that which requires the greatest number of steps to carry it out (as in, for example, the zig-zag method of handling a fork and knife).

Removing Inedible Items from the Mouth
The general rule for removing food from your mouth is that it should go out the same way it went in. Therefore, olive pits can be delicately dropped onto an open palm before putting them onto your plate, and a piece of bone discovered in a bite of chicken should be returned to the plate by way of the fork. Fish is an exception to the rule. It is fine to remove the tiny bones with your fingers, since they would be difficult to drop from your mouth onto the fork. And, of course, if what you have to spit out will be terrifically ugly -- an extremely fatty piece of meat that you simply can't bring yourself to swallow, for example -- it will be necessary to surreptitiously spit it into your napkin, so that you can keep it out of sight.

phonetic usage in Telephone conversation

Numbers:

0 - Zero

1 - Wun

2 - Too

3 - Tree

4 - Fower

5 - Fife

6 - Siks

7 - Seven

8 - Ait

9 - Niner

Letters:

A - Alfa

B - Bravo

C - Charlie

D - Delta

E - Echo

F - Foxtrot

G - Golf

H - Hotel

I - India

J - Juliet

K - Kilo

L - Lima

M - Mike

N - November

O - Oscar

P - Papa

Q - Quebec

R - Romeo

S - Sierra

T - Tango

U - Uniform

V - Victor

W - Whiskey

X - Xray

Y - Yankee

Z - Zulu

Mastering the Handshake

Handshake is considered very important during Business meets. Hope this post help's you to learn the proper handshake.

The Proper Handshake:

>Firm, but not bone-crushing.
>Lasts about 3 seconds.
>May be "pumped" once or twice from the elbow .
>Is released after the shake, even if the introduction continues.
>Includes good eye contact with the other person Hold your drink in your left hand to avoid a cold, wet handshake.


The pictures that you see below explains the other kinds of Handshake which people do, without there knowledge. So be cautions to have a proper handshake and avoid the kinds mentioned below.

Business Etiquette

Making a good first Impression:

>The way you dress is the single biggest nonverbal communication you make about yourself. >Your dress conveys success, trustworthiness, intelligence and suitability.
>Lean towards the conservative side of style.
>Avoid loud colors and printed fabrics.
>Make sure your clothes are nicely pressed.
>Bring an extra tie, shirt or pantyhose just in case.

Clothing Tips for Women:


>Dark conservative suit. Two piece 1 or 2 button jacket and knee length skirt.
>White or light colored long sleeved blouse that is not low cut or sheer.
>Black well polished shoes with 1 to 1½ inch heels.
>Natural tone or sheer black pantyhose.
>Limited conservative jewelry.

Clothing Tips for Men:

>Conservative 2-piece dark suit, navy blue or medium to dark gray.
>Long sleeved blue or white shirt.
>Silk tie complimenting in color or style
>Black dress socks
>Dark polished shoes and matching beltJewelry – No bracelets, earrings or large rings

Email Etiquette:

>Problem with e-mail is that your tone can easily be misunderstood
>Always read your email before it goes out.
>Don’t forget the rules of spelling and grammar.
>Never omit a greeting and/or closing.
>Never use ALL CAPITALS.

Pre-Meeting Courtesies:

>Acknowledge your acceptance.
>Do your homework.
>Prepare your questions.
>Make sure you know the attendees.
>Coordinate your wardrobe and portfolio.
>Look your best.
>Be 10 minutes early.

Body Language:

Do’s
Make frequent eye contact
Smile
Take notes
Smile
Nod frequently
Smile
Keep you hands out of your pocket

Don’ts
Slouch
Cross you arms
Tap your feet
Clear your throat repeatedly
Bite your lips or nails

People/Customer Management

To be sucessfull, you need to know how to manage different kinds of people. What does that different types mean and how to manage them?

Here we go with the types

1. Assertive Customers
2. Demanding Customers
3. Talkative Customers
4. Analytical Customers
5. Neutral/Passive customers
6. Apprehensive Customers
7. Knowledgeable Customers
8. Irate Customers

Let us see what kind are they and how to manage them in details now

1> Assertive Customers:

►Talks business
►Wastes no time in exchanging pleasantries.
►Straight forward and logical approach.
►Might demand unusual favors.
►Quick to show authority and demands fast resolution of issues.High rate of speech and Precise

2> Demanding Customers:

►Complains about waste of time, money and the inconvenience caused.
►Interrupts often.
►Threatens unnecessarily if they don’t get their way.
►Demands immediate solution and does not tolerate delays.
►Has a superior attitude.

How to manage these 2 kinds of people?

►Listen and get details – These customers are perfectionists. So listen carefully and note down the details properly as they would get annoyed if asked to repeat information.
►Be objective and professional –Don’t get affected by the customers’ emotional state.
►Be direct – The agent’s assertiveness should be just a level below the customer's. Match the customers’ style of communication without competing it.

3> Talkative Customers:

►Usually friendly
►Conversation may move to something irrelevant like sports or politics.
►Take up a lot of time talking.
►Explain in detail.

How to handle them?

►Ask close-ended questions. It will keep the conversation concise and specific.
►Space control – Allow minimum pauses between sentences so that the customer does not get an opportunity to digress.
►Provide minimal response- Don’t encourage unnecessary conversation.

4> Analytical Customers:

►Usually accurate, keep records and expect the same the same from you.
►Would remember earlier calls made to your organization.
►Takes a lot of time to take a decision.
►Need detailed information and time to analyze the situation.

How to handle them?

►Get your facts right – This type of customer will not be happy with incomplete or vague details. Research the solution you are about to offer.
►Be logical – Think before you speak. Make sure that the customer has understood what you have told him.

5> Neutral/Passive Customers:

►Non-committal about the quality of service received.
►Patient and co-operative.
►Do not complain or demand better service.

How to handle them?

►Never take their silence as satisfaction.
►Try to establish a rapport with them to strengthen business bond.
►Ask for feedback periodically since he may not volunteer it himself.

6> Apprehensive Customers:

►They seem unsure and mumble.
►Reluctant to interact with people.
►Nervous about troubleshooting.
►Requires constant reassurance.
►Needs step-by-step instructions.

How to handle them?

►Sound confident when giving instructions.
►Be friendly and courteous.
►Empathize
►Give slow instructions.
►Ensure that the customer is satisfied with the service rendered.

7> Knowledgeable Customers:

►Are comfortable with technology
►Know what the issue is and what is to be done.
►Would have attempted troubleshooting before.

How to handle them?

►Treat them as equals.
►They may have already attempted some basic troubleshooting. Start by asking what they have tried.
►Explain your troubleshooting plan.

8> Irate Customers:

►Would be under stress.
►Might have had a bad experience with troubleshooting.
►Their issue would not have been resolved despite calling you several times previously

How to handle them?

►Allow their anger to vent.
►Empathize
►Provide quick resolution.
►Do not hesitate to contact a senior technician.

Hope this helps a bit to handle different kind's of customers!

Important things to do

After Landing these will be your important things to do

> You will receive an I-94 number (a card attached to your passport) from the US immigration officer. Before you leave the counter please ensure the date validity in that is accurate.

> It takes a week or 2 for the social security administration to receive your details from immigration. So apply for your SSN in the first week. So you can expect an SSN number with in a month time.

> You can open bank accounts in few banks with out the SSN number, but will not be able to do online banking.

> Change your traverlers Cheque in the bank.

> Apply for a secure credit card (Pay and spend). Some thing like a prepaid card. As credit history is very important in US. You can build your credit history using this card and later you will be eligible to get the actual credit card. Approach your bank for more details.

> Ensure your Insurance is activated. This is very important task which needs to be verified with your insurance agency.

Travel --Things you need to carry

It is always a tensed situation when you start packing your things and making sure you have every thing that is needed. Here is a tip,

Luggages allwoed:
2 huge suit case -- 20 to 24 kgs approx
1 carry on luggage - 8 kgs
(Few Airlines allow a laptop bag separately).

• 1 Carry on luggage-- This can not be big, there is a prescribed size. please check your airline to know the size details. You can not keep any liquids or sharp objects in this baggage. Avoid taking any metals too. If you are carriying medicines please have the doctor prescription. Do not carry lighters or any flamable objects.

Can carry all those mentioned below in the hand luggage

1. Certificates


2. Visa documents


3. Passport


4. Air ticket and boarding pass


5. Money and travelers cheque


6. single or a pair of dress in case if you loose the luggage


7. Cameras, laptops, mp3 players or other valuables


8. Address of the home or hotel that you will be staying in US.

You will have this bag always in your possession. do not leave your bag unattended even in the restrooms.

• 2 huge suit case--Clothes and all other items you carry. Do not carry green leaves or vegetables. If it is been found you will have a pay a penalty. Make some marks or tie a ribbon on your suitcase, this will you to identify it easily while picking up. You may end up seeing more suitcase similar to your's.

Do not worry if your luggage is delayed. Approach your airline and inform them about the luggage. They will bring that to you or you can go to the airport and pick it up at a maximum of 2 days time in case if it is lost.

Don'ts

• Noding or Shaking your head does not mean you acknowledge some thing in America. Please speak out either to accept or deny an argument.


• Do not Barge in to some one's computer. Looking at some ones computer is not appreciated. Every one likes there privacy and they respect to keep a distance.


• Do not use the term "ho" in your instant messages.


• Male: Avoid wearing a Pink or Rose color shirts.


• Do not hesitate to handshake with your oppsoite sex. People will think you are avoiding them.


• Keep distance when you speak. Americans never like a very close conversation or putting hands on your shoulders as we do in India.


• Never interupt an conversation, if you do so, please apologise and explain the reason for interuption quickly and let the presenter know he can carry on with his stuff.


• When you go out for official lunch/dinner follow the table etiquette.


• Never be late for any meetings or appointments. Time is Money over here.

How to speak American

This Blog is to help people who travel from India to America. In India we speak different languages, so each of us will have our own Mother Tongue Influence "MTI" when we speak English.

Ability to understand the spoken and replying him back is very important. The same applies to the listener. To make this happen one should develope the ability to communicate with a neutral accent and unserstand the foreign accent.

I would like to share all those which helped me over here.
We will see more of this in this Blog!!!