To-Be Indian Parent in US Soil

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I'm a to-be indian parent. My wife is pregnant with our first kid.

Though many forums and topics are discussed on this topic, I'd like to hear some fresh thoughts and views.

My plan: I'm planning to work in US for next 5-6 years and head back to India, permanently.

1. What's the best place to have my kid born? US or India?
1.a In otherwords, what're the pro's and con's of having kid born in India and U.S ?

2. can the kid get Dual citizenship ? both Indian and US citizenship?

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Congratulations!

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I am surprised nobody else has chipped in. I figure they are plenty of Indian nationals here of childbearing age, who have gone through the same quandary as you.

My mom was born an Indian citizen, but I was not; so I feel less qualified to comment. But nobody else has responded, and I'm feeling bored. I do have three dual citizen children, so my perspective may be helpful.

First of all, the best place on earth to have babies is where our mom is around to help. Caring for young children is a bear. I was lucky enough to be able to import my parents, so that worked out well. I couldn't have done it without them.

I was a citizen of another country when the kids were born. And my wife is a US citizen. So my kids would have been born dual citizens no matter where in the world the kids were born. The hospitals near here are really really good, so if anything went awry they would have access to NICU at UCSF and Stanford. Thank God my children were born with no health issues, but it was nice knowing the care available if there were problems.

Your situation is different because neither of you are US citizens. If you wanted to give your child the privilege of US citizenship, you have no choice but to have the baby on US soil. According to the US Embassy New Delhi website, India permits multiple citizenship when those citizenships are acquired involuntarily through birth. For example if a Indian father and British mother have their baby in the US, the baby would be tri- US-UK-IN citizen. Apparently, such children must affirmatively renounce their other citizenship when they turn 18, in order to keep their Indian citizenship.

It is possible that you and your wife will settle here in the US, get green cards, then get US citizenship. In that case, your child can be born in India and still end up a US citizen down the road.

It is possible that you will return to India, in which case your child will grow up with options. Your child might want to come back to the United States to study, and it is so much cheaper if she qualifies for resident tuition rates. I also understand that US citizens Indians get a lot more marriage proposals. She could also come here and look for work on equal footing with US citizens/PRs instead of going through the H1-B lottery. She can then go back to India as an OCI. OCIs who reside in India for a number of years are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship.