If you've decided to move back and are trying to figure out how, you are at the right place. I intend present my experience and some practical advice on what you might want to consider. As with anything, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Stack rank the options and pick the ones that are most important for you.
First thing about exit is to plan ahead of time. Remind yourself that you are taking one of the biggest decisions of your life. Therefore, try not to haste.
Letting go
Depending on the tenure of your stay, you'd have accumulated tons of stuff. You can't obviously take 'em all with you. So, prepare to let go of many things. Some things just can't be brought in. Most important of those for me was the car. You'd have latest versions of cars that barely seem to age, and yet you would have to part with it. Back in those days you'd have to abandon many electronics. However, now you could get almost anything. Thanks to globalization, most manufacturers gauge their appliances to work everywhere. Then comes books and rest of the household goods. Prepare to donate things you can.
Shipping
Over the recent past, India has been added with several options to get the 'international' stuff that you'd have used in the US. The likes of Amazon and Ikea have changed the definition of shopping in India, letting you to return goods without hassle. In addition, you find the same stuff over here with adjusted wattage and on-par price.
Essentially, what you get boils down to your attachment with the stuff. There's an important factor though - 'how you get it'.
How to ship
If your employer is handling your shipping, think no further and just go with it. In majority of the cases, that would be the best option. You really do not want to deal with international, over-the-sea shippers yourselves. Here are some reasons why you would want to use your employer offered shipping:
1. You do not have to pack stuff yourself
2. You could go all-in and get all your household stuff. You can take a container full of goods that including home furnishings, bedding, and electronics.
3. You are not chasing everyone (ie the shippers) yourself
4. You expect the good to be delivered on time
5. No surprises after shipping starts
Now, if you were to ship it yourself (i.e, employer cannot do that), then look for the options available. Select the ones that are doing the most of the shipments. They are not necessarily the most expensive ones. In fact, I'd suggest to go with the most economical one. When it comes to overseas shipping, I do not see any 'professional' player that isn't exorbitantly expensive.
Above all that, the bigger issue is that none of the foreign shippers have local presence. They often tie-up with local shippers for domestic disbursal. So, it does not really matter how big their name is in the US. Putting the boxes on the ship is the easy part. Handling it professionally once it lands is tricky. If a shipper has local presence, then that would be an ideal choice.
Shipping expectations
Do not expect your average US shipper to be professional. All the professionalism stops as soon as your goods are picked up. Expect your shipper to get back to you with additional charge just because 'they did not anticipate the size requirements' properly. As ridiculous as it seems, despite conforming to all the dimension and weight guides, it is highly likely that you are asked to pay extra fee.
Some charge additional palleting fee. Very few are upfront about exact charges. Some put it vague in order to justify their prices later on. I understand shippers need to do that. The concern here is being honest about it.
Do not expect your shipment to start on time. Here's where your average shipper is different from a better one. Most of the shippers don't own shipping lines. They leverage existing shipping lines. Most of them collate boxes from several individuals and try to squeeze them on to the ship that is most economical for them. No blaming them here, they are not here for charity. As a customer you need to be aware that this attributes to significant delay sometimes. It depends on the time of the year, economical situations, and at global issues like covid-19 pandemic.
In some cases, shippers update you that they cannot deliver stuff to your house. Especially during the covid-19 pandemic, some shipping businesses have downsized. In other cases, they are probably not making as much profit as they thought they would with your shipment. You would be asked to pay extra to ensure it gets delivered. That's such a shame because you do not have any other option.
Once the shipment lands in India, it's altogether a different story. In fact, once your stuff is on the ship, your original shipper is more or less done with his work. Indian counterparts take it over. They come with their own idiosyncrasies.
You are expected to pay customs. Even if you are 'relocating' as per governments conditions for 'returning citizen', there are lot of other charges. Invariably, you would pay 'delay fee'. What is baffling is that the 'delay' is calculated from the day you land on the Indian soil not your shipment. It is by far the most ludicrous reason I heard in the entire shipment process. That implies, you will pay 'delay fee', some fee just because customs let you get the stuff off the ship, some fee for inspecting your stuff etc. All this is in addition to any customs fee you'd pay. You begin to wonder what then is the use of that international shipper? Didn't he account for all these charges?
These days you pay your Indian shipper extra money for 'handling stuff during covid'. As it stands on the day of writing this abstract, almost everything is back to normal in India. But your shipper wants extra money.
Local shippers charge you through the nose for handling your shipment. Where the hell is the money I already paid to the US shipper, you demand. Summing it up, you will have to shell out significant amount of money once your stuff lands in India. By now, you are already determined to get your stuff in one piece; hence, you consent without further inquiries. Your mind tells you that's futile anyway.
To put succinctly, use your employer when you can. Otherwise, dump most of the stuff in US; get just what you cannot let go. Do not expect anything from the shipper.
What to bring in
Quality of life has been improving tremendously these days in India. You have all the international options here.
If you are getting a container worth of goods, then there is no question about what you want to get. You are already paying for entirety. Get whatever fits in it. End of the day, you are decreasing the average dollar price for shipping as you pile on. You do not have to think unless you are exceeding that container. If you are, they you mostly likely do not need whatever does not fit it.
If there is no pod at your disposal, then get the minimum you need, mostly goods of sentimental value like portraits, apparel, etc. With the ascent of international players in India and e-commerce vendors, you get almost anything. Most brands (especially electronics) are now making things specifically for India for just the sheer number of people in the country who have access to those. Gone are the days when you considered getting your 4K TV or wifi mesh network or tablets or phone or any other stuff. You get most of it here.
School
Your kids perhaps go to government schools in the US, where you pay nothing compared to private education. Your mind is tuned to not paying for school. However, once you land in India, I bet you won't send your kids to city operated school. Thankfully, there are many options these days. Most of the schools have international curriculum and conditions. There is no shortage of good education here (however you might want to define that 'good'). You just have to pay for it. Education is a big part of your expenses these days, and you just deal with it.
A piece of advice if I may - Do not compare current education expenses to what you've paid for your school. If you ponder overly on that, you will end up spending that much anyway on your hospital stay :)
Housing
Do not worry much about this. The fact that you returned is some downgrade. You will not find housing to be that much of an issue. In reality, you have many options these days. It's been a while that gated communities have been in vogue in India. You will not have an issue finding one that suits your taste and budget. It is a no-brainer. After all, you need to settle down now. Do not worry about some money you will save by downsizing yourself. Live that life that you are used to, in the US albeit in Indian standards. You know what I mean!
All is not gloom though. You get domestic help. Most of you have family support. You do not have to run between day-care and grocery stores amidst your busy office schedule. A lot of that pain is taken away.
Essentially, you win some, you lose some. It is up to you how you see that. The sooner you reconcile yourself to the facts, the better it is.
