0
Thirteen Years, One Journey: Thoughts on Leaving America
Posted by Pravin Singi
on
Friday, April 10, 2026
📅 04/10/2026 → 11/04/2026 🇺🇸➡️🇮🇳
A small change in date format… marking a much bigger change in life.
It was never really about racing ahead. It was about knowing where I wanted to go.
And today, I'm finally there.
Today is my last working day in the United States. 🇺🇸➡️🇮🇳
I'm leaving behind more than a decade of life, work, friendships, and a home we had built with love.
I came to this country in 2013 on an F-1 visa as a student, wide-eyed, with 2 suitcases, a dream, and no idea what lay ahead. 13 years later, I leave on my own terms, with a full heart, a lifetime of memories, and a conscious decision to return home to India, to my roots, my family, and a chapter I have been thinking about for a long time.
-
This was always the plan. 2026 is simply the year we executed it.
At some point, you weigh everything, career, comfort, financial stability, and realize that nothing quite replaces the feeling of being home. I have been fortunate to build a meaningful life here, both professionally and personally, and I leave with no regrets. But family comes first. The bigger picture has to win.
My son deserves to grow up around his grandparents. He deserves an upbringing rooted in Indian culture, values, and traditions. And honestly, I want him to experience something as simple and special as granny's cooking on a regular Tuesday, not just during visits, and evenings at the park or game time with grandpa, the kind of moments that quietly become childhood memories.
-
To my brother, you have been holding the fort all these years, taking care of our parents while I was thousands of miles away. You carried something I couldn't from here. I don't take that lightly. Now it's my turn. I'm coming home.
And to my wife and my son, thank you for trusting this journey, for being my anchor, and for making every place feel like home.
To Mom and Dad, I'm on my way. 🙏
-
To the United States, thank you. Genuinely.
You gave me an education, a career, mentors who shaped me, friendships that became family, neighbors who showed up, and communities that made me feel at home even when I was far from it.
To every company, every hiring manager, every coworker, and every friend and neighbor who was part of these 13 years, thank you. I carry all of it with me.
-
A few fun and emotional notes before I go:
📅 I'll finally be writing dates as DD/MM/YYYY instead of MM/DD/YYYY. After 13 years, this might take some getting used to.
✈️ This weekend, I'll be converting my H-1B visa to a B1/B2. From a worker to a visitor. It feels like a small but meaningful transition. I came as a student, stayed as a professional, and now I return as someone who will visit a country that gave me so much.
🏠 My wife and our little one will be joining me later this year once I've settled in and set up our home. We're doing this step by step, the right way. I cannot wait for the day we're all under the same roof again. 🥹
🏙️ I'm excited to see how India has evolved since 2013. From everything I've seen and heard, it feels like I'm returning to a completely new version of a place that still feels like home.
💰 Looking forward to paying my taxes in India, filing that ITR, contributing back in a meaningful way. It feels right. 🇮🇳
💔 To everyone whose milestones and celebrations I missed because of distance, I owe you time, conversations, and a proper catch-up. I plan to make up for it.
🤖 Professionally, I'm excited to go deeper into AI, explore what's ahead, and be part of this moment in tech from India. The timing feels right.
-
To everyone reading this, whether we crossed paths briefly or shared years together, I hope our paths cross again.
The world is smaller than it seems.
If you find yourself in India someday, you know where to find me.
If our paths crossed along the way, I'd love to stay in touch.
This isn't goodbye. It's just a change of timezone… and a new beginning. 🕰️
With gratitude,
Pravin 🙏
#returninghome
A small change in date format… marking a much bigger change in life.
It was never really about racing ahead. It was about knowing where I wanted to go.
And today, I'm finally there.
Today is my last working day in the United States. 🇺🇸➡️🇮🇳
I'm leaving behind more than a decade of life, work, friendships, and a home we had built with love.
I came to this country in 2013 on an F-1 visa as a student, wide-eyed, with 2 suitcases, a dream, and no idea what lay ahead. 13 years later, I leave on my own terms, with a full heart, a lifetime of memories, and a conscious decision to return home to India, to my roots, my family, and a chapter I have been thinking about for a long time.
-
This was always the plan. 2026 is simply the year we executed it.
At some point, you weigh everything, career, comfort, financial stability, and realize that nothing quite replaces the feeling of being home. I have been fortunate to build a meaningful life here, both professionally and personally, and I leave with no regrets. But family comes first. The bigger picture has to win.
My son deserves to grow up around his grandparents. He deserves an upbringing rooted in Indian culture, values, and traditions. And honestly, I want him to experience something as simple and special as granny's cooking on a regular Tuesday, not just during visits, and evenings at the park or game time with grandpa, the kind of moments that quietly become childhood memories.
-
To my brother, you have been holding the fort all these years, taking care of our parents while I was thousands of miles away. You carried something I couldn't from here. I don't take that lightly. Now it's my turn. I'm coming home.
And to my wife and my son, thank you for trusting this journey, for being my anchor, and for making every place feel like home.
To Mom and Dad, I'm on my way. 🙏
-
To the United States, thank you. Genuinely.
You gave me an education, a career, mentors who shaped me, friendships that became family, neighbors who showed up, and communities that made me feel at home even when I was far from it.
To every company, every hiring manager, every coworker, and every friend and neighbor who was part of these 13 years, thank you. I carry all of it with me.
-
A few fun and emotional notes before I go:
📅 I'll finally be writing dates as DD/MM/YYYY instead of MM/DD/YYYY. After 13 years, this might take some getting used to.
✈️ This weekend, I'll be converting my H-1B visa to a B1/B2. From a worker to a visitor. It feels like a small but meaningful transition. I came as a student, stayed as a professional, and now I return as someone who will visit a country that gave me so much.
🏠 My wife and our little one will be joining me later this year once I've settled in and set up our home. We're doing this step by step, the right way. I cannot wait for the day we're all under the same roof again. 🥹
🏙️ I'm excited to see how India has evolved since 2013. From everything I've seen and heard, it feels like I'm returning to a completely new version of a place that still feels like home.
💰 Looking forward to paying my taxes in India, filing that ITR, contributing back in a meaningful way. It feels right. 🇮🇳
💔 To everyone whose milestones and celebrations I missed because of distance, I owe you time, conversations, and a proper catch-up. I plan to make up for it.
🤖 Professionally, I'm excited to go deeper into AI, explore what's ahead, and be part of this moment in tech from India. The timing feels right.
-
To everyone reading this, whether we crossed paths briefly or shared years together, I hope our paths cross again.
The world is smaller than it seems.
If you find yourself in India someday, you know where to find me.
If our paths crossed along the way, I'd love to stay in touch.
This isn't goodbye. It's just a change of timezone… and a new beginning. 🕰️
With gratitude,
Pravin 🙏
#returninghome
