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NRI PLAN · 4 STEPS

Laid off on H-1B: how long can we last, and stay or go home?

Four steps: the runway in money and in days, whether going home works, the 401(k) you should not cash out in a panic, and the leaving checklist.

For H-1B holders who have lost a job, or fear they might.

0 of 4 done

Your numbers

6 numbers, typed once. Every step below opens with them.
years
per $1Starts at ₹95.81, the Federal Reserve’s rate for 25 September 2026. Use the rate you want to plan with.
Your age
34
Monthly spending in the US
$5,000
US brokerage and cash
$80,000
401(k), 403(b) and traditional IRA
$300,000
Monthly spending you expect in India (your city)
₹1,50,000
Rupees per dollar to plan with
₹95.81

These numbers stay in this browser, and in your account if you sign in. A copied link carries them after the #, which is never sent to our server.

Your steps

  1. STEP 1 OF 4 · CALCULATOR

    How long will our money last, and our status?

    After a layoff, an H-1B holder has a grace period of up to 60 days, or until the I-94 ends if sooner, to find a new sponsor, change status or leave. Your cash has its own clock.

    Working out your number
    DO THIS NOWPut the 60th day after your last day of work in your calendar, and count the months your cash covers.
  2. STEP 2 OF 4 · CALCULATOR

    If we go home, does it work?

    If no job comes in time, going home is a plan, not a failure. Check that it works at your city’s prices before you have to decide.

    Working out your number
    DO THIS NOWEnter your city’s monthly budget in rupees above and compare the two lives.
  3. STEP 3 OF 4 · CALCULATOR

    Don’t cash out the 401(k) in a panic

    Cashing out in a hurry can cost the 10% early-withdrawal tax on top of income tax. The account can stay invested in the US after you leave.

    Working out your number
    DO THIS NOWLeave the 401(k) where it is until the plan is settled, and do not tick “cash out” in the exit paperwork.

Your plan at a glance

Each step of the plan with its number for your profile
STEPYOUR NUMBERDONE
01How long will our money last, and our status?…—
02If we go home, does it work?…—
03Don’t cash out the 401(k) in a panic…—
04The leaving-the-US checklistRead and act—

Every number above is worked out by the calculator it links to, with its formula and sources on that page. The Indian rules mentioned in these steps are described as published on 2 October 2026; check them with a Chartered Accountant before you act. The rupee rate starts at ₹95.81 per dollar, the Federal Reserve’s rate for 25 September 2026 (FRED DEXINUS). Estimates, not advice.