[Samurai]

Here is a nice bunch of experiences from a white man with an Indian passport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9HpAOKRwi8

[Thad E Ginathom]

(being a linguistic dumbo, I can't understand)

Originally Posted by Samurai

a white man with an Indian passport.

I might be one of those one day. Thing is, like many (non-)Indians, I don't fancy the added visa cost/hassle if I travel. For my mother country, it's damned expensive.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

(being a linguistic dumbo, I can't understand)

He didn't emigrate to India, his family has been in India over a century, when India was part of British empire. That explains his fluency in the language. His dad was a well-known Bollywood actor who played all the quintessential white man roles.

One funny incidence he describes is this:

He stood in London airport transit counter behind a large family of Sikhs from UK, all with British passport. Most of the elderly people in the group couldn't speak in English and their kids and grandkids had to intervene and translate. The lady at the counter was very harried and finally this fellow moved up to the counter and presented his Indian passport. The lady was like...

Then he had to explain to her, that "The 15 people group who just left appear to be Indian, but are British citizens. I look like a British, but I am an Indian citizen by birth".

The lady laughed her head off saying "Now I have seen everything!"

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thanks Samurai! I read one or two comments and gathered that he had been born here and that his dad was famous.

Certainly there are at least a few immigrant Indian citizens. I think that the famous crocodile (Madras Crocodile Bank) guy is one. I had thought that one probably needs to be famous and/or have political connections to actually get citizenship, even though there is a procedure and an online portal for application. But I've heard of successful applicants in similar positions to my own.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Here is a nice bunch of experiences from a white man with an Indian passport.

In our family we kinda get to see this every year.

My somewhat fair skinned uncle who's lived in the US for ~50 years more or less looks like the average senior American citizen - white beard, skin color, accent and all. Every year he spends a month back home in Chennai - he gets treated like a foreigner all over the city, the good and bad parts of it. It's very funny to see the reactions on people's faces when he responds back to their sales pitches/offers in 100% tamil

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Thanks Samurai! I read one or two comments and gathered that he had been born here and that his dad was famous.

I'd say everyone who's lived through 80s and 90s movies would know his father as much as any of the heroes during that period - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Alter

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Thanks Samurai! I read one or two comments and gathered that he had been born here and that his dad was famous.

His dad, the late Tom Alter was also born here - in Mussoorie. He also was an Indian Citizen.

Not from the video, but Tom Alter used to get upset when someone called him a foreigner. Jamie also gets angry when someone calls his father a foreigner.

Tom was an actor - used to play the cliched white baddie who comes to loot India in most Hindi movies in which he has acted. Jamie is a sports journalist. He used to even work for Cricinfo earlier, I think.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

My somewhat fair skinned uncle who's lived in the US for ~50 years more or less looks like the average senior American citizen - white beard, skin color, accent and all.

I had a reverse experience, meeting up with an Australian contact on another forum for lunch. He was travelling with his brother. Meeting me at the door, he took me inside to meet his brother, but looking round, I could see only Indians. Well, of course, one of them was his brother. In fact, they were both India-born Anglo-Indians.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I think that the famous crocodile (Madras Crocodile Bank) guy is one.

Woah, that's Romulus Whitaker! Probably done more for Indian herpetology than anyone else so far. American by birth and a naturalized Indian citizen, also a Padma Shri awardee.

[Chetan_Rao]

Speaking of Tom Alter, I recently caught an old interview of his on an All India Radio program, and one of the topics discussed was his lineage and citizenship, and how it affected his acting career.

Such a wonderfully articulate man, and as Indian as any of us at heart.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by am1m

Woah, that's Romulus Whitaker! ...

Indeed. How could I forget such a name... but it did slip my mind. <Blush>

[1985Darkkid85]

I work in I.T with some 13 years experience behind me.

Does it make sense in migration to a country like England, since they have performed "BREXIT" & will surely look for skilled labor?
Goes without saying, all these options are only available once covid19 is curtailed.

I am about 35 & recently married, so wife is ok to migrate for a few years.
I am basically looking for a change of scenery if you will, having lived all my life here.

• Are there any challenges to be aware of other than the horrendous rain/chill?
• We are eggetarians (for lack of a better word) & do not eat meat. I suppose food should not be an issue?
• Any challenges in procuring a work visa, considering i am reasonably skilled

We do love Adventure, E.P.L and travelling though, so that is one brownie point

[Thad E Ginathom]

Remember that England has a huge Indian/South-Asian population, and includes people of all shades who are veggie, eggie, vegan and omni.

And...it doesn't rain/freeze all the time!

[KiloAlpha]

Originally Posted by 1985Darkkid85

...
Does it make sense in migration to a country like England, since they have performed "BREXIT" & will surely look for skilled labor?
...

• Are there any challenges to be aware of other than the horrendous rain/chill?
• We are eggetarians (for lack of a better word) & do not eat meat. I suppose food should not be an issue?
• Any challenges in procuring a work visa, considering i am reasonably skilled

...

Having lived/worked in UK and then returned to India, I would say yes, it does make sense to live/work abroad for a while. Working in London, though, will be a serious culture shock not because of the fact that you will be working with Brits, but because you will be working with people from literally all over the world!!
Vegetarian options are available almost everywhere.
And as far as weather is concerned - if you moved from Mysore to Bangalore you would have to deal with a different climate. Learn to cope, it is not all bad.
Process to procure visa I have found to be quite OK - it is nowhere near as Kafkaesque as the US immigration system.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by 1985Darkkid85

• Are there any challenges to be aware of other than the horrendous rain/chill?
• We are eggetarians (for lack of a better word) & do not eat meat. I suppose food should not be an issue?
• Any challenges in procuring a work visa, considering i am reasonably skilled

We do love Adventure, E.P.L and travelling though, so that is one brownie point

If you're leaving India for the first time, the UK is by far the easiest country to move to. It has the highest density of brown people, and Indian food is their national food - though what passes for 'curry' in the UK has little resemblance to our curries, because it's been dreamt up by Bangladeshis. Also, it doesn't rain all the time - that is dependent on which part of the UK you're in. Yes, the weather isn't great.

If you live in the UK, there is a lot of travelling to be done within a few hours by road, or by flight across Europe. That's something you'll love. You will also easily find vegetarian food both in restaurants as well as ingredients in supermarkets. In fact, you'll find specific Indian items like dal, basmati rice and even Maaza in a lot of large and small supermarkets.

[Asish_VK]

Hi I used to work in manufacturing engineering services sector for about 14 years and for last few months I've moved to an OEM.

I was wondering does it make any sense to migrate to Canada [Given the current covid and related situation] ?

I have relatively good working experience at England(2.5 yrs), Ireland (3 months) and Singapore (3 months) as onsite assignments.

I am satisfied with my current salary, but not with the work culture. Also I enjoyed my work-life at UK and Ireland while I was there.


I am married and have 2 kids, wife is well educated too, but currently unemployed to look after kids for some years.

Any advise from experts ?