With his F-1 OPT status expiring in 20 days and no job offers despite a year of searching, an Indian student in the US has decided to move back to India — but his concerns are far from over. In a Reddit post that has since gained traction, the student shared his struggle with managing a significant US-based student loan after returning home.
According to his post, the student holds accounts with Chase and SoFi in the US and is looking to continue repaying his SoFi loan from India. “I can manage paying the loan from India but I am looking for options to keep paying my loan,” he wrote. He also asked whether it’s possible to refinance the loan from India or move it to an Indian bank.
Users Share Mixed Advice on Loan Repayment and Career Options
Several Reddit users chimed in with practical advice and real-world experiences. One commenter bluntly asked, “Bro which world are you in now? Starting package for a fresher in a tech sector is no less than 90k to 100k provided they are good in what they do. $500 would account to 45k in INR so still 50k is left for expenditure. Cost of living is definitely cheaper than US so OP should be able to survive few years and pay off the debt.”
Another added, “Annual salary for Senior PMs in Microsoft Bangalore in some teams is 1-1.5 crore. So your entire take home will go to pay off the loans.”
No Easy Way to Refinance US Loans from India
One user pointed out the unlikelihood of transferring the loan to India-based banks. “I don’t think banks in India will refinance your loans. You can take up a personal loan or gold loan to pay off your US loan though,” they said.
While options remain limited, many suggested maintaining US bank accounts and using international transfers to make monthly payments.