You can keep banking in India, send money home, and start driving and building credit in Dallas—but redesignate eligible Indian accounts, determine your U.S. tax status before deciding on FBAR, and apply for a Texas license within 90 days of becoming a resident.

Before classifying accounts or tax filings

Record your departure and arrival dates

For banking, determine whether you have become resident outside India; RBI calls an Indian citizen resident outside India an NRI. Separately, under India’s Income-tax Act, 2025, count Indian days: ordinary residence is 182 days, or 60 days in the year plus 365 in the preceding four years; an Indian citizen departing for overseas employment is exempt from that second test. Special rules apply to later visits and certain deemed residents. The 2025 Act governs tax years beginning April 1, 2026; earlier years remain under the previous law. [RBI](https://www.rbi.org.in/commonman/english/scripts/FAQs.aspx?Id=3); [India §6](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/w/section-6-253); [effective date](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/objective-and-scope-new-act).

Once resident outside India

Redesignate your existing Indian account as NRO

Send the bank holding your existing resident account a request to redesignate that account as NRO following your change in residence; RBI says the existing account should be so designated. Use NRO for permitted Indian dues and local payments. Because you have not named the bank, its exact customer form, document checklist, and charge cannot be stated here. [RBI Master Direction, §§6.7–6.10](https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10198).

After updating your Indian banking status

Open an NRE account if you want a separate route for incoming dollars

Apply through an Indian bank’s nonresident-account process for an NRE account, rather than treating the old resident account as NRE automatically. RBI permits inward remittances and outbound remittances from NRE. NRO current income can be remitted abroad, while other eligible NRO balances—including an NRO-to-NRE move—use the conditional USD 1 million facility. [RBI Master Direction, §§4.4, 6.8](https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10198).

Before each remittance

Compare bank-funded USD-to-INR transfer quotes

Get prepayment quotes from multiple providers for the same USD amount and compare the final rupees delivered after the exchange-rate spread, provider charges, receiving-bank charges, and applicable taxes—not just the advertised fee. Funding from a qualifying bank account or with a U.S.-issued debit card avoids the enacted 1% physically funded remittance tax; other transfer charges can still apply. [CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/sending-money/); [Internal Revenue Code §4475](https://www.irs.gov/irb/2026-18_IRB).

For the 2026 calendar year

Determine your U.S. tax status and FBAR obligation

A green card or U.S. citizenship is a separate U.S.-person route. Otherwise apply the substantial presence test: at least 31 U.S. days in 2026 and a weighted 183 days over 2026, 2025, and 2024, counting all 2026 days, one-third of 2025, and one-sixth of 2024, subject to IRS exclusions and exceptions. If you qualify to exclude student days, file Form 8843 with your return or mail it to the IRS if no return is required. If you are a U.S. person and foreign accounts together exceeded $10,000 at any moment in 2026, file FBAR FinCEN Form 114 at [FinCEN BSA E-Filing](https://bsaefiling.fincen.gov/NoRegFBARFiler.html) by April 15, 2027, or the automatic October 15, 2027 extension; do not attach it to your income-tax return. [IRS presence test](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/substantial-presence-test); [student rule](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/exempt-individual-who-is-a-student); [FBAR instructions](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/report-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar).

Before your license appointment

Prepare your Texas DPS proof

DPS requires identity, lawful presence, Texas residence, and Social Security information. A lease and qualifying bank or utility statement are examples of address evidence; DPS says a residency affidavit may be available if you cannot supply two accepted documents. Bring an English or Spanish translation if your foreign license is in neither language. If you own a vehicle, arrange its Texas registration before applying. DPS verifies lawful presence with DHS; an eligible temporary visitor receives a limited-term license. [DPS application](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/apply-texas-driver-license); [residency proof](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/texas-residency-requirement-driver-licenses-and-id-cards); [lawful presence](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/us-citizenship-or-lawful-presence-requirement); [SSN exception](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/social-security-number-ssn).

Within 90 days of becoming a Texas resident if continuing to drive

Apply and take the Texas license tests

Book a [DPS driver-license appointment](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-services-appointments), submit DL-14A, pay the listed $33 new-license fee if you are 18–84, and complete the vision, written-knowledge, and driving-skills tests. India is not in Texas’s five-country test-waiver list. The 18–24 education waiver for surrendering a valid license from another U.S. state does not follow merely from holding an Indian license. [DPS application](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/apply-texas-driver-license); [new-resident guide](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/moving-texas-guide-driver-licenses-and-ids); [fees](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-fees).

As your Dallas finances settle

Start a credit history you can maintain

Apply for one reporting secured credit card or a reporting credit-builder loan that fits your budget. Pay each bill by its due date and keep card use low relative to the limit. Review your free weekly credit reports at [AnnualCreditReport.com](https://www.annualcreditreport.com/gettingReports.action) to see what is being reported; no official process promises an instant score. [CFPB starting credit](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-some-ways-to-start-or-rebuild-a-good-credit-history-en-2155/); [CFPB rebuilding credit](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/how-to-rebuild-your-credit/).