How to work from India for a US company

In recent years, the global workforce has undergone a transformative shift.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and a globalized workforce. Now, almost anyone can work for nearly any company anywhere in the world—no matter where they’re based.

Whether you’re from India and setting your sights on landing a job at a US company, or you’re a remote worker choosing to base yourself in India to take advantage of its low cost of living (and have some new experiences while you’re at it), it’s more feasible than ever to work from India for a company in the USA. But before you take the leap, there are some practical steps and important considerations to take—plus a few tips that can help make your transition to remote work more successful. Read on for everything you need to know about how to work from India for a US company.

Can you work from India for a US company if you’re not a US citizen?

The short answer is yes, you can work from India for a US company even if you're not a US citizen. The globalization of the workforce and advancements in communication technology have made remote work a viable and increasingly popular option. However, while the opportunity is there, it’s crucial to make sure you’re correctly classified—either as an employee or a contractor.

If you’re misclassified, both you and your hiring company could be at risk for serious consequences, including fines and legal penalties.

Benefits of working remotely in India

Remote working offers many advantages, both to Indians and to foreign remote workers who base themselves in India. Here are some of the key benefits.

Flexibility

Working from India for a US company means having the autonomy to choose your work environment (whether you work from home or other locations, like coworking spaces or cafes) and manage your schedule around your peak productivity times. This flexibility allows for a more personalized work routine that accommodates your other commitments and preferences, which can lead to increased job satisfaction—and better output.

More work opportunities

Remote work opens up a global marketplace for job seekers. For professionals in India, this means access to opportunities with US companies that were previously out of reach due to geographic constraints. And from startups to large global enterprises, more and more companies hiring remote workers are looking to countries like India, which is uniquely positioned in the global marketplace due to its large population of English-speaking tech talent.

Better work-life balance

Working remotely from India can lead to a better work-life balance. Eliminating commuting and gaining more flexibility in work hours can lead workers to spend more time with family, pursue hobbies, or invest in personal development. Studies show that the work-life balance that comes with remote work can promote better mental health and overall well-being, contributing to more productive and fulfilled employees.

Low cost of living

India offers a relatively low cost of living compared to the US. For individuals working for US companies, earning in dollars while spending in rupees can significantly enhance their purchasing power. This financial advantage allows them a higher standard of living, savings, and investment opportunities, contributing to their long-term financial security.

Challenges of working from India for a US company

While working remotely from India for a US company presents numerous benefits, it also comes with challenges, like the ones below.

Time difference

One of the most immediate challenges is managing the time zone differences between India and the US, which can range from 9.5 to 12.5 hours, depending on the specific US time zone. This significant difference can complicate real-time communication and collaboration, requiring both parties to adapt their schedules for meetings or urgent tasks. It may be necessary to work odd hours in India to align with the US workday, potentially affecting your work-life balance.

Legal and visa considerations

Navigating the legal and visa considerations is another significant challenge. While remote work from India may not always require a US work visa, understanding and complying with both US and Indian tax laws, employment regulations, labor laws, and any other legal requirements is absolutely crucial. Because of how complex these issues can be, you may want to seek legal counsel to ensure compliance. We’ll do a deeper dive into work permits and other legal considerations further on in this article.

Competition for high-quality roles

The global accessibility of remote roles has intensified competition for high-quality positions. Professionals in India are not just competing with local talent but with candidates from around the world. This heightened competition means you may need to upgrade your skills and gain relevant experience to stand out in a global talent pool and secure and retain positions with US companies.

How to get a remote job at a US company

Securing a remote job at a US company from India is a goal shared by many professionals seeking to leverage the benefits of working across borders. There’s no guarantee or single path to landing the perfect job opportunity, but these strategies will help set you up for success. 

Curate a professional online presence

In the digital age, your online presence can significantly impact your job prospects. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, highlighting your skills, experiences, and achievements. A professional presence on other social media platforms and a personal website can also showcase your work and help attract prospective employers.

Network with other remote workers

Networking with other remote employees can provide you with invaluable insights and opportunities—or even referrals to open positions. Join online forums, attend virtual webinars, and connect with remote work communities to learn from their experiences and get advice on navigating the job market.

Upskill for your desired position

The competition for remote positions in US companies is fierce. Stand out by continuously upgrading your skills that are relevant to your desired role. Whether through online courses, certifications, or self-learning, ensuring relevant skill sets for the type of work you’re seeking are up-to-date is crucial in demonstrating your value to potential employers. And remember: This includes soft skills vital for success in remote roles, like independence, autonomy, and time management.

Familiarize yourself with remote communication tools

Being proficient in remote communication tools such as Slack, Zoom, and Trello is a must. Learn your way around these tools before your first interview so you’re familiar with how they work.

Tailor your resume and cover letter

Customize your resume and cover letter for each application, highlighting your remote work readiness and specific skills that match the job description. It can also be a good idea to address how you plan to overcome the challenges of remote work and contribute to the company despite your geographical distance.

Browse job boards for remote positions

Many websites and platforms specialize in remote and freelance job listings, including those for positions with US companies. You can even set up alerts for new postings in your field of interest to help streamline your job search.

Freelance to get your foot in the door

Freelancing is another pathway to connect with US companies that hire remote workers. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal can be excellent places to start building relationships with international clients. Over time, freelance projects can sometimes transition into full-time remote positions based on your performance and the company's needs.

How to work from India for a US company: Step-by-step

Whether you plan to find the full-time job of your dreams or join the international gig economy, the steps below can help you start working for a US company from India.

Note: The following information is for informational purposes only and isn’t intended to be legal advice.

1. Make sure you’re classified correctly

The first step is to ensure that you are classified correctly as either an employee or an independent contractor. This classification affects your rights, responsibilities, and benefits. Misclassification can lead to legal issues and misunderstandings regarding job security, benefits, and taxes.

How do employees and independent contractors differ? It depends because every country has different laws defining the two types of workers. But generally:

• An employee tends to work exclusively for one organization. Their employer usually has more control over when and how they do their work.
• An independent contractor (or freelancer) is an individual or business that performs services for client organizations in exchange for a fee. Independent contractors can have multiple clients at a time and have more control over their schedule and work conditions because the client company simply pays them for the end product or service.

Independent contractors can generally work wherever they want. An employee for a US company, on the other hand, would almost always need permission from their employer before working remotely from India (or anywhere else, for that matter). 

Whether you’re an employee or a contractor, you have to abide by local laws pertaining to work permits, taxes, and other regulations. Also, watch out for misclassification—it’s more common than you may think. In the US, up to 30% of employers have misclassified an employee as a contractor. To see if you’re at risk, check out our worker misclassification analyzer. 

2. Sort out the taxes, permits, and paperwork

Navigating the legal and regulatory landscape of remote work depends a lot on whether you’re an employee or an independent contractor. If you land a position as a full-time employee, your US employer will likely handle a lot of the tax and legal paperwork on your behalf. But if you’re a contractor, you’ll be responsible for most of your own taxes and paperwork. Here are a few of the most important things to know.

Taxes and statutory benefits

• If you’re an employee, you’ll fill out form W-8BEN
• If you’re an independent contractor, you’ll fill out form W-8BEN-E

These documents help your hiring company show the IRS that you’re not eligible for US taxes, like income tax. But you do need to pay taxes and statutory benefits contributions to your home country—whether you’re an employee or an independent contractor. If you’re an employee, your employer will withhold and pay them on your behalf. If you’re a contractor, you have to pay them yourself.

Your home country is wherever you have permanent residency. That may be India. If you’re a digital nomad who’s just based there for now, it’s wherever your tax residency is.

Right-to-work entitlements

Make sure you have the right to work in India. Any foreign national who intends to work for pay while residing in India, even temporarily, must apply for either an employment visa or a business visa. 

3. Figure out how you’ll get paid

Whether you’re an employee or a contractor, you have multiple options for receiving your salary or payments for work done in India:

• Bank transfer: This is convenient but costly, as it typically comes with transfer fees and exchange rates (though you can open a bank account in USD to avoid exchange rates).
• Virtual bank accounts: These are cheaper and more feature-rich than traditional banks and allow you to send “payment requests” that clients can settle in seconds.
• International transfer services like Western Union: These are slow and expensive.
• Rippling: With Rippling, US companies can pay all their international workers—including employees and contractors—in the same pay run, meaning everyone gets paid quickly, without any costly conversion fees, and in the currency of their choice. If your employer or client needs a fast, user-friendly way to pay global workers, suggest they automate their international payments with Rippling.

4. Set yourself up for remote work success

Remote-proofing your ways of working can take a little upfront time and effort, but it’s worth it. Here are some tips to help ease the transition:

• Align your work hours with your US team as much as possible, considering the time difference. Flexibility is key, but having consistent hours where you're available for meetings and collaboration can enhance productivity and teamwork.
• Establish clear communication channels and protocols with your team members. Regular updates, stand-up meetings, and utilizing project management tools can keep everyone on the same page.
• Use the right tools, from communication apps like Slack and Zoom to project managers, scheduling apps, digital workspaces, and more, to help your team connect from a distance.
• Create a daily routine that helps you maintain focus and productivity. This includes setting aside a dedicated workspace, scheduling breaks, and adhering to start and end times to separate work from personal life.
• Develop strong time management skills to handle your workload effectively while dealing with the challenges of remote work, such as distractions and the potential for overwork.
• Prioritize work-life balance. Remote work can blur the lines between professional and personal life, so it's important to establish boundaries that allow you to disconnect and recharge.

Remote job industries with high demand

The shift toward remote work has been fueled by technological advancements, changing corporate cultures, and the proven benefits of remote work for both employers and employees. As a result, certain industries have emerged as front-runners in the remote job market. If you’re looking for American companies hiring remote workers, these sectors are likely to have high demand.

Information technology (IT)

The IT sector has always been at the forefront of remote work, and its demand continues to grow. This industry offers a wide range of remote roles, from network security to cloud computing services. The global nature of IT work and the ease with which it can be done remotely make it an ideal field for those looking to work from anywhere.

Marketing

Digital marketing has seen a surge in remote opportunities, with companies looking for talent in content marketing, SEO, social media, and digital strategy. The ability to reach global markets makes remote work in marketing highly appealing and effective for businesses looking to expand their online presence.

Customer support

Remote customer support roles have become increasingly popular, offering flexibility for workers and cost savings for companies. With the help of technology, customer service representatives can now often work from anywhere, providing assistance through phone, email, or live chat.

Software development

Software development is another area with a significant remote workforce. The collaborative nature of coding projects, combined with the availability of online tools for version control and project management, makes software engineering roles well-suited to remote work.

Education and e-learning

The education sector has embraced remote work, particularly when it comes to e-learning. Online tutors, course creators, and educational content developers are in high demand as learners worldwide seek flexible and accessible educational opportunities.

Healthcare

Telehealth and administrative roles in healthcare are increasingly being offered as remote positions. These roles can range from medical coding and billing to virtual consultations, allowing providers and other healthcare professionals to contribute to healthcare services without being on-site.

Project management

Project managers who can oversee projects from start to finish, coordinate with remote teams, and manage timelines and budgets are in high demand. The ability to maintain productivity and communication across different time zones is a valued skill in remote project management roles.

Content creation

The demand for content creators—writers, editors, video producers, and graphic designers—has grown rapidly in the remote job market. Content creation is inherently suited to remote work, with its flexible schedules and the ability to work from anywhere.

Embracing the future of remote work in India

The opportunity to work remotely for a US company from India represents more than just a shift in where we work—it's a transformation in how we work, live, and connect across borders. The pandemic accelerated a trend that was already underway, proving that productivity, collaboration, and innovation aren’t confined to traditional office spaces. 

This evolution has opened doors for professionals in India to engage with the global workforce in unprecedented ways, offering the chance to work on diverse projects, learn from international colleagues, and contribute to global markets—all from the comfort of home—or wherever else they have a good wifi connection.

As you seek the perfect role at a US company from India, remember that the world of work is continuously evolving. Staying adaptable, proactive in learning, and open to change will be key to thriving in this new normal. Whether you're just starting your remote work journey or looking to optimize your current remote work setup, the future is bright for those ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.

And if you’re looking to work for a US company with an office in India, Rippling is hiring talented, passionate people. We have open positions in engineering, sales, customer support, and more.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.