Aidan Joyce, a social media account that claimed to be an Irish man, said he fell in love with India and wanted to make Kolkata his home. He asked Elon Musk‘s AI chatbot Grok how he could move to the country permanently. The exchange caught the attention of Elon Musk, who reacted to the discussion on X with a brief assessment of India’s immigration system: “India is realistic.”The Irish man, who had apparently been visiting Kolkata with his family, asked Grok about the possibility of becoming an Indian citizen. He wanted to know how quickly he could settle in the country and eventually obtain citizenship.Grok’s response, however, made clear that moving to India permanently would not be an easy or quick process.According to the exchange shared online, the man was told that obtaining Indian citizenship could take at least 14 years, depending on his circumstances and the route he takes. He would first need to establish legal residence in India and meet the requirements for naturalisation.The answer also pointed out that India generally does not allow dual citizenship, meaning someone who becomes an Indian citizen would have to give up their existing citizenship.“Wow that’s a long time. Look, here is the story, I arrived with my partner and 2 children. Can we get some social welfare while we try and get a job. I’m totally skint at the moment, so I need a few $$ fast. How much will the Indian state pay us while we wait. Tell me briefly please,” Joyce asked Grok. “None. India has no cash social welfare or unemployment payments for new arrivals or non-citizens. Ration cards, pensions and most assistance require Indian citizenship plus eligibility (e.g. BPL status). Formal-sector schemes need prior contributions. Support yourselves,” the chatbot replied.Then Joyce asked if he could quickly buy a house in India and the answer was ‘no’.
What was the social media post all about
The post was meant to be a reality check for Indians who have been in the waiting line for Green Cards for years. It also showed that India does not offer any welfare and while visa holders can buy houses in the US, it is not so easy in India. But what started as a mockery turned into Elon Musk’s endorsement for the Indian system.“Hilarious thread of Irish guy asking about moving to India. It takes 12 years for citizenship, you must renounce previous passports, of course zero welfare — they’ll just deport you,” one commented. Musk said India’s system is realistic.