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- May 31, 2023
Is your passport is expiring soon and you don’t know where to go for its renewal! No worries, this blog post is particularly for your interest. If you are a citizen of India currently residing in USA, then you must know the process of Indian Passport Renewal in USA. The process is not so complex at all but still there are some steps that need to be taken care of. You’ll get to know about each step and each document you require in this blog post.
So let’s get started and find out what all is necessary to renew your Indian passport in the USA. Well, first of all, all the required documents have to be submitted in the nearest consulate office. The consulate will review the documents and issue the new passport and in that way, the whole process will be completed smoothly. Follow the step wise procedure we have mentioned below.
If you are an Indian passport holder and have been living or working in the USA for several years, then you should check your passport’s date of expiry. Similarly, it’s absolutely indispensable for you to renew it to avoid any problem while booking direct or non-stop flights from USA to India. The conditions when you should go for renewal are- when all the pages are filled or if the date for its validity is over whichever is earlier.
In both the cases, you can opt for a renewal before it’s too late. The fun fact is you don’t have to travel to India especially for the renewal of the passport. That is to say, you can get it done from your current residence only. For renewal of the Indian passport, you have to apply through VFS Global when you are in the USA. VFS global is the only means in the USA for the Indian citizens to renew their passport on time.
Note- Passport renewal service is not for B1/B2 visa holders.
Answers to this question will be provided by the officials working in VFS global. They have been the service providers to the Embassy of India, Washington DC and Indian consulates in the USA since November 4th, 2020. Some of the points which are important to note about the renewal process:
Although the process of Indian passport renewal is similar to that of applying for a new passport, there are some steps to be considered and followed. For renewal, filling out the form and submitting it on the Passport Seva Portal is not the only thing that is done for the renewal process. That is to say, you also need to submit a physical application form in the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre in the USA. In order to submit the application, you have to follow underlying steps:
If you are a regular traveler and fly in business class flights to India or any other class for that matter, then a passport is a necessity for you. In fact, you can’t ignore its renewal especially when you are residing out of the country. However, to renew it,there are some of the important factors you must be mindful of.
For your passport renewal application, you need 3 recent colored passport sized photographs measuring 2*2inches. If a passport has expired for more than 3 years, then you need to submit a total of 8 color photographs. Paste one photograph on the first page of application, in the space provided. Likewise, glue the second one on the Nationality Verification Form and staple the rest of the documents along with the form on the last page.
Further, in the process you have to provide a notarized color copy of your Green Card or Employment Authorization Card or a copy of your legal status in the US.
In order to complete the process of your application, ensure that you have attached both your current passport and any previous passports that are less than 5 years old. In addition to that, staple the 5 photocopies of the first five pages of your current passport and the last 2 pages of your previous passport.
Another important thing to remember is that you have to attach a copy of your higher educational degree with the form. In order to verify the address of your current residence, you must submit documentation such as rental lease agreement or home mortgage bill. Alternatively, you may also submit any other utility bills like electricity bill, water bill or gas bill. However, make sure that all the utility bills should not be more than 3 months old. As the last option, a driver’s license or State ID can also serve as a proof.
Similarly, for the Indian address, you can provide- an Aadhaar card, driver’s license, any utility bill and a recent bank statement. If you are applying after 10 years, you need to sign and print out this change of address form. Along with all the documents, submit your birth certificate or transfer certificate from school. On the other hand, if you are applying for a child’s passport, then submit proof of citizenship, a parental consent form along with all other documents.
| Applicant type | Passport validity | Ordinary booklet page | Tatkal fee | ICWF | VFS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Above 18 years or above | 10 years | $75.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $92.90 |
| 10 years- jumbo booklet | $100 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $117.90 | |
| Minor less than 15 years | 5 years | $50.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $67.90 |
| Minor less than 15 years | 10 years | $75.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $92.90 |
| 10- years jumbo booklet | $100.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $117.90 |
| Applicant type | Passport validity | Ordinary booklet-36 page | Tatkal fee | ICWF | VFS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 18 years age | 10 years | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $167.90 |
| 10 years- jumbo booklet | $175.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $192.90 | |
| Minor- 15 years or less | 5 years | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $167.90 |
| Minor between 15-18 years | 10 years | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $167.90 |
| 10 years- jumbo booklet | $175.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $192.90 |
Important notice- The respective service is not eligible for Tatkal passport renewal.
A convenience fee of 3.5% is applicable to all the online or card payments. It’s equally important to realize that only MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards are accepted by the VFS. If you want to expedite the process, make sure you pay the full amount to avoid any kind of delay. Whereas, if you are worried about booking cheap USA to India flights, you can get in touch with us.
According to the ICAO’s regulations, only machine-readable passports are now accepted for International travel. This rule will streamline the travel process and will make it more efficient. When your existing card is full, you can get a new one or apply for a new one at least a year before the expiry date. It’s better to apply for renewal before the expiry date. In the USA, it is easy to apply for the renewal of the Indian passport and there is no need to worry about anything.
In case of incomplete documents, your application will be returned by VFS within 20 days. If you have applied for a refund of the ICWF fee, the amount will be refunded after deducting the postal charges. Any copy of the documents received after the timeframe will be shredded, and originals will be returned to the Embassy of India. In case of delay in submitting of additional documents, your application will be suspended which shall delay the renewal. Moreover, if you are planning to visit India, then you might have to postpone it as you won’t have a valid passport required for that.
| Consular application centers | Address | Center timing | Consular jurisdiction | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | 1025 Vermont Ave, NW Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005 (USA) | 9 am to 2 pmPassport pickup: 4 pm to 6 pm Monday to Friday | Bermuda, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia | Minimum 1 to 3 weeks. Maximum 6 weeks or more if the case is referred for clearance |
| New York | 145 W 45th Street, 3rd floor, New York 10036 (USA) | 9 am to 2 pm Passport pickup: 4 pm to 6 PM Monday to Friday | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont | Additional 10 days |
| Chicago | 180 N Stetson Avenue, 20th Floor, Suite# 2075, Chicago, Illinois 60601 | 9 am to 2 pm passport pickup: 4 pm – 6 pm Monday to Friday | Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin | Minimum 4 weeks. 6 weeks if the case is referred for clearance |
| Houston | 1001 Texas Ave #550, Houston, TX 77002 (USA) | 9 am to 2 pm Passport pickup: 4 pm to 6 pm Monday to Friday | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska | 1 to 3 weeks. 6 weeks if case is referred for clearance |
| San Francisco | 228 Grant Ave, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA – 94108 | 9 am to 2 pm Passport pickup: 4 pm to 6 pm Monday to Friday | Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming | 2-3 weeks |
| Atlanta | 5607, Glen ridge Drive NE, Suite No.725, Atlanta, GA-30342 | 9 am to 2 pm Passport pickup: 4 pm – 6 pm Monday to Friday | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virgin Islands | 6 to 8 weeks. And 4 additional weeks if the passport is referred for clearance |
The Tatkal service is an emergency service for the renewal of passports. It is available to all the applicants with valid passports and visa statuses. This service is indeed for the passengers who need it on an urgent basis.
Tatkal service for renewal is available for most of the applicants; still some of the exceptions are there.
| Applicant type | Passport validity | Passport fee | Tatkal fee | ICWF | VFS Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult- 18 years and above | 10 years | $75.00 | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $242.90 |
| 10 years- | $100.00 | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $267.90 | |
| Minor less than 15 years | 5 years | $50.00 | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $217.90 |
| Minor 15-18 years | 10 years | $75.00 | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $242.90 |
| 10 years – jumbo booklet | $100.00 | $150.00 | $2.00 | $15.90 | $267.90 |
Usually, the processing time is 3-4 business days excluding VF’s processing time. However, if police verification is incomplete or unclear and the status is pending, the processing time will take long. In other words, it may take around 30 days or more. It all depends on the availability of a clear PVR from the authorities in India. The processing time can be longer in some of the cases like- adoptions, a major name change, duplicate passport, doubtful documentation etc.
VFS makes it easy for the applicants to track the shipment and ensure that it arrives safely.
We presume that you have read this blog and are now well aware of the process of Indian Passport Renewal in USA. If you are interested in more such topics related to air travel, you can keep exploring our blog section. Well, it goes without saying that we are one of the leading flight booking sites helping thousands of people fly in an absolutely budget friendly way. We strive each and every day to assist all our invaluable customers to make wise travel decisions and book their flights at a very low price point.
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