Indian Consular Application Centers Grow in the U.S. as VFS Global Opens 8 New Application Centers

Inauguration of a visa centre in Edison, New Jersey. from left to right:  Dr Sudhir Parikh, Sam Joshi, Mayor, Edison, Hon. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, CG, India, New York, Amit Kumar Sharma, Head-Americas & Caribbean, VFS Global

Eight new locations include Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose.

These 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the U.S. will facilitate the Indian diaspora and other applicants across the United States of America with India Visa, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), passport application, renunciation of Indian citizenship, Police Clearance Certificate, Global Entry Programme (GEP), and Miscellaneous/Attestation services. VFS Global is the exclusive service provider for visa, OCI, passport, renunciation of Indian citizenship, PCC, GEP, and Miscellaneous/Attestation verification services for the Government of India in the United States of America.

The Indian Mission in the United States of America and VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, today jointly announced the launch of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose—taking the total number of ICACs in the USA to 16, further enhancing accessibility and convenience to the 5.3 million Indian diaspora and those using the services. Furthermore, a new ICAC is scheduled to open in Los Angeles in August, increasing the network to 17 centers nationwide.

These ICACs will serve as crucial hubs for a comprehensive range of essential services, including India Visa, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), passport application, renunciation of Indian citizenship, Police Clearance Certificate, Global Entry Programme (GEP), and Miscellaneous/Attestation services. VFS Global remains the exclusive service provider for these critical functions on behalf of the Government of India in the United States. The expanded network introduces several key improvements designed to streamline the application process: ICACs will now be open on Saturdays, offering greater flexibility for applicants; return courier services are now incorporated into the standard service fees; services such as photographs, photocopies, and form filling will be available at no additional cost within the ICACs; and a broader range of consular services will also be readily available.

Mr. Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States of America, said, “We are very happy to announce the opening of 8 new Indian Consular Application Centres. With the opening of these new Indian Consular Application Centres, our presence to provide extensive consular services and related delivery capabilities would increase and expand significantly. Besides, it will also make the delivery of these consular services faster and more accessible to a vibrant Indian diaspora. We firmly believe that people-to-people ties are the heart of the India-U.S. partnership.”

The centres will be equipped with world-class facilities aimed at providing an easily accessible and customer-centric application experience and will make the application process more convenient for travellers. These centres are expected to benefit the Indian community in the consular jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – North America & Caribbean, VFS Global, said, “We are honoured by the continued trust the Government of India has placed in VFS Global to support its diplomatic mission in the United States. These ICACs will play a crucial role in effectively catering to the growing demand for visa and consular services to India led by business partnerships, tourism, and trade.”

VFS Global is the first outsourced visa services partner of the Ministry of External Affairs (India) and has been serving the Government of India since 2008. In the United States of America, VFS Global has provided passport, visa, and consular services on behalf of the Embassy and Consulates of India located across the country since 2020. At present, VFS Global manages Passport, Visa, and Consular Services Application Centres for the Government of India in seven countries: Australia, Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

VFS Global