• Please follow information enumerated under “Applying in-person at the Consulate”

• Follow instructions to complete on-line application

• Paste photos

• Signature/Thumbimpression

• Photocopy of all supporting documents including Photo should be notarized and attached to the application.  If original supporting documents are enclosed, there is no need of notarization.  When the original passport is enclosed, there is no need to notarize photocopy.

• Enclose money order/cashier’s cheque of requisite fee.  The money order/cashier’s cheque should be drawn in favour of the ‘Consulate General of India, San Francisco.’  Cash, credit card payment or personal cheques are not accepted for mail-in applications

• If Tatkal Service is required, follow instructions given under Tatkal Service

• For return mail, in addition to the passport fee and/or Tatkal fee, do one of the following:
  • Enclose a stamped self-addressed Express Mail envelope from USPS or from a renowned courier.  or
  • Enclose a money order/cashier’s cheque for $ 20 (twenty)  for despatch by overnight mail;
  • Other than above no other mode of mail will be accepted.

• Irrespective of the date of appointment generated on the application, mail the completed application with supporting documents; passport fee; and/or Tatkal fee, and; self-addressed envelope or return mailing fee to :

Passport Cell
Consulate General of India,
540 Arguello Boulevard;
San Francisco CA 94118

• The processing time for applications received by mail at the Consulate is 10 (ten) business days excluding the time taken in mail

• The Consulate does not have a mechanism to acknowledge applications received by mail.  It is, therefore, advisable for applicants to track movement on their own of their sent-out-mail to the Consulate

• The Consulate is not responsible for documents lost in mail.

 

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

• The fee once paid is not refundable on account of refusal of or delay in service

• Even if the applicant meets all the laid down requirements for obtaining a particular service, the Consular Officer reserves the right to demand any necessary additional and original documents at any stage of processing.  The documents demanded by the Consular Officer should be presented by the applicant for scrutiny and satisfaction of the Consular Officer before the service is rendered.

• The processing time is indicative

• The processing time does not apply to services where prior approval has to be obtained from authorities in India or elsewhere.  For such cases, the processing time is a minimum of 30 (thirty) business days.

• The Consular Officer can at any time call an applicant for personal interview

• Applicants are advised to refrain from making telephonic or written enquires on status of their applications during the normal processing time

• The Consulate will return applications that:
  • Are incomplete or not correctly completed; and/or
  • lack supporting documents; and/or
  • have been mailed with inadequate fee; and/or
  • have other deficiencies

• The cost of such return will be borne by the applicants.

• The Consulate learns that some agents are claiming to have been appointed by the Consulate General of India and are misleading the public by claiming so.  The Consulate informs all the applicants that no repeat no agents have been appointed by the Consulate and that the Consulate deals with members of the public directly.