Guidance:

• Emergency certificate (EC) is a one-way travel document to India;

• EC can be issued only on an individual’s formal request;

• It is mandatory for an individual requesting an EC to apply in- person at the Consulate.  Mailing facility is not available for issuing EC;

• EC is issued to individuals who have lost their passports; their passports are damaged; or their passports have expired for a long time;

• EC is issued only when a new passport cannot be issued without approval from India;

• EC is issued primarily to facilitate the individual’s return to India in an emergency;

• EC can be issued only when the individual’s Indian nationality is confirmed;

• If an individual is under orders of deportation, the application should be submitted through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Department of Homeland Security.  The EC will be delivered to the agency concerned and not to an agent or third party.

Process :

• In the online application, in the Service Desired’ box, choose option ‘Re-issue of Passport;

• Complete online application (see guidance)

• Attach supporting documents What is required:
  • All previous passports in original, current passport in original and photocopy of the first five,  last two pages, and of the page containing visa of the current passport
  • Proof of Status:
    • Clear colored Photocopy of Green Card, Employment Authorization Document or other visa documents
    • If application for Green Card/EAD/Visa is pending/being processed,  document should be submitted

    Note: B1/B2 visa holders are temporary visitors to U.S. and therefore we cannot issue passport to them.

  • Proof of Residence:
    • Driving license or
    • PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant’s address or
    • House Lease Agreement or

Note: Bank/credit card/mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence proof

• When applying in person, please carry originals of all the supporting documents, photocopies of which you are enclosing with the application.  The originals have to be presented to the Consular Officer
• If applying by mail, Photocopy of all supporting documents 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.

• Photocopy of the lost passport
• Four (4) copies of Personal Verification Form;
• Six (6) photographs (paste two (2) on the online passport application; and one (1) each on the four (4) copies of the Personal Verification Form
• If a student, current school/college/university ID, and Letter from school/college/university in the USA
• Proof of stay in the USA, from the date mentioned in the application by the applicant
• Indian Photo Identify Card – including Driving License, Ration Card, Election Commission ID, PAN card, or any other document containing photo and indicating Indian nationality of the applicant
• Birth Certificate
• Matriculation/Higher Secondary/School Leaving Certificate or any other school records from India or the USA
• If the lost passport had already expired beyond a period of six months, submit the notarized affidavit
• Notarized affidavit from two Indian passport holders who have valid residential status in the USA (they should not be short-term visitors). Attach photocopy of first two pages and last two pages of passports; and, resident status (Green card/EAD/resident visa) of both the individuals
• Original Police Report lodged with the Police about loss of passport
• A letter on a plain paper addressed to the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, explaining the circumstances of the loss of passport and as to the reason why an Emergency Certificate is required;
  

• Affix signatures/thumb impression

FEE :

• Non-refundable fee of $ 5 (five)

• Fees should be paid through money order or cashiers’ cheque drawn in favour of the ‘Consulate General of India, San Francisco’.  Personal cheques, credit cards or other banking instruments are not accepted.

• Fee once paid is non-refundable even if service is refused/delayed

• The Consulate is now accepting Debit Cards with a service charge of $3.00 (three) at the counter.

Processing Time :

• The normal processing time for completion of all cases is 10 business days unless otherwise specified

• The processing time indicated above does not apply to cases where references have to be initiated; lost and damaged passport cases; and in cases where the passport has not been renewed for more than six months after the date of expiry