Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Indian Passport Renewal in United States

If you are in US and your passport is expiring, you can renew it from the Indian Consulate in SFO. This is available only to people who are in US on a non-visiting visa. If you are on a visitor's visa, you need to renew your passport in India.

You can renew your passport by mail or by appearing personally at the consulate. I have listed the required documentation below. If you are going personally, take all the original documents along with the photocopies. When applying by mail, all the photocopies need to be notarized if you are not sending the originals. The documents that you need are :

1. Original passport and a photo-copy.
2. Document that proves your status in US (Greencard / EAD / I-797)
3. Address proof. (PG&E Bill / Apartment lease / Driving License with current address)
4. Photos. Two 2" X 2" photos. ($4.99 at Costco / $7.99 at Walgreens / Free at epassportphoto.com)
5. $40 fee. No personal checks / credit cads. Take a money order / cashier's check or pay with your debit card with an additional $3 fee.
6. Self-addressed USPS express mail cover to receive the documents back (optionally, you can pick-up)

If you are newly married and want to add your spouse's name on your new passport, you need the following documentation.

1. Original passport of spouse and photo-copy.
2. Marriage certificate
3. Marriage photos and invitation card
4. Affidavit. Signed and notarized by both.

Fill the online application and get an appointment. Print out the 4 pages that come out after finishing the online form and fill the rest of the details with pen. Paste one photo on the first page and pin the other on the last page. If you are applying by mail, ignore the appointment date and send the documents by mail right away. If you are applying in person, visit the consulate on the day of the appointment.

Everyone gets the time of the appointment as 9am. Consulate is open from 9 to 12 only. So, be there by 9am and take a number to be called. Parking near the consulate is very less and you have to drive around to find a vacant space. So, give yourself additional time to find a parking space.

If you are applying in person, you will be given a choice to pick-up your new passport from the same place or get it by mail. To pick-up your passport, visit the consulate between 4 and 4:45 pm on the date given. To get it by mail, use self-addressed cover specified above.

For all additional questions and information, visit their website.

Posted by Madhukar Reddy Gurram at 4:05 PM
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23 comments:

  1. Grateful to you for the useful information.
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  2. When we fill the online application it gives future appointment date. If i post the application and supporting docs by mail, what is the significance of this appointment date?

    Does it mean they will start looking at my application after my appointment date?
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  3. No. The appointment date generated is not useful in case of 'apply by mail'. In this case the processing time is 10 days after they receive the documents.
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  4. My previous passport was issued in Abu Dhabi and now i am renewing my passport in SFO. Sent by mail on July 6th, next day delivery. Do you really think i will get it in 10 days? I booked my tickets to India in August 1st week. So much tensed reading horror stories online...Do you have any suggestion what if don't get by July 25?
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  5. 10 business days is what is specified on their site. I'm not sure if it is strictly followed. Wait for a week from now and call them to find out the status.
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  6. Hello

    Do they print the applicant's US address on the passport? And if they print the applicants Indian address then don't they ask for any address proof?

    thanks
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  7. They will print Indian address.

    Sreenath.V
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  8. My wife's old passport has expired (09/14/2009) and we just realized that we are in the process of applying for a new passport at Indian Consulate in San Francisco. My wife's old passport does have my (Spouse's) name already. So the question is would I need to include my (Spouse's) passport and an affidavit this time or not ?
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  9. I'm on L1 working in colorado state and my passport expires on 05dec2010. I stay in a Hilton Suite does the suite address can be given as address proof.
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  10. Can you please tell me what all documents need to be notorized
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  11. Did any one had a recent passport renewal from SanFrancisco? Did yoou get it on time?
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  12. This is a good summary list - thanks.
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  13. thanks for the detailed info.
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  14. Following list is for Parents who has a Green card but does not have a Driving License or utility bills on their name:

    •Application Form (signature in 3 places)
    •Color Photocopy of Green card
    •State ID (Proof of Residence)
    •Photograph 3 copies (1 pasted and 2 stapled)
    •Original Passport and Green card
    •Color photocopy of first 5, last 2 pages of passport and all visa (color) related pages.
    •Ordinary Passport - $40.00 Cash
    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks Madhukar, very useful information presented in brief & you have made sure all the points have been covered. Appreciate!
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  16. I want to Add my spouse name in the passport. I don't have the spouse passport with me. I have only my passport and original marriage certificate. Is there any other alternative document will be accepted to get my spouse name added in my passport. Can you please advise?
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  17. Hi, I need to renew my Passport. My question is, What address proof do they need - India's or US Address?

    Also, my current passport has a different address in India and I was a different one on my new Passport. Should I just specify the new address in the column "Address to be printed on passport" or do I need to give the proof of this new Indian address?

    Thanks!
    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi, I have the same question as some one already posted regarding the Address Proof. Is it Indian or US address proof. If it is US Address Proof, do they dont need Indian address proof? Please guide. And also I would like to give new India Address.
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  19. Hi Siva,

    It's the US address proof. They don't need the Indian address proof. I'm not sure about change in Indian address.

    -- Madhukar.
    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Siva,

    Please let me know if you have got your new Indian address on your passport reissue. Let me know if you attached any document supporting this.
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  21. I don't want to change my name, just want to add spouse name. Should i still fill the affidavit?
    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Madhukar, Thank you for the details. I didnt read this blog before. I sent all the docs for passport renewal by email. I have read in another site that we need to get notary for documents including photo. So, I didnt get approval for my H1B petition. Will it be a problem? How long they will take to notify us if there is a problem? I sent the documents on Jan 11th. I have a travel plan on Mar 4th. Please let me know your suggestions.
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  23. Hi,

    I need to renew my passport in US. I'm planning to do so by mail. Can I give my mailing address as different than my current address as I'm on road all the time and there will be no one to pick it up at my place. So please let me know how and where to enter the different mailing address in the application form. or is there any other method in doing it.

    Please help

    Thanks,

    Prashant
    ReplyDelete

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