FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON PASSPORT RELATED SERVICES

Last Updated: April 30, 2006


PASSPORT SERVICES


MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES


SOME USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PASSPORT 

i.          Please keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. This would be required for issue of a duplicate passport in case of loss/damage/theft of the Passport 

ii.         It is an offence under the Passports Act 1967 to give false information in the Application. Passport facilities can be denied on grounds of suppression of factual information, submission of false particulars, willful damage of passport and for making unauthorized changes in the passport.

iii.       Your passport can be impounded or revoked by the Government of India under the provisions of the Passports Act 1967, in the event of which you will have to surrender the Passport to the nearest Indian Passport authority.  

iv.        Indian Citizenship Law Does Not Provide For Dual Citizenship and, accordingly, it is illegal for a person to possess an Indian Passport once he/she becomes citizen of another country. It may therefore, be noted that on becoming citizen of any other country (including US), the holder of an Indian passport should return the same to the nearest Indian Consular post (Embassy/Consulate). The Indian passport will be stamped "acquired US nationality" and returned to holder. Please send the Indian passport with covering letter and a self addressed stamped envelope for this purpose.

 

v.         Please always check the expiry date of your Passport, and get it renewed well in advance of the expiry. Incase your Passport has expired more than six months back the process of renewal may take longer time..  

 

vi.        Passport should not be sent out of any country by post. It should be in the custody of the holder or especially authorized by the holder. It must not be altered or mutilated in any way. Loss, theft or destruction of Passport should be immediately reported to the nearest passport authority in India or Mission abroad and to the local police authorities.

 


ISSUE OF NEW PASSPORTS

      When should you apply for the new passport ? 

i)          Apply for reissue of Passport if the final (F) validity is less than one year. For example, if your passport is expiring on 31st Dec. 2007, you can apply for a new passport from 30th Dec. 2006 onwards.

ii)          The Passport should be renewed within one year of its expiry. If for any reason you have delayed applying for a new passport beyond one year after expiry of your passport, an affidavit stating the reason for delay sworn before a Notary or a Consular Officer should be submitted along with the application.

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How do you apply/ documents required? 

i)                    Completed application form for new passport

ii)                   Original existing passport and photocopy of first and last pages containing personal particulars.

iii)                 Four recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected.

iv)                Copy of Green Card (both sides, enlarged clear copy) or Employment Authorization card (clear enlarged copy) or legal/ visa status such as HIB etc.

v)         Copy of Marriage Certificate, in case present passport does not contain the name of spouse and you wish to have it entered in your new passport, may be sent.

vi)                 Fees of $ 40 for new passport for adult only. Please see separate instructions for child’s passport. 

vii)               vii) Return mail charges of $15 for return by express mail which is more reliable and safe. Consulate does not take responsibility for delay in receipt or loss of documents sent by mail. No self addressed envelope is necessary. Fees for passport + mailing charges can be sent together through a single money order or cashier's check. Please note that payments by mail can only be made through money order or cashier's check in favor of the Consulate General of India. Those who apply at Consular Camps should pay an additional US $ 10/- towards camp charges.

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How much time will it take to get a new passport ? 

i)                    For reissue of old Passport issued from CGI, Houston and if application is submitted at the counter in person, it may take 5 working days, provided application is in order and no prior reference is required. If the old Passport was issued by a Regional Passport Office in India or by other Indian Embassy/Consulate requiring prior clearance, the processing time is six weeks.

ii)                   If you apply by mail, it may take approximately 10 working days excluding time taken in mail and with the same provisos as in col (i) above.  

Will you get back your old passport with your new one ? 

            Yes. The old passport will be returned to you after cancellation. However, the pages containing valid visa will not be cancelled and the visa can be utilized or get it transferred to the new passport. 

What will happen to the valid visas on your old passport ?

The visas will not be cancelled. In case of any valid visas in the expired passport, the visa issuing authority may be approached for getting it transferred or revalidated on the new passport.

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Can you obtain a new passport if you are in USA on a visitor’s visa?  

Visitors from India on BI / B2 visa who are not normally resident in USA are advised to hold passports which are valid for the period of their visit. In such cases, where it becomes necessary due to unavoidable reasons, fresh passports would be reissued after clearance from the Passport Issuing Authority.

What are the additional requirements when passport expired more than 6 months back? 

i)                    Declaration on the New Passport Application form to be notarized by the Notary Public

ii)                   One photograph to be pasted on the form and notarized by the Notary Public, incase there has been a change in appearance.

iii)                 Attach an explanation on a separate sheet of paper giving reasons for delay in applying for a new passport.

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RENEWAL OF PASSPORTS (EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF CURRENT PASSPORT)

When are passports renewed ?

i)            Passports issued for short durations (i.e. if the original validity is less than 10 years) for any reason or short validity passports issued in India under the Tatkal scheme

ii)           Passports which were issued against lost passports for short validity

iii)          If your passport is completing 10 years / or there is a an 'F' or 'Final' written after the date of expiry, please apply for new passport.

What are the requirements for renewing a passport?  

i)                    Original passport

ii)                   Completed Passport Renewal form 

iii)                 Copy of Green Card (both sides, enlarged clear copy) or Employment Authorization card (clear enlarged copy) or legal/ visa status such as HIB etc

iv)             No Fee is payable for renewal, but if you are applying by mail, US $ 15 towards mail may be sent through a money order/cashier's check in favour of Consulate General of India, Houston.

How much time will it take?  

i)                    If you apply in person at the counter, same day if no prior clearance is required. It may take six weeks if prior clearance has to be obtained from the original Passport Issuing Authority..

ii)                    If you apply through mail, 10 working days, excluding time taken in mail. The proviso regarding clearance mentioned in i) above applies.

What would be the duration of the renewal of the passport?

i)                    Normally the validity of the passport will be extended up to 10 years from date of its original issue except when clearance has not been received from the original passport issuing authority.

ii)                   In cases of duplicate passports of short validity, renewal will depend upon the receipt of clearance.

 

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ISSUE OF ADDITIONAL PASSPORT BOOKLET WHEN PAGES ON EXISTING PASSPORT ARE EXHAUSTED

When is an additional booklet issued? 

Adding additional pages to the Passport has been discontinued. When all pages of the passport are used up, a new passport valid for 10 years will be issued. Application form and procedure for new passport is applicable. All valid visas on the main passport remain valid after issue of new booklet.  

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PASSPORT TO A CHILD 

What is the definition of a child for issue of passport?

Children below 18 years as on the date of application of a passport are covered under this section. The validity of Passports issued to minor children is five years and the fee is US $ 25/- upto the age of 15 years and $ 40/- after 15 years. If the child has completed 17 years, a passport for 10 years will be issued. 

Is it possible to include the child’s name in one of the parent’s passport?

No, inclusion of child's name has been discontinued since 2002.. Minor child should have separate passport irrespective of his/her age. 

What should you do if the child’s name was entered in one of the parent’s passport  earlier ?

If the child is less than 15 years, he/she can still legally be eligible to travel on this passport. However, some countries insist on separate passport for children. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain a separate passport for the child by getting the name deleted from parent's passport.    

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What would be the validity of the child’s passport? 

Maximum 5 years or till he/she attains the age 15 years whichever is earlier. If the child is going to be 18 years within one year, a full validity passport, of 10 years will be issued (please see instructions for Issue of New Passport) 

What are the requirements/ documents to be submitted for a child’s passport? 

i)                    New Passport application form with the Declaration and one photograph notarized.

ii)                   Four recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected.

iii)                 If child's name was included in one of the parent's passport, original passport of the parent.

iv)                 If child is born in USA and his name had not been entered in one of the parent’s passport, copy of his birth certificate AND both the parent's original passports.

v)                  Copy of the child’s legal status/ visa status

vi)                 A No Objection letter signed by both the parents

vii)               Fees of $ 25

vii)              vii) Return mail charges of $15 for return by express mail which is more reliable and safe. Consulate do not take responsibility for delay in receipt or loss of documents sent by mail. No self addressed envelope is necessary. Fees for passport + mailing charges can be paid through a single money order or cashier's check. Please note that payments by mail can only be made through money order or cashier's check in favor of the Consulate General of India, Houston. Personal checks/credit cards not accepted.

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What is the procedure for applying for a passport for a child in India whose parent is staying abroad? 

(i) If one parent residing in India is applying for minor's passport, the parent residing abroad should send an affidavit (see Specimen Form of Affidavit in Forms). of 'no objection' attested at the Mission/Consulate, which should be submitted along with the minor's application. The notarized Affidavit, in duplicate, and the Miscellaneous services form original passport, fee of $ 10 should be submitted to the Consulate for attestation of the Affidavit. If the name of the child is entered in the passport of the parent residing abroad, the name should be got deleted by applying to the Consulate and the deletion certificate should also be submitted along with the minor's application. Please see procedure for attestation. This Affidavit has to be submitted along with the passport application in India.

(ii) If both parents are residing abroad and a legal guardian in India is applying for minor's passport, the parents should send an authorization attested by the Mission/Consulate abroad to the legal guardian who would apply for the passport along with the legal guardian's Affidavit with two witnesses known to the guardian.

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ISSUE OF NEW PASSPORT DUE TO CHANGE OF NAME OR CHANGE OF DATE OF BIRTH OR CHANGE OF APPEARANCE OR CHANGE OF PARTICULARS ON THE LAMINATED PAGES OF THE PASSPORT

a) Change of name consequent upon marriage (new passport issued with new name)
b) Change of name NOT consequent upon marriage (new passport issued with new name)
c) Change of Date/Place of Birth or address (new passport issued with correct date/place of birth or new address)
d) Change of appearance (new passport issued with the recent photograph)

a) Change of name consequent upon marriage (new passport issued with new name)

         What are the requirements/ documents to be submitted? 

i)                    Completed application form for new passport

ii)                   Original existing passport + spouse’s passport in original

iii)                 4 recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected.

iv)                 Original marriage certificate + a copy of same. (original will be returned after verification)

v)                  Sworn Affidavit in the prescribed form, duly notarized , giving both maiden and married name.

vi)                 Copy of Green Card (both sides, enlarged clear copy) or Employment Authorization card (clear enlarged copy) or legal/ visa status such as HIB etc.

vii)               Fees of $ 40 (A fresh passport valid for ten years in the changed name will be issued).

viii)         viii) Return mail charges of $15 for return by express mail which is more reliable and safe. Consulate do not take responsibility for delay in receipt or loss of documents sent by certified mail. No self addressed envelope is necessary. Fee for passport + mailing charges should be sent through a single money order or cashier's check. Please note that fee be paid through money order or cashier's check in favor of the Consulate General of India.  

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b) Change of name NOT consequent upon marriage (new passport issued with new name)

           What are the requirements/ documents to be submitted?

i)                    Completed application form for new passport

ii)                   Original existing passport

iii)                 4 recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected.

iv)                 Court Order or Sworn affidavit in the prescribed form – Affidavit for Change of Name , giving both names, duly notarized by a Notary Public.

v)                  Original newspaper clippings of the Notice for change of name in the city of domicile in USA AND in India (2 notices-one local and the other in India).

vi)                 Copy of Green Card (both sides, enlarged clear copy) or Employment Authorization card (clear enlarged copy) or legal/ visa status such as HIB etc.

vii)               Fees of $ 40/- New Passport valid for 10 years in the new name will be issued. new passport

viii)            Return mail back charges of $15 for return by express mail which is more reliable and safe. Consulate do not take responsibility for delay in receipt or loss of documents sent by certified mail. No self addressed envelope is necessary. Fees for passport + mailing charges be paid together through a single money order or cashier's check. Please note that payments be made through money order or cashier's check in favor of the Consulate General of India. 

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c) Change of Date/Place of Birth or address (new passport issued with correct date/place of birth or new address) 

When is it possible to change the date/place of birth in the passport ? and What are the requirements / documents needed for getting the date of birth changed in the passport?

i)                i) Since the date/place of birth is recorded in the passport on the basis of information provided by the applicant in his application at the time of applying for the passport for the first time, ordinarily requests for change of date of birth/place are not entertained except in the case when a mistake occurred while writing the date/place of birth in the passport on the part of the Passport Office/Mission/Consulate. 

ii)           ii) If the date of birth/place was wrongly entered in the BC/SC originally submitted along with the passport application, the authority who issued the BC/SC should correct date/place of birth in the original BC/SC. 

iii)           iii) Where the date/place of birth is incorrect for any other reason, the applicant should submit along with the application, the original declaratory Order of a First Class Judicial Magistrate in the area of permanent residence of the applicant in India ordering the Passport Issuing Authority to amend the date of birth. 

iv)           iv) Application for correction of date/place of birth should be submitted in the form for new passport application with the original Passport, proof of correct date/place of birth as above and fee of $ 40/- + mailing charge of $ 15/-. 

What are the requirements / documents needed for getting the date of birth changed in the passport? 

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d) Change of appearance (new passport issued with the recent photograph)

What documents are required for obtaining a new passport due to change of appearance?

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DUPLICATE PASSPORTS (in lieu of lost/damaged Passports)

What are the documents required to apply for a duplicate passport ?  

i)                    Application form for a new passport, Declaration in the form must be notarized

ii)                   7 recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected. One photograph  to be pasted on the application and notarized.

iii)                 4 copies of Personal Particulars Proforma

iv)                 Police Report regarding the loss of passport

v)                  Copy of lost passport

vi)                 Copies of school certificates/ birth certificate/ Indian driving license / ration card/ Election Commission I.D./ employment letter/ any other photo-identification from India (whichever available)

vii)               Letter from school / college , if student

viii)         Proof of residence in USA from the date indicated in the application such as copies of utility bills and copy of lease deed of house/ flat occupied/ bank certificate/ insurance policy

ix)           Copy of Green Card/ Employment Authorization Card, as applicable. The Consulate may demand to see the original.

x)         Letter on plain paper explaining the circumstances of loss of passport. 

xi)                 Fee of $ 125 for duplicate passport.

xii)               Applications for duplicate passports are normally neither received nor passports dispatched by post. The applicant has to be present personally before the Consular Officer while filing application for a duplicate passport except when the applicant is residing very far from the Consulate. In such exceptional cases, the photograph and signature of the applicant must be notarized on a separate sheet of paper and it should be certified by the Notary Public "Seen the person and signed in my presence". In such exceptional circumstances only, mail back charges will be accepted. No self addressed envelope is necessary. Fees for passport + mailing charges of $ 15/- can be paid together through one Money Order or Cashier's Check or in cash at the counter.  

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How much time will it take for the issue of a duplicate passport ? 

Passports in lieu of lost/damaged/stolen passports issued by CGI, Houston is reissued after 10 days, subject to checks.. 

Duplicate passports in lieu of lost/damaged/stolen passports are issued only after receipt of clearance from the original Passport Issuing Authority. It may take upto 3 months.  

What can you do if you have lost your passport and have to travel to India urgently due to an emergency like serious illness or death in the family ? 

A short validity passport can be issued if you make a specific request, in writing, addressed to the Vice Consul, explaining the emergency and submit all documents required for issue of duplicate passport with proof of emergency and two sworn affidavits in the prescribed form from Indian nationals resident in USA, duly notarized, certifying that they know you and that you are an Indian citizen (copies of relevant pages of the passports of the two persons giving the sworn affidavits to be enclosed). Such short validity passports can be issued to only those who have submitted copies of their lost passport. In all other cases, only an EC (emergency certificate also know as "one way travel document") may be issued enabling his/her return to India.  

Will the short validity passport be extended for full validity subsequently on receipt of clearance from India ?

Yeses. 

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What are your responsibilities when applying for a duplicate passport ? 

You should furnish h full, accurate and truthful information in the form. Misrepresentation of facts may result in denial of passport facilities. Applications received with incomplete information will remain unprocessed. A duplicate passport may not be issued for the second loss/ damage of passport. Habitual losers of passports may be denied further passport facilities.

 

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Are there any special provisions if requesting person is a bonafide student?  

In case of student and trainees who are in their studies/training, a short validity passport valid for one year may be issued in lieu of lost/damaged passport on the strength of the certificate issued by the concerned educational/training institution to the effect that the individual is a bonafide student of that institution and that he/she is of Indian nationality as per the academic record submitted by him/her at the time of admission to the institution. The short validity passport is to be renewed for full validity on receipt of confirmation from the original passport issuing authority or on the expiry of three months from the date of making original reference, which ever is earlier.

 

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EMERGENCY CERTIFICATES

What are Emergency Certificates?

An Emergency Certificate is a one way Travel Document which authorizes an Indian national to travel to India. It is issued to a citizen of India whose passport has been lost/ damaged/ stolen, and who needs to return to India urgently without waiting to complete the formalities for issue of a duplicate passport. The applicant has to provide complete information about his Indian nationality to the Consular Officer.

What are the documents required for obtaining an Emergency Certificate?

i)                    Application form for a new passport , Declaration in the form must be notarized

ii)                   7 recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5x3.5 cm. Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected. One photograph  to be pasted on the application and notarized.

iii)                 6 copies of Personal Particulars Proforma

iv)                 Police Report about the loss of passport

v)                  Copy of lost passport

vi)                 Copies of school certificates/ birth certificate/ Indian driving license / ration card/ Election Commission I.D./ employment letter/ any other photo-identification from India (whichever available)

vii)               Letter from school / college , if student

viii)              Proof of residence in USA from the date indicated in the application such as copies of utility bills and copy of lease deed of house/ flat occupied/ bank certificate/ insurance policy

ix)                 Copy of Green Card/ Employment Authorization Card, as applicable. The Consulate may demand to see the original.

x)                  Fee of $5

xi)                 Two sworn affidavits in the prescribed form from Indian nationals resident in USA, duly notarized, certifying that they know you and that you are an Indian citizen (copies of relevant pages of the passports of the two persons giving the sworn affidavits to be enclosed)

xii)               Applications for issue of EC are neither received nor ECs dispatched by post or through Travel Agent. The applicant has to be present personally before the Consular Officer while filing application for an EC. In exceptional circumstances only, mail back charges will be accepted. No self addressed envelope necessary. Fees for EC+ mailing charges can be paid together through one Money Order or Cashier's Check (or in cash at the counter). 

How much time will this service take? 

i)                 If applied in person at the counter in the Consulate and no prior clearance/confirmation of particulars from India is required, EC will be issued in 5 working days.

ii)                 If personal particulars/national status has to be confirmed by the PIA, the EC will be issued immediately after clearance is received.

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EMERGENCY SERVICES

 

       For Emergency Services (Visa) additional amount of $35.00 is charged. However the emergency fees/charges for issue of out of turn Indian Passport (only accepted in the Consulate at the counter - not by mail) shall be US $90.00. Such passports shall not be issued on closed holidays. Such services are provided only in cases of genuine emergency such as death or serious illness in the immediate family. Emergency/out of turn service is not available for cases falling in the prior approval category, requiring clearance from India.

 

 

FEE FOR SELECTED SERVICES

(i)

New passport (36 pages upto 10 years)

$ 40.00

(xii)

Deletion of child's name

$ 10.00

(ii)

New Indian Passport for minors (under 15 Years of age) . 

$ 25.00


(xiii)


Emigration clearance endorsement


$ 10.00

(iii)

Jumbo Passport Booklet
(60 pages) for 10 years

$ 50.00


(xiv)


Life Certificate for pension


No Fee

(iv)

Additional Booklet (discontined) Issue of new passport of 36 pages for 10 years

$ 40.00

(xv)

Birth /Death/ Marriage Certificate

$ 20.00

 

Additional Booklet (discontinued) Issue of new passport with 60 pages for 10 years

$ 50.00

(xvi)

Police Clearance Certificate

$ 20.00

(v)

Renewal of Short Validity Passport


No Fee

(xvii)

Attestation of Affidavit / Documents (not related to property matters) per attestation

$ 10.00

(vi)

Emergency Certificate
(valid only for return to India)

$ 5.00

(xviii)

Attestation of Affidavit / Documents (related to property matters) per attestation

$ 20.00

(vii)

Renewal of Emergency Certificate

$ 5.00

(xix)

Attestation of Affidavit/Documents (related to commercial matters) per attestation

$ 50.00

(viii)

Certificate of Identity

Issue of Duplicate Certificate of Identity

$ 12.00


$ 25.00

(xx)

Attestation of documents, for No Obligation To Return to India Certificate ( for J-1 visa holders) ( 6 Attestations)

$ 60.00

(ix)

Renewal of Certificate of Identity

$ 5.00

(xxi)

Change of name/Maiden to Married/Change of Appearance/Change of Date of Birth(Issue of New Passport Booklet)

$ 20.00

(x)

Endorsement on Certificate of identity

$  5.00

(xxii)

Lost/Damaged Passport

$125.00

(xi)

Change of address(Observation)

$  10.00

(xxiii)

 Registration of Marriage $50.00

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MISCELLANEOUS PASSPORT SERVICES

Note: If the change is on the laminated pages of the passport, it is advisable to apply for a new passport in the prescribed application form along with a fee of $ 40/-. A new passport valid for 10 years with the changes will be issued.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS 

What are the documents required for this service and how much time will this service take? 

i)                    Completed Miscellaneous Services form

ii)