When you schedule an appointment, you will be provided a Reference number generated by VFS. Reference number printed on the online application form is NOT valid for tracking with VFS.

• Online:
  You can track your application by entering your Reference Number generated by VFS and your date of birth.
  
  Track Application
  
  
• By Phone:
  Call (866)-973-1533

• 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 timings are indicative and can vary from time to time.
  
  
• 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 thirty (30) business days.
  
  
• The Consular Officer can at any time call an applicant for a personal interview.
  
  
• Applicants are advised to refrain from making telephonic or written enquiries of 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
    
    
  When the Consulate returns such applications, they would utilize the return postage/envelope supplied with the application that was originally meant to send back the completed application/documents.
  
  Government of India is not responsible for any inconvenience or problems faced due to any rejections or delays.
  
  
• When you get a new passport, your old passport will be cancelled and returned to you. Any visas in the old passport are still valid until the date of expiry. You would need to carry both the passports to travel using the visa in the old passport.
  
  
• If you would like someone else to pick up your processed passport, you will need to give authority letter to pick up passport
  
  

Your processed application will be returned to you in your chosen way. You should allow 2 to 3 days transit time for courier-returned applications. Transit times differ by type of service chosen, location of delivery, service provider and also account for public holidays.

If the prior approval is required from authorities in India or any other Passport Issuing Authority other than the office where the application is made, the processing time would be in weeks or even months.

Processing of applications by mail generally takes a week longer than the normal processing time.

• Washington DC:
  Fresh / Reissue / Renewal / Correction of Passport
  • Minimum 1 - 3 week (If your case is referred for clearance then the processing time may increase to 6 Weeks or more).
  
  
  
• New York, NY:
  Regular processing time: Additional 10 days
  
  
• San Francisco, CA:
  Regular processing time 2-3 Weeks
  
  
• Chicago, IL:
  
  • Regular processing time: 3 weeks
  • Lost and Damaged Passport: Minimum 3 - 6 weeks (If Original passport details are traceable in the data base, if details are not traceable then the process may be longer than normal and may take up to even 3 months or more).
  
  
  
• Houston, TX
  
  • Fresh / Reissue / Renewal / Correction of Passport
  • Minimum 1 - 3 week (If your case is referred for clearance then the processing time may increase to 6 Weeks or more).
  
  
  
• Atlanta, GA
  
  • Regular Processing time : 6 to 8 weeks.
  • In case passport is handwritten and referred for clearance: Additional 4 weeks
  • Lost/damaged passport: 7 to 9 weeks - If passport details are traceable in online database. ( If details are not available and clearance is required from original Passport Issuing Authority- Only after receipt of clearance)
  • No Legal Status/Passport expired more than 3 years: No Fixed time frame (Varies on case to case basis)
  
  
  

Note: The Processing time mentioned above is a general processing time however this processing time is dependent on various factors and may vary from time to time. Processing time mentioned above, do not include time taken by courier companies to deliver the passport. Incomplete/ Incorrect applications will increase the processing time and applicants will need to comply with any changes in the procedure that may occur during this time. Passport application center will not be liable for any claims of inconvenience or penalties should applicant need to make changes to their travel plans owing to the delays and/or any inconvenience caused due to any rejections.