Help Getting In Touch with Indian Consulate!

[mvydyana]

Hello -

I am in rather dire straits, since I need a new passport issued - my old one is close to expiring. I live in Florida, and have been desperately trying to get in touch with the Indian Consulate in Houston for the past week. No one seems to answer the phone. My e-mails to them have gone unanswered.... I am not willing to simply mail them my original passport without verifying that they can in fact process my request (my passport was issued in a third country, neither India nor the USA.) I just want to speak to SOMEONE at the consulate! My place of residence makes it impractical for me to travel to Texas just to make an inquiry...

Has anyone else found an extension to dial, or another number to call, or simply any other way of getting a hold of the Indian consulate? Is there a particular day or time they are available? I've tried all four phone numbers listed on their website in the morning as well as afternoon.

Any help or direction would really, really be appreciated.

[knowledgeable]

Why do you ...

... have to contact them. Just apply for the document and your application will be processed. They will issue you a new document with new expiry.

Good luck.

[mvydyana]

Hi, Knowledgeable -
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah, guess I'm a little skittish on the point, since part of the process for getting a new document is to mail them the old, original passport. And if I can speak to no one at the consulate, I'm not quite sure it's a good idea to mail my passport into that black hole...

However, that might end up being what I need to do... But my other concern is - if I can talk to no one at the consulate, how can I check the status of my application with them? How about if it gets delayed and I want to check on how it's going? No one seems to be even answering the phones!

[knowledgeable]

That's the way ...

... Indian consulates work, all over the world.

Yes, you do have to send/submit the old passport to them and they will issue the new one and send both the old (cancelled) and the new passport back to you shortly.

Usually this takes about a week or so. Make sure you include the necessary payment for return express mail costs.

If you're too panicky about this, then the only option is for you to go to the nearest CGI in person.

There IS no other way, no matter what.

Take care.

[sterdale]

I am having exactly same problem.

I am having exactly same problem. I want to send application to renew my passport(regular) and have couple of questions about the form. I tried calling all numbers nobody responds. My friend suggested calling Washington or California number. I even tried that, nobody responds.

I know they work, I got my son's visa last year. But as they don't have proper guidelines on filling the form I am confused whether to just fill it and send or wait. I am afraid that they might reject it if I fill something wrong.

e.g they have two different addresses on that form 1. address which should appear on passport and 2. other address. I am wondering does no. 1 has to be Indian address or US address is fine. If indian address is needed do we need proof of address for that? etc.

I don't understand why they don't respond to phone calls or emails. What if there some emergency and you need to contact Indian consulate?