ISSUE OF A DUPLICATE PASSPORT IN LIEU OF LOST OR DAMAGED ORIGINAL PASSPORT

GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS


Application for issue of a duplicate passport  is to be made from April 1, 2008 only online on the prescribed application form.It should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides. Applications for duplicate passports are normally not accepted by mail except with prior approval of the Consular Officer. The applicant has to come in person before the Consular Officer while submitting application for a duplicate passport except when the applicant is residing far away from the Embassy / Consulate. In these exceptional cases, the photograph and signature of the applicant must be notarized on a separate sheet of paper with the notary’s remark “Seen the person and signed in my presence” which can be sent by mail alongwith the application. 

This application form will enable the applicant to register online. The applicant should ensure that all fillable items are entered correctly. For all correspondence to the Embassy regarding the application please quote your temporary registration number. The application may either be sent by mail or submitted at the Embassy on the date indicated in the application form. It should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides. 

ONLY ONLINE FORMS downloaded from the Embassy's website would be accepted. Photographs should be pasted (not Stapled) and application should be signed.

The following documents and fee are required to be submitted with the application: 

· After having filled the application online, print a copy. 

· Affix photograph as per specification in the box (do not staple photograph)

· Photocopy of the original (lost) passport; 

· Six coloured Passport size (3.5cm x 3.5cm) photographs showing frontal view of full face against a light background including one photograph to be pasted on the space provided on the first page of the application form. Four passport size photographs are to be affixed on the four copies of personal verification form in the prescribed proforma.

· Two proofs of residential address of the applicant, which may include current Driving License, Utility Bill, rent lease agreement showing the residential address.

· Photocopy of at least first five and last two pages of the original / old passport; 

· Photocopies of pages of passport showing US visa; or Green Card (in original) or Employment Authorization Card (in original) or other visa documents must be shown at the counter. A copy of the entire document / Card should be appended with the application (in case the application is sent by mail, a notarized copy of these documents should be sent); 

· In case application for Green Card or EAC or visa is pending/being processed, a copy of documents in support of this fact must be submitted;

· In case the lost passport does not contain the name of the spouse and the applicant wishes to have it entered in the duplicate passport, a copy of the notarized marriage certificate must be submitted alongwith the application. 

· In case where lost Indian passport had already expired beyond a period of one year, the applicant should submit a notarized affidavit, and may have to appear personally before the Consular Officer. The applicant will be informed by the Embassy / Consulate to appear for interview if the need arises. The Embassy / Consulate will get in touch with applicants in cases where the applications are incomplete / incorrect or have other deficiencies including inadequate fee. 

Application form must be signed by the applicant and completed in all respects. Please ensure that the applicant's signature or thumb impression (in case of infants or illiterate applicants) is provided in the box at the end of the application form. The right thumb impression for female infants and left thumb impression for male infants is required for insertion in the passport. Signatures of both the parents of the infant are to be appended at the place where the applicant is required to affix his or her signature. 

· Original Police Report lodged with the Police about loss of passport; 

· An application on a plain paper explaining the circumstances in which the passport was lost or damaged, as the case may be;

· A notarized affidavit must also be submitted;

· Declaration at the end of the application form duly notarized; 

· In case of applicant seeking duplicate passport in lieu of the damaged passport, the latter (damaged passport) has to be submitted in original. 

· Current School ID and Letter from school/college in the USA (in case of students only) is to be submitted; 

· Matriculation certificate/School Leaving Certificate or any other school records in India or the USA; 

· Birth Certificate; 

· Driver License (issued in India and the USA); 

· Indian Photo Identity card, including Ration Card, Election Commission ID, PAN Card or any Indian document indicating Indian nationality is to be submitted; 

· Proof of stay in the USA (from the date indicated in the application form by the applicant), such as Telephone Bill, house lease deed/bank certificate/insurance policy, letter of employment or any other evidence; 

It is important to furnish full, accurate and truthful information in the application form. Misrepresentation of facts may result in denial of passport facilities. Applications received with incomplete details will remain unprocessed. Habitual losers of passports may be denied further passport facilities. 

Please note that even if the requirements mentioned above are complete in all respects, the Embassy / Consulate reserves the right to ask for any necessary original documents at any stage. These documents are required to be presented for scrutiny and satisfaction of the Consular Officer before any service is rendered.

Fee

· A non-refundable fee of US $ 125 has to be paid in cash (only at the counter) or by Certified check or Money Order payable to Embassy of India, Washington DC when applying within its jurisdiction or drawn in favour of Consulate General of India, New York / Houston / Chicago, San Francisco, as the case may be. If the final validity of the lost/damaged passport has already expired at the time of submission of application, only the normal fee of $40 will have to be paid by the applicant. Please note that personal checks are not accepted. If delivery of documents is requested by mail, applicants must include a separate check of $20 for Express Mail or $10 for Priority mail (No Tracking Number is generated in this case). Please send two separate checks (certified check or Money Order only) One for the passport service and another one for mail service. 

Please note that the fee money once paid is not refunded on account of refusal of service or delay in service. Please insist on a receipt for any money paid at the counter.

Processing time:

Applications are received at the Consular counter on all working days between 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (local time); 

Serviced documents are delivered on all working days between 4.30 pm – 5.30 pm (local time); 

Processing time for applications received at the Consular counter is between 4 to 7 working days, excluding the date of receipt of application at the Embassy / Consulate. 

Passport can be issued within 1 to 3 working days in an emergency situation like death / serious ailment of a family member in India. In such a case, a short validity passport can be issued to the applicant provided a specific request is made in writing to the Consular Officer explaining the emergency for issuing the passport and submitting all documents required for issuing a duplicate passport alongwith proof of emergency and two sworn affidavits from reputed Indian nationals residing in the area of the applicants residential jurisdiction certifying that the applicant is personally known to them for a long time. Besides, relevant pages of the passports of the two Indian nationals giving sworn affidavit should also be submitted

Note: Passport application must be submitted in person by the applicant or immediate family member of the applicant at the counter or directly through mail to the Embassy/ Consulate. Personal interview may be required. 


Outstation applicants may send their application for passport/consular Service by certified/registered/overnight mail to the Embassy / consulate depending upon the consular jurisdiction in which the applicant resides. Fee should be paid by Money Order Draft / Certified cheque in favour of Embassy of India, Washington DC or the Consulate General of India, New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Houston depending upon the jurisdiction the applicant resides. In order to return the passport by mail, US$ 20 for Express Mail or US$ 10 for Priority Mail (No Tracking Number is generated in this case) may be sent alongwith the application. Please note that it is possible to send one certified cheque or Money Order for the passport service as well as for mail service. 

Processing time:

Processing time for applications received at the Embassy / Consulate is upto 30 working days ,excluding the time taken in mail.

Passport can be issued within 1 to 3 working days in an emergency situation which like death/serious ailment of a family member in India. In such a case, a short validity passport can be issued to the applicant provided a specific request is made in writing to the Consular Officer explaining the emergency for issuing the passport and submitting all documents required for issuing a duplicate passport alongwith proof of emergency and two sworn affidavits from reputed Indian nationals residing in the area of the applicants residential jurisdiction certifying that the applicant is personally known to them for a long time. Besides, relevant pages of the passports of the two Indian nationals giving sworn affidavit should also be submitted

The Embassy / Consulate will get in touch with applicants in cases where the applications are incomplete / incorrect or the fee sent is not adequate or not paid in the acceptable manner or where there are other deficiencies. THE EMBASSY / CONSULATE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DOCUMENTS LOST IN MAIL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A PASSPORT SHOULD NOT BE SENT OUT OF ANY COUNTRY BY POST. Application may be sent to the embassy or Consulate depending upon the place where the applicant resides. The Consular jurisdiction and addresses of our offices are as follows:

Embassy of India, 
Consular Wing,
2536, Massachusetts Avenue, NW,
Washington DC 20008

Jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Washington DC 

Delaware, Washington DC, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda. 

Consulate General of India, New York:
Consular Section
3 East, 64 Street
New York, NY-10065

Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, New York 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and The Virgin Islands.

Consulate General of India, San Francisco
Consular Section,
540, Arguello Boulevard, 
San Francisco, CA-94118

Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, San Francisco 

Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, California. 

Consulate General of India, Houston
Consular Section,
1990, Post Oak Boulevard,
# 600, 3 Post Oak Central,
Houston TX 77056

Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, Houston 

Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Georgia. 

Consulate General of India, Chicago
Consular Section,
455, North City Front, 
Plaza Drive (NBC Tower Building),
Suite # 850, 
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, Chicago

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, N. Dakota, s. Dakota, Wisconsin, and Missouri. 

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Note: In case of any assistance/complaints in respect of passport services, the following officers may be contacted during office hours. (i) Assistant Consular Officer Phone: (202) 939-9838 (ii) Attaché (Consular) Phone: (202) 939-9832 (ii) First Secretary (Consular) Phone: (202) 939-9845 It would be preferable for the applicant to address their passport related queries through email.  Personal Cheques/Credit Cards are not accepted.