Effective immediately, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has ended third-party passport collection to enhance security for passports and visa documents.
NEW DELHI – The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has announced the immediate discontinuation of third-party passport collection services in India. This change is part of a new security measure aimed at improving the safety of passports and supporting visa documents.
Under the new policy, all visa applicants are required to collect their passports in person from the embassy or a consulate. However, for minors, a parent or legal guardian may collect the passport on their behalf, provided they present an original, signed consent letter from both parents. It is important to note that scanned or emailed consent letters will not be accepted.
To accommodate those who may find it challenging to visit the embassy in person, the U.S. Embassy has introduced an alternative option. Applicants can choose to have their passports delivered to their home or office for a fee of ₹1,200. This delivery service can be selected by updating the document delivery preferences online.
The embassy has also provided guidance for applicants who may encounter technical issues during this process. They are encouraged to report any problems through the “Feedback/Requests” feature on their profile. It is advisable to include a screenshot of the error and specify the preferred delivery location. The embassy recommends that applicants avoid contacting the call center for these updates and instead refer to the official website or their Visa Application Home page for further information.
This policy change reflects the embassy’s commitment to ensuring the security of sensitive documents and enhancing the overall experience for visa applicants.
According to India-West, the U.S. Embassy’s decision underscores the importance of safeguarding personal information and maintaining the integrity of the visa application process.
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