1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS :

(a) Your passport is a valuable document. It should always be either in your own custody or in the custody of a person duly authorized by you. If lost or destroyed, the fact and circumstances should be immediately reported to the nearest Indian Mission and to the local police.

(b) PLEASE KEEP A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT IN A SAFE PLACE. WITHOUT THESE DETAILS ISSUANCE OF A DUPLICATE PASSPORT MAY BE DELAYED.

(c) It is an offense 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 passports.

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

2. JURISDICTION of the Consulate General of India, Chicago, covers the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Wisconsin, Missouri. If you are a resident in a state outside this area, please apply for your passport/consular services, depending on the location of your residence as per details below:

(a) Embassy of India, Washington. Address: 2107 Massachusetts Ave., Washington D.C. 20008. Tel. 202-939-7000 Fax: 202-265-7532 which covers Delaware, Washington D.C., Kentucky, Maryland, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, The Bahamas. (b) Consulate General of India, New York, Address: 3 East 64th St.(Bet. Madison AND Fifth Avenue), New York, N.Y. 10021. Tel.(212)879-7800 Ext.206,(212)879-7805 / 7806. Fax (212)570-9581, which coversConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and the Virgin Islands.

(c) Consulate General of India, San Francisco. Address: 540 Arguello Boulevard, San Francisco, CA - 94118. Tel. 415-668-0662, Fax: 415-668-9764, which covers Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, California. (d) Consulate General of India, Houston. Address: Suite 600, 6th Floor, 3 Post Oak Central, 1990 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas - 77056. Tel. 713-626-2148, Fax: 713-626-2450, which covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi. Oklahoma, Texas.

The Consulate General of India, Chicago, provides passport / consular services only to those applicants who are resident in the area under its jurisdiction.

3. TIMING Applications for all passports / consular services (Like issue of new / duplicate passports, renewals and miscellaneous services on passports, legalization / attestation of documents) are accepted between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. only. For miscellaneous services applications received upto 12:30 p.m., the services are rendered on the same day. No application is received after 12:30 p.m. except in cases of emergencies, such as death or illness in the family with payment of Emergency fee (US $35 per service for visa and US $90 for issue of each passport and PIO Card).

For Emergency Services, please call the following numbers:

Saturday 11am-1.00 pm : 312-595-0413, 312-595-0411
Also, 312-595-0405 Extn. 235 0r 228
The passports and other documents , irrespective of date or time of submission, are delivered between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on working days. This time schedule does not apply to services where prior approval is required from the authorities in India, or other countries and for new passports. Most consular and miscellaneous services are rendered on the same day. Services like issue of new / duplicate passport are rendered after 3 - 4 working days.

4. MAILING SERVICE: Outstation applicants within our jurisdiction may send their application form for passport/consular service by certified/ registered/over night mail. However, applications for duplicate passport in lieu of lost/damaged passport and expired passport (more than 2yrs) are accepted only in person (not by mail).

Mailing charges to be included if the applicant wants the passport to be mailed back to him or her after service:-

Certified mails: $5.00 (and $1.00 for each additional passport)
Over night Mailing charges:$15.00 and $1.00 for each additional passport.
Note: Applicants who enclose self-addressed federal or other envelope should ensure that they have valid accounts with those
agencies.

Fee should be paid by Money Order / Bank Draft / Certified check in the name of the Consulate General of India, Chicago. Cash is accepted only at the counter.

Applications received by mail (other than the applications for fresh passports),are serviced within 3 days after receipt. This time schedule does not apply to issue of fresh passports and some other services for which REFERENCE HAS TO BE MADE TO COMPETENT AUTHORITIES IN INDIA.

The Consulate will return applications which are incomplete / incorrect, the fees sent are not adequate or not paid in the acceptable manner or where there are other deficiencies.

For return of passport by mail, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your application, or include charges as given in paragraph 4 above. Passports are despatched by certified/overnight mail only.THE CONSULATE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DOCUMENTS LOST IN MAIL.

A PASSPORT SHOULD NOT BE SENT OUT OF ANY COUNTRY BY POST.

5. FEES (Personal check/Credit card are not accepted)
The fee for various passport services marked in red are updated new rates as of Monday April 01, 2002

1 New Passport(36 pages for 10 yrs) $40.00 12 Deletion of child's name $10.00

2 New Indian Passport for minors (under 15 years of age) $25.00 13 Emigration Clearance Waiver $10.00

3 Jumbo Passport Booklet (60 Pages) for 10 years $50.00 14 Life Certificate Gratis No Fee

4 Additional Passport Booklet (36 Pages) $20.00 15 Birth/Death/ Marriage Certificate $20.00

4i Additional Passport Booklet (60 pages) $25.00 16 Police Clearance

i) if passport issued from Chicago
ii) if passport issued from other places

$20.00
$40.00
($20 Ref + $20 pcc fee)
5 Renewal of existing Passport to further validity upto 10 yrs
i) Issued from Chicago
ii) From other places

Gratis
$36.00 17 Attestation of Affidavit/Documents (not related to property matters) per attestation $10.00
5i Renewal of Duplicate Passport to final validity $16.00 18 Attestation of affidavit/Documents (related to property matters) per attestation $20.00
6 Emergency Certificate (valid only for return to India)
Ref. fee
$5.00
$20.00
19 Attestation of affidavit/Documents (related to commercial matters) per attestation $50.00

7 Renewal of Emergency Certificate $5.00 20 Attestation of documents, for No Obligation To Return To India $60.00
7i Duplicate Emergency Certificate $25.00 20i Issue of Waver Certificate $20.00

8 Certificate of Identity $12.00 21 Issue of New Passport Booklet due to change of name/signature or appearance $20.00
8i Duplicate Certificate of identity $25.00 22 Lost /Damaged Passport $125.00

9 Renewal of Certificate of Identity $5.00 23 Registration of Marriage $50.00
10 Endorsement on Certificate of Identity/Emergency Certificate $5.00 24 Duplicate passport of 60 pages in lieu of lost damaged or stolen passport $140.00

11 Observation/Endorsements in the passport e.g. change in address, ECNR endorsement, name of spouse etc $10.00

(Please do not forget to provide one extra copy of the documents in case of attestation & legalization.)

Please tender the exact amount in the form of Money order/Bank Draft/ Certified Check in the name of Consulate General of India or by cash at the counter. Please retain your receipt for any money paid at the counter and present the same for collection of passports / documents between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day of collection.

6. PHOTO: For issue of a new passport please attach FOUR passport size coloured photographs along with the application form, showing frontal view of full face. Two photos are required for extension of validity of current passport.

7. ISSUE OF NEW PASSPORT: The applicant can apply for a 10 year passport in lieu of expired passport (Final or F) An application for a new passport can be made within one year before the expiry date of the passport. For this "Application Form for an Indian Passport" along with your passport (also photocopy of first five pages of passport and photocopy of page bearing U.S. visa or Green Card), four photographs and duly notarized Affidavit (about Indian Citizen) if the passport is expired more than 6 months, should be submitted . If the application is found to be in order and if no prior reference to the original passport issuing authority is necessary, the passport will be issued expeditiously.

8. EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF CURRENT PASSPORT: The validity of the passport can be extended upto 10 years from the date of issue. For this "Application Form for Extension of Validity", along with two photographs, photocopies of first five pages of the passport and U.S. visa pages/Green Card should be submitted. If you are holding a short validity passport, If the application is found in order and if no prior reference is required to be made to the original Passport Issuing Authority, the validity of the passport will be extended in the normal course. (GRATIS)

9. FOR ADDITION OF CHILD’S NAME: Please note that every child even minor child should have a separate passport. (the earlier practice of including the child's name in the mother's passport has been discontinued.)

10. CHANGE OF NAME: For change of name or surname of the person, consequent to marriage/divorce, please submit original marriage/divorce certificate, along with photocopy, and husband's passport in case of marriage.

In all other cases of change of name/surname, in the passport, the change has first to be advertised in a daily news paper, both in U.S.A. and India ( in the area of your permanent and present residence). Original newspaper clippings are required to be submitted. An affidavit, duly notarized, is also required. The case will be processed after 30 days of Advertisement.

11. APPLICATIONS FOR CHANGE IN DATE OF BIRTH NOT ENTERTAINED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A COURT ORDER ISSUED BY A JUDICIAL OFFICER NOT BELOW THE RANK OF FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE IN INDIA. Kindly note that any affidavit, original birth certificate etc. are not sufficient for this purpose.

12. DUPLICATE PASSPORTS (IN LIEU OF LOST/DAMAGED PASSPORTS): Please submit your application with the following documents : (1) police report about loss of passport (2) Six photographs (3) Two copies of the prescribed proformae to be obtained from the Consulate (4) A FEE of $125.00 + $20.00 For Reference. (5) Letter from school/college if you are a student (6) Photocopy of previous (Lost) passport (7) School/ Birth Certificate (8) Driver License, Employer’s letter (as applicable) (9) Citizenship affidavit (form available with the Consulate) (10) Photocopy of Green Card/Employment authorization card (as applicable) (11) Copy of house lease deed/ bank certificate/insurance policy - as proof of stay in USA from the date indicated in your application.

It normally takes three to six months in completing this process and duplicate passports can be issued only on receipt of clearances from the concerned authorities in India. Applicants are, therefore, requested to refrain from making written or telephone enquiries during this period. For enquiries about duplicate passports, please dial (312)595-0411 or use our fax no. 312-595-0417. Applications for duplicate passport are not accepted by post. Applicant has to come in person for filing application for a duplicate passport.

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

13. EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE: An Emergency Certificate (one way travel document) which authorizes an Indian to enter India, is issued to the Citizen of India after getting clearance from original PPT authority whose passports has been lost, stolen or damaged and to whom new passport cannot be issued without approval from authorities in India. This is primarily with the objective of facilitating their return to India. Please note that the emergency certificate will be retained by the immigration authority at the port of entry into India after the journey is performed.

14. EMERGENCY SERVICES: An additional amount of $90 is charged for rendering emergency passport and $35 for other miscellaneous consular service. This service is available only in cases of genuine emergency such as death or serious illness in the family and cases not falling under prior approval categories. Applications for emergency services can be submitted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all working days. On weekends & holidays, for genuine emergency like death or serious illness in the family, request for passport services may be made at the following numbers.
Saturday 11am-1.00 pm: 312-595-0413, 312-595-0405, Ext. 235 or 228, (312)595-0411
On Sundays & Holidays - (773)989-5984, (773) 769-5397

An additional amount of $90.00 is charged for rendering expeditious issue of fresh passports.

15. INCOMPLETE / FALSE INFORMATION: Application forms should be filled in fully , legibly (In capital letters) and accurately and submitted with the passport. Misrepresentation of the facts may result in denial of passport / Consular service. Applications received with incomplete details will remain unprocessed.

16. NO REFUNDS: Fees, once received, cannot be refunded, even if the application is withdrawn or service cannot be rendered.

17. GENERAL ENQUIRIES OR SUPPLY OF FORMS: Please write to the Consulate General of India455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Suite 850, Chicago, IL - 60611. Tel. 312-595-0405. The forms are also available on our website www. chicago.indianconsulate.com. The other telephone nos. are: New Passport, visa, Mailing enquiry 312-595-0405 extn 225/225. Miscellaneous Service enquiries 312-595-0405-extn.227. Duplicate Passport enquiries 312-595-0411. Legalization/Attestation of documents 312-595-0405extn 227.

18. APPEAL: The Consulate earnestly appeals to the members of the Indian community not to pay more than the prescribed amount of Consular fee to anyone or encourage any middlemen or agents as it spoils the reputation of the community. In any event, public should not make any payment for which receipt is not given by the Consulate. The community should take every precaution against accepting forged/counterfeit travel document from unscrupulous elements.

You are requested to periodically check your passport and make sure that the revalidation/renewal is done within one year before the date of expiry. Delay in renewal of passport may cause hardships to the applicants.

19. FOR TOURIST INFORMATION ON INDIA: Please write to Govt. of India Tourist Office, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 15, North Mezzanine, New York, N.Y. 10112. Tel. (212) 586-4901. Fax (212)582-3274.

For information on air travel to India, please r telephone: AIR INDIA, Tel (312) 782-6501.

NOTE: The above instructions are subject to change from time to time. Please write or telephone the Consulate for updated informati