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New US Visa Guidelines Issued: Applicants Must Collect Passports In Person

New US Visa Guidelines Issued: Applicants Must Collect Passports In Person

News1812 hours ago
Last Updated:
Starting August 1, 2025, the US Embassy in New Delhi will stop third-party passport collection. Applicants must collect in person or opt for home delivery at Rs 1,200.
The US Embassy in New Delhi has announced that, starting August 1, 2025, passport collection by third parties or representatives will no longer be permitted. The policy change aims to improve the safety and security of applicants' passports and related documents.
According to the new guidelines, all visa applicants must collect their passports and related documents in person. For applicants under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian will be required to collect the passport, and must carry an original consent letter signed by both parents.
The embassy further clarified that scanned or emailed copies of the consent letter will not be accepted under any circumstances.
To make the process more flexible, the embassy is offering a paid home or office delivery service for a nominal fee of Rs 1,200 per applicant. Those interested can select this paid service by updating their document delivery preferences online.
To change the delivery option, applicants must:
In case of any technical issues while updating their delivery preferences, applicants are advised to use the 'Feedback/Requests" feature in their profile. They should attach a screenshot of the error and specify their preferred delivery location.
The embassy has advised applicants not to contact the call centre for these updates. Instead, they should refer to the official website or check the 'Messages" section on their Visa Application Home page for further information.
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