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Times of Oman
01-08-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
India announces eight new consular application centres in US
Washington DC: India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, on Thursday announced the opening of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres across the United States, aimed at expanding access to consular services for the Indian diaspora. In a post on X, the Embassy of India in Washington, DC shared a video message by Ambassador Vinay Kwatra. "Announcing major expansion of our Consular Services in the USA beginning August 01, 2025. Here is a message from Ambassador Vinay Kwatra about this expansion and the positive changes it would bring to our service delivery." Ambassador Kwatra said in his statement that the new Indian Consular Application Centres would be in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Addison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose. "In addition, we would also be opening another Indian Consular Application Centre in Los Angeles very soon. With the opening of these new Indian Consular Application Centres, our presence to provide extensive consular services and related delivery capabilities would increase and expand significantly. Besides, it would also make the delivery of these consular services faster and more accessible to our vibrant Indian diaspora." The Ambassador said that starting August 1, all the Indian consular application centres would also remain open on Saturdays. He noted that this would help significantly enhance not just the availability of various consular services, but also their accessibility to the Indian diaspora. The Ambassador also mentioned the streamlining of various miscellaneous consular services, which would be made available through the Indian Consular Application Centres, and a few of the important services would, however, continue to be dispersed and made available from the embassy premises. "We firmly believe that people-to-people ties are at the heart of the India-US partnership. With the opening of two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, which the Prime Minister of India had announced a few months ago, we would be able to further strengthen not just a relationship between our two countries, but also our people-to-people ties, particularly in the areas of Boston and Los Angeles". Ambassador Kwatra requested the members of the Indian diaspora to keep visiting the website of the Indian Embassy, where detailed information about the opening of these Indian Consular Application Centres and the availability of various miscellaneous Consular services would be made available more regularly. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, about 5.4 million Indian origin people (per MEA data; includes 2.07 million NRIs) reside in the US. Persons of Indian origin constitute the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the US. The Indian diaspora has been a catalyst in cementing closer ties between India and the US. Earlier this year, in January, the United States held a dedication ceremony for its new Consulate in Bengaluru, which made it the fifth US consulate in India.
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Overseas Citizen of India services begin at Indian consulate in Auckland
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom The Consulate General of India in Auckland has announced that Overseas Citizen of India and visa services are now available. Introduced in 2005, the OCI scheme allows individuals of Indian origin who have acquired foreign nationality - such as New Zealand citizenship - to retain certain privileges in India after surrendering their nationality of birth. Such privileges include a lifelong, multiple-entry visa to India, exemption from registration with Foreign Regional Registration Officers and parity with Non-Resident Indians in economic, financial and educational matters. OCI cardholders can also purchase residential and commercial property in India, although the procurement of agricultural land is not permitted. "All visa applicants may now apply for Indian regular paper/sticker visas from the Consulate General of India [in] Auckland," the consulate said in a statement. OCI service seekers can apply for new OCI registration or renewal through the official OCI services website . Application fees can be paid either by debit card at the consulate or via bank transfer. The Indian Consulate in Auckland officially began offering consular services to the Indian diaspora in September 2024. In February 2025, it moved from temporary premises at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Eden Terrace to a permanent location in Auckland's city centre. Last month, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan dismissed social media criticism regarding delays in consular services offered by the Indian High Commission in Wellington as well as the Auckland consulate. The Auckland consulate currently offers a range of services, including passport renewals, Indian citizenship matters, document attestation, police clearance certificates, birth and death registrations, liquor permits and Non-Resident Indian certificates. It also facilitates the repatriation of deceased individuals' remains or ashes to India. The consulate's jurisdiction covers Auckland, Northland and Waikato.
CBC
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Canada organizing flights in neighbouring countries for Canadians fleeing Israel, Iran
The federal government is planning to help Canadians fleeing the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran by organizing commercial flights out of neighbouring countries, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says. Speaking to CBC News Network's Power & Politics in an interview airing Thursday, Anand urged Canadians fleeing both countries to head to Jordan, Turkey and Armenia, where Canada is boosting its consular services. "We are very concerned about Canadians in the region and we are encouraging all parties to exercise maximum restraint," she told host David Cochrane. Commercial airspace over both Israel and Iran has been closed as Israel and Iran have launched numerous attacks in the past week. Anand encouraged Canadians seeking consular services to register with Global Affairs Canada.
