Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 28: Indian authorities have inaugurated a new Indian Consular Application Centre in Seattle, marking a significant step toward improving access to consular services for the Indian community across the Pacific Northwest.
The new facility, located at 1015 2nd Avenue, Suite 804, Seattle, WA 98104, has been co-located with the Indian Consulate in Seattle, according to an official release issued on Tuesday (local time). Officials said the initiative is aimed at simplifying procedures and making consular services more convenient for Indian nationals and other applicants in the region.
The centre was formally inaugurated in the presence of government representatives and community leaders, with over 300 members of the Indian American community from Seattle and neighbouring states attending the event.
Designed as a single-window facility, the Seattle centre will handle a wide range of services, including applications for Indian visas and passports, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), renunciation of Indian citizenship, Police Clearance Certificates, the Global Entry Programme (GEP), as well as miscellaneous and attestation-related services.
The Indian Consulate in Seattle noted that co-locating the Consular Application Centre with the Consulate in the Federal Reserve Building is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency. The move will also offer applicants a one-stop destination to submit applications and seek clarifications without navigating multiple locations.
VFS Global, which manages outsourced consular services for India in the United States, said the Seattle launch is part of a larger effort to streamline application processes and improve service delivery standards nationwide.
Several applicant-friendly measures have been introduced with the expanded network. The centres will now operate on Saturdays, return courier services are included in standard fees, and essential services such as photography, photocopying, and form-filling assistance are available free of charge within the facility.
The Seattle centre features modern infrastructure aimed at ensuring a secure, efficient, and user-friendly experience, with a strong emphasis on customer convenience, VFS Global said.
Speaking at the inauguration, Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – North America and Caribbean at VFS Global, said the region hosts a rapidly growing and dynamic Indian diaspora. He added that the new centre reflects the Government of India’s commitment to making consular services more accessible, efficient, and citizen-centric.
At present, 17 Indian Consular Application Centres are operational across the United States. By November 2025, these centres had collectively processed over 363,000 visa applications, along with nearly 10,000 miscellaneous consular applications since August 2025.