Before You Begin:
Processing times for India visas can be greatly increased if applying for a longer validity visa. We strongly recommend choosing the shortest validity visa available to you if you already have a confirmed flight to India. The India Consulate recommends not purchasing flights until a visa has been issued, as processing times can vary frequently. Processing times in Houston and Washington D.C. Jurisdictions are taking particularly long at this time.
Step 1: Gather the items listed below
Valid Passport
Submit your passport containing two blank facing visa pages. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry. If you do not have blank visa pages in your U.S. Passport, Swift Passport can help you obtain extra pages or help you renew your passport; contact us for more information. Please note that the last 2 pages in your passport ARE NOT counted as visa pages, those are amendment pages.
India Visa Application
IMPORTANT: You are required to select the proper Indian Mission (Consulate), dictated by your state of permanent residence. Swift Passport Services is headquartered in Chicago, however please determine the Indian Mission which corresponds to your permanent address before you begin the application process (see list below.)
IL,IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, ND, SD, WI
AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, LA, MS, OK, TX
CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
DE, DC, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, America Samoa, Armed Forces- Americas, Europe, Pacific, Bermuda, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau
Helpful Hints
It is important that you sign in 2 places on the printed application, one on the second page where it says "Applicant's Signature (as in Passport)", but also one on the top of the first page as indicated below:
Two Passport type Photos
Photo Requirements: Photos must have been taken in the last 6 months, be 2 inches by 2 inches in size, and have white background. Please face forward in your photo.
Option 1: email a photo to Swift Passport Services photos@swiftpassport.com using the following guidelines. Swift Passport will size and print your passport photos for a nominal fee of $15.
- Photo file needs to be attached to the email as a .jpeg file. Other file formats cannot be properly formatted
- Have someone else take the picture of you; please do not send pictures you take of yourself.
- Please do not attempt to resize or format the photo in any way
Option 2: Obtain 1 passport photo from a passport photo service (Walgreens, CVS, FedEx, etc.).
Letter of Authorization
1 completed and signed Swift Passport Services Letter of Authorization
Proof of Residency and Birth Nationality
Proof of residential address in the United States: Clear copy of applicant's driver's license, utility bill, lease agreement, or other major utility bill. Address and name on the document must match address and name on the visa application form. Consulates will NOT accept credit/bank statements, or cell phone bills as proof of address.
AND
Birth Certificates currently not required, however this can change unexpectedly. Swift Passport recommends submitting Birth Certificates with all applications to avoid any delays
For Minors Only - Copy of Birth Certificate:
For minors only: (under 18), a photocopy of the birth certificate or any government issued document that shows parents name, date of birth and nationality. Depending on your nationality at birth, these are the documents that are accepted.
- US Born: Only birth certificates are accepted for applicants born in the US.
- Indian Born: Those born in India can use their birth certificate, old Indian passport or school leaving certificate.
- All Others: Those not born in the US or India should submit a birth certificate or any government document from the country of origin that has parents name, date of birth and nationality. Must be translated into English and notarized.
Please do not send original birth certificates - we cannot take responsibility for original documents.
Photocopy of Birth Certificate: A photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate. If applicant was born in India either birth certificate or old India passport can be used. Any birth certificates that are from countries other than U.S. or India must be translated into English and must be notarized- these birth certificates must have name, date of birth and both parents' names.
Information for Children, Grandchildren, and Spouses of People of Indian Origin
All non-Indian applicants who are children, grandchildren, or spouses of people of Indian origin must provide proof of relation to person of Indian origin.
- If one or both of applicant's parent's is of Indian origin, applicant needs to provide a birth certificate along with a copy of their parent's Indian passport(s), or U.S. Naturalization certificate that shows previous nationality is Indian.
- If applicant is non-Indian, but their spouse is, applicant must provide a marriage certificate and a copy of spouse's Indian passport or Naturalization Certificate that shows previous nationality is Indian.
- If one or both of applicant's grandparents are of Indian origin, applicant must provide a copy of their grandparent's passport or a government issued document showing that their grandparents held Indian citizenship, and applicant's parent's birth certificate. This will show the non-Indian grandchild's relationship to the person who has held Indian Nationality.
If you have dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country, you MUST apply for an India Visa with your U.S. Passport. The ONLY exception to this is if you are a dual citizen with the U.S. and Pakistan; or if you were ever a citizen of Pakistan you must apply for an India visa on a Pakistani Passport. The only exempt former Pakistani citizens are those applicants that can prove that they have renounced their Pakistani citizenship with a copy of their renunciation certificate. Loss of Pakistani passport or an old, expired Pakistani passport is not considered proof of renunciation of Pakistani citizenship.
When applying for an India Visa on a Pakistani passport you must complete and submit the "Special Pakistani Application" along with all other required items. Click Here for Pakistani application.
Payment
There are 3 fees associated with this service that can be paid with all major credit cards or a money order
- Swift Passport Service Fee: $75
- India Consulate Fee (must be a postal money order made out to Travisa Outsourcing):
- 6 Month Multiple Entry $116.00
- 1 Year Multiple Entry $156.00
- 5 Year Multiple Entry $236.00
Fees for non-U.S. citizens may vary, please call Swift passport to confirm most current fees. Please note that US short term visa holders will be charged a reference fee of $20.00 in addition to the total visa fee. US Green card holders and those who have a US long term visa (3 years or more) will not be charged the reference fee. Applicants with nationalities including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, China, Slovak Republic and Czech Republic will be required to pay the reference fee of $20.00 regardless of green card or US long term visa status.
Swift Passport will obtain a postal money order for you upon request for $5.
- Shipping: starting at $15. Swift Passport Services offers inbound and outbound shipping upon request
If you would like Swift passport to print your photos, there is a $15 fee as mentioned above
Submit your order to make payment for the above fees.
Step 2: Submit Your Order
- Option 1: Submit your order online
- Option 2: Call 877.917.9438 and place your order over the phone. Placing your order on the phone takes only a few minutes. Please be prepared to give us payment and shipping instructions.
- Option 3: Click here to print an order form. Complete the form and send it to Swift Passport with your visa application materials.
Step 3: Ship all Application Materials to Swift Passport Services
We highly recommend that you use FedEx to ship your application materials, as they are the most reliable shipping service and will provide you with accurate tracking information. Please ship your application materials to our Chicago location unless you have discussed an alternate location with our passport and visa specialists. Swift Passport Services can email you a pre-paid FedEx airbill to use for inbound shipping upon request. Please call or email us if you would like us to email you a pre-paid airbill. Applications will be submitted the day they are received if they are sent PRIORITY overnight.
Shipping Address:Swift Passport Services
1 S Dearborn St. Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60603
