SEATTLE (TIP): The Indian Consulate in Seattle inaugurated its new visa application center on Friday, July 12.
The facility will offer full visa and passport services to the greater Seattle area.
Local leaders, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Port Commissioner Sam Cho, and State Rep. Vandana Slatter, were among those who attended the event.
Mayor Harrell presented the first Indian passport and visa to eager applicants, marking a special moment for the community. Mayor expressed admiration for the Indian community in Seattle, praising their contributions in enriching the bonds between India and the USA. In addition to the Seattle location, a drop-off facility is now open at Bellevue making it easier for Eastsiders to access these services.
Both the Seattle and Bellevue Indian Visa Application Centers (IVAC) are operated by VFS Global — the outsourced visa services partner of the Ministry of External Affairs. These centers are designed to streamline the visa process for Indian nationals and provide support for other consular needs.
Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle, said, “The opening of the Indian consulate in Seattle reflects the government of India’s commitment to deepening relations with the Pacific Northwest states.” “These new centers in Seattle and Bellevue are designed to provide a more convenient experience for all consular applicants preparing for travel to India,” Gupta said.
The Seattle Center will be equipped with world-class facilities aimed at providing an easily accessible and a superior application experience for customers and will make the application process more convenient for travelers. These services are expected to benefit the nearly half million-strong Indian diaspora community in the consular jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle which include nine pacific Northwestern states — Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – Americas, VFS Global, said, “VFS Global shares a long-standing relationship with the Government of India since 2008 and we are excited to expand our partnership further. The new center in Seattle and Bellevue, United States of America will play a crucial role in effectively catering to the growing demand for visa and consular services to India. We are confident that these visa application centers will enhance customer experience by making the visa application process even more smooth, thereby helping us serve the travelers and Indian diaspora better.”
VFS Office Location in Seattle: Suite 240, 3131 Elliot Avenue, Seattle 98131
VFS Drop Off Location in Bellevue: Suite 100, 1400 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
