Indian Passport renewal at Washington DC

[sidd]

I have to get my passport renewed (on the completion of 10 years) at the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy. The current passport is issued from India. I have noticed on the embassy's site that one has to take an appointment to drop the documents and the earliest appointment is available after one month if I schedule it today. I have a reservation to go to India app. 2.5 months from now. I would appreciate if someone gone through the same experience can answer my following questions:

1. app. how much time the embassy takes to renew the passport (if the prev. one is issued in India).
2. do they accept standard passport size photographs of 2" x 2" (as they are asking for 3.5cm x 3.5cm).

[InTheMoment]

See below

Originally Posted by sidd

I have to get my passport renewed (on the completion of 10 years) at the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy. The current passport is issued from India. I have noticed on the embassy's site that one has to take an appointment to drop the documents and the earliest appointment is available after one month if I schedule it today. I have a reservation to go to India app. 2.5 months from now. I would appreciate if someone gone through the same experience can answer my following questions:

1. app. how much time the embassy takes to renew the passport (if the prev. one is issued in India).

When I renewed it last year in DC they said come after 3 days, I requested and asked her to get it ready the next day. There was some rush then but usually you can even get it the same day, from what I hear from others

2. do they accept standard passport size photographs of 2" x 2" (as they are asking for 3.5cm x 3.5cm).

Yes.

[FinallyCurrent]

My husband just got his passport renewed in DC and they took 1 week to return it. May be you can request and ask for earlier date if you can justify. We did not try it as we have no rush.

[japan21]

Hi,
My passport expires this year and on the Washington, D.C Indian embassy website below is mentioned:
· In case application for Green Card or EAC or visa is pending/being processed, a copy of documents in support of this fact must be submitted;

My i485 is pending and what documents need to be submitted to the embassy?
I appreciate your response.

Thanks.

[pappusheth]

Sidd,
see below for answers

Originally Posted by sidd

1. app. how much time the embassy takes to renew the passport (if the prev. one is issued in India).

I renewed my passport at DC embassy in March. I went there around March 3rd and dropped off all the documents. The lady said that the passport will be ready on March 25th. Though the website says that it will be ready in 3-4 days, she was saying that there was some issue causing delay. So she was giving everyone the dates in last week of March.
I've heard some cases of my friends in the past where the renewed passports were ready the next day. I believe the duration varies a lot. Whatever date they give you when you drop the documents, is the one for you.

Originally Posted by sidd

2. do they accept standard passport size photographs of 2" x 2" (as they are asking for 3.5cm x 3.5cm).

I don't know about that. I gave the small 3.5 cm photographs (which is not a standard size here). I actually edited them on computer, printed them and cut myself. A friend of mine did another thing. He took 2"x2" pictures from wal-mart and actually cut them to fit 3.5cmx3.5cm size.
The website says that polaroid pictures are not allowed but there is a polaroid box there inside the embassy! apparently they accept those.

let me know if you've more questions.

[spbpsg]

just a week ago I got it from DC. Follow the instructions below, its easy and cheap

Originally Posted by sidd

I have to get my passport renewed (on the completion of 10 years) at the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy. The current passport is issued from India. I have noticed on the embassy's site that one has to take an appointment to drop the documents and the earliest appointment is available after one month if I schedule it today. I have a reservation to go to India app. 2.5 months from now. I would appreciate if someone gone through the same experience can answer my following questions:

1. app. how much time the embassy takes to renew the passport (if the prev. one is issued in India).
3-4 days once you submit the application.

2. do they accept standard passport size photographs of 2" x 2" (as they are asking for 3.5cm x 3.5cm).
You don't have to goto any store for this. Go to http://www.epassportphoto.com/ website, it has options for all countries including india for 3.5cm x 3.5cm. All you got to do is:
--> Take a closeup snap with your digital camera against light wall at home
--> Take that jpg file and goto this website and upload here
--> select country and select the area around face and neck
--> it will create new jpg file with 8 photos of the size you selected in one photo.
--> save new jpg file and take it to CVS/wallgreen/target and take a printout for 30 cents.
--> you have 8 photos for just 30 cents

[webm]

Originally Posted by spbpsg

just a week ago I got it from DC. Follow the instructions below, its easy and cheap

Nice to know about epassportphoto...kewl..

[shirish]

I droped application for my sons passport yesterday at the counter. I was told to come on May 19th between 4:30 - 5:30 Pm to pick it up.
2X2 is fine. Every one uses the same. It is same as what you use for US visa.

-Shirish

Originally Posted by sidd

I have to get my passport renewed (on the completion of 10 years) at the Washington D.C. Indian Embassy. The current passport is issued from India. I have noticed on the embassy's site that one has to take an appointment to drop the documents and the earliest appointment is available after one month if I schedule it today. I have a reservation to go to India app. 2.5 months from now. I would appreciate if someone gone through the same experience can answer my following questions:

1. app. how much time the embassy takes to renew the passport (if the prev. one is issued in India).
2. do they accept standard passport size photographs of 2" x 2" (as they are asking for 3.5cm x 3.5cm).

[shirish]

This is old story now. I got mine the same day last year. Since Apr 1 2008 the process is changed . Its min 3 working days. SOme ppl have seen more than month as well.

Originally Posted by InTheMoment

See below

[shirish]

Just give a copy of I-485 receipt,

Originally Posted by japan21

Hi,
My passport expires this year and on the Washington, D.C Indian embassy website below is mentioned:
· In case application for Green Card or EAC or visa is pending/being processed, a copy of documents in support of this fact must be submitted;

My i485 is pending and what documents need to be submitted to the embassy?
I appreciate your response.

Thanks.

[sidd]

Hi,

First of all thanks to everyone who replied to my earlier questions. Let me update the status. I submitted our Passports (mine and my wife's) last Monday (06/02/2008) and picked up yesterday (06/05/2008). Everything went smooth.

Now, I have a question about the ECR/ECNR stamp. Our prev. passports have ECNR stamp. Even in the applications ECNR was checked. But the new passports do not have any of these stamps. So the question is....Is this stamp not required lately in the Indian Passports or no stamp implies that the status is ECNR (Emigration Clearance not Required).

I would really appreciate if folks who have got their passports renewed lately can throw some light on this.

Thanks.

[gapala]

I want to drop my renewal application personally at DC.
Can I use Metro rail from Shady grove area and get directly to Washington DC Indian Embassy?

Do I have to get there by metro rail and bus? Site does not even have a map of the location of embassy. I did google map the location but it shows the nearest metro to about a mile away "Dupont Circle".

Any assisatance will be greately appreciated.

[rajeshalex]

check this site for the address /phone number

http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/contact.asp

I think u ahve to take metro rail and bus. I went there by car and it was an year ago.

Rajesh

[bharani]

I did online application and got first appointment date on June 4th. I sent all the required documents on June 3rd via USPS priority mail. Till date I have not got any communication from the embassy. Its been more than 8 business days. Hope to get my renewed passport sooner than later.

[fall2004us]

thanks so much spbpsg
for this useful information
http://www.epassportphoto.com/ suggestion is too cool and saves a lot of money