US Ends Third-Party Passport Collection: In-Person Collection Now Mandatory for Indian Applicants

The US has ended the facility for third-party passport collection, effective 1 August 2025. Applicants must now collect their passports in person from the embassy, consulate, VFS centre, or Blue Dart collection location. For minors, collection must be done by a parent or legal guardian with required documents. Applicants can opt for home delivery for a fee of ₹1,200 per applicant.

Starting August 1, 2025, the U.S. Embassy will require in-person passport and visa document collection in India, marking the end of third-party pickups to enhance security. Applicants can collect their documents from designated locations or opt for home delivery at ₹1,200 [1].

The new guidelines aim to strengthen the safety and security of passports and supporting documents. Applicants are now required to collect their passports or visa documents in person from the embassy, consulate, VFS center, or Blue Dart collection location [2].

For applicants under 18 years of age, collection must be done by a parent or legal guardian. Required documents include an original consent letter signed by both parents, along with a clear photocopy of both parents’ Indian government-issued photo IDs showing their address. Scanned or emailed consent letters will not be accepted. Birth certificates or school ID cards may also be used as supporting documents [1].

Adult applicants need to present an original valid Indian government-issued photo ID with address and a photocopy of the same ID. A copy of the appointment letter is preferred for faster processing. Accepted IDs include the passport biographic information page, voter ID, driving license, or Aadhaar card. Employment ID cards issued for Indian government jobs, senior citizen cards, and PAN cards are not accepted [1].

Applicants can update their document delivery preferences online to opt for home or office delivery. The fee for this service is ₹1,200 per applicant [2]. To change the delivery option, applicants must log in to their profile on the U.S. Travel Docs website, select the applicant's name, choose the preferred delivery method, and submit the changes [2].

The embassy has advised applicants not to contact the call center for these updates. Instead, they can refer to the official website or check the "Messages" section on their Visa Application Home page for additional information [2].

References:
[1] https://m.economictimes.com/nri/latest-updates/us-stops-third-party-passport-collection-all-indian-applicants-must-collect-in-person/articleshow/123183479.cms
[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/all-us-visa-applicants-must-collect-their-passports-in-person-new-guidelines-101754575136078.html