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Consul General's Message

Welcome to the website of the Consulate General of India, Chicago. The site was launched sometime back to make it more helpful to users. We hope we have succeeded in our efforts.

The website is intended to provide easy access to Government of India sites for purposes of assistance and to provide important information on India, on travel to India and on tourism, trade, commerce and the economy and culture of India.

We hope the website has been of help to you.

Since improvements are always welcome, we look forward to your feedback through our ‘Contact Us’ page.

We thank you for visiting the Consulate General of India, Chicago website.

Best Wishes,

Mrs. Mukta Dutta Tomar
Consul General

Emergency Certificate (EC)

If Indian citizen does not possess any travel document and there is an emergency to go to India, “Emergency Certificate” service can be availed.
Emergency certificate (EC) is a one-way travel document to India;
EC can be issued only on an individual’s formal request.
It is mandatory for an individual requesting an EC to apply in- person at the Consulate. Mailing facility is not available for issuing EC.
EC is issued to those citizens of India to whom a new passport cannot be issued because of pending verification from India.
EC is issued to those Indian nationals who have either been refused passport, whose passports have been lost, stolen or damaged; whose passports have been impounded/revoked, whose passports have remained expired for a long time; or who are under orders of deportation.
EC is issued primarily to facilitate the individual’s return to India in an emergency.
EC can be issued only when the individual’s Indian nationality is confirmed.
If an individual is under orders of deportation, the application should be submitted through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Department of Homeland Security. The EC will be delivered to the agency concerned and not to an agent or third party.

Applying In Person only (application through mail not admitted):
Applicants should bring in their application to the counter on the date of
appointment. A limited number of applicants are given appointment on a specific
date between 9AM -12:30PM. Service is on first come first serve basis.

Supporting Documents: Carry originals of all the supporting documents to be
presented to the Consular Officer (photocopies of which are to be attached with
the application). In case you are not able to present the original documents at the
counter, bring notarized copy of documents being attached to the application.
Ensure that notarized copies are legible, otherwise the Consulate may ask to see original documents.

Fee: A non-refundable fee of $15 (fifteen) plus ICWF fee $3.00. There is no mail back service available for EC. Fees should be paid through Money order or Cashiers’ cheque drawn in favor of the ‘Consulate General of India, Chicago.’ Cash is accepted at the counter. Personal cheques, debit cards, credit cards or other banking instruments are not accepted.

How to Apply:

Complete the online application based on your current passport details. (https://passport.gov.in/nri/OnlineRegistration.jsp?
pocode=USAC) (When you click this link, if your browser says 'There is a problem with the website security certificate', then please click the option
'Continue to this website (not recommended)'. This is because the link
is an external site but is reliable as it is maintained by Government of India);
Go over the Passport Online Procedures
In the ‘service desired’ box choose option “Re-Issue Passport.
Your Current Indian address will be printed in the passport. Mention your current Indian address in Column 3(a) and Current US address in column 3(b) of the form.
After you 'Submit' the application online you will be given an auto-generated Date of appointment.
Accept the date of appointment.
Print the 4 page application. Fill in by hand the details on page 2 of the form. Sign in the allotted space on page 1, 3 and 4 of the form.
You need six (6) photographs of 2 inches x 2 inches (51mm x 51mm)
photos - one to be pasted in the box on page 1 (one) and the 2nd photo to be stapled on the blank portion (below ‘for official use only’) on page 4 (four), and 4 photographs on Personal Particulars Form.
Attach following documents with the printed Application Form:
Photocopy of the first five pages and last two pages of the current/last passport. In case photocopy of passport not available, submit copy of Indian birth certificate, Matriculation/Higher Secondary/School Leaving Certificate or Indian Photo Identify Card – including Driving License, Ration Card, Election Commission ID, PAN card, or any other document containing photo and indicating Indian nationality of the applicant.
Proof of your US Visa Status:(copy of any one of the following)
- Photocopy of the page containing visa on passport (H1B, H4 etc) and the copy of I-94
- Clear Photocopy of Green Card
- Employment Authorization Document (Work Permit)
- I-797, I-140 or I-20 (If approval copy of these notices are pending, also attach a handwritten note detailing the efforts being taken to regularize status)
Proof of current US residence address: (copy of any one of the following)
- U.S Driving license.
- PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant’s address
- House Lease Agreement
- State Identification Card
- Note: Bank/credit card/mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence proof
Filled in Personal Particulars Form (two copies)
If the lost passport had already expired beyond a period of six months, submit the notarized affidavit
Original Police Report lodged with the Police about loss of passport
A letter on a plain paper addressed to the Consulate General of India, Chicago explaining the circumstances and reason for seeking an EC

In case the Consulate receives applications with incomplete documentation, the same would be sent back unprocessed in the return envelope sent by the applicant.

Processing Time :
This Consulate's goal is to ensure Emergency Certificate in the minimum time in which personal details can be verified from authorities in India. If these
details can not be verified quickly, grant of EC can take longer. Processing times vary based on individual circumstances of each case.