Understanding India’s Visa Application Centers (VACs) is key for foreign nationals visiting for various purposes. India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies as well as a much sought-after tourist destination. Scores of foreign nationals visit the country for tourism, business, employment, study, and medical treatments every year. To handle the ever-increasing demands for an Indian visa, the government of India has outsourced a part of the visa processing to a private agency. What is an India visa application center? An Indian Visa Application Center (VAC) is a private visa processing agency hired by the Indian government. VACs accept and process applications for an Indian visa. Applicants can visit the center to apply for an Indian visa, submit necessary documents and biometric details, and pay the visa processing fee. These application centers streamline and expedite the online application process for an India visa.
Following are some of the visa and passport-related services offered by VACs for the Indian government. OCI card issuance: An Overseas Citizen of India Card is a travel authority granted by the Indian government to foreigners who once held an Indian passport. India does not recognize dual citizenship. An OCI card holder can visit the country as many times as he/she wishes. It is a life-long visa. To get an OCI card, the applicants need to renounce their original Indian passport and get a passport/citizenship from a foreign country. Passport renunciation certificate: Indian citizens wishing to apply for citizenship or permanent residence in a foreign nation have to renounce their Indian citizenship and passport. They have to apply for a certificate of renunciation after surrendering their Indian passports in an Indian mission. They handle the issuance and application process for the renunciation certificate. This certificate is a mandatory document that OCI card holders should carry during their visits to India. Global entry program verification (GEP): GEP is a program introduced by the US Customs and border protection force to speed up the immigration processes of low-risk foreign travelers. The GEP applications of Indian citizens living in the US for work, study, business, or tourism are processed and verified in the VAC in various parts of that country. They have to first apply online and submit their online application to US customs. After that, they need to submit a request in the VAC for background verification in India along with the processing fee.
Foreign nationals who wish to visit India for work, study, treatment, tourism, or business need a relevant India visa. There are two types of visas – eVisas or embassy visas. For an eVisa, the application process is completely online. But for an embassy visa, the applicants need to first submit an online application form and schedule an appointment with VAC to drop off the documents and complete the biometrics. Both visa application processes are handled by India visa application centers. Processing steps include completing an online form, reviewing for errors, and receiving approved documents. Miscellaneous consular services also include attestation of power of attorney and marriage certificates on behalf of an Indian mission. VACs also offer additional services, such as courier document delivery, professional passport photo services, and SMS updates regarding visa status.
