India has inaugurated a new Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) in Los Angeles, operated by VFS Global, to improve access to essential services such as passports, visas, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) for the local Indian diaspora. This facility, which became operational on December 15, 2025, increases the total number of VFS-operated Indian centres in the US to 17.
The Los Angeles centre provides a wide range of consular services including passport and visa applications, renunciation of Indian citizenship, police clearance certificates, Global Entry Programme services, and document attestations. According to Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – Americas, VFS Global, the centre is strategically located to serve the large diaspora in Los Angeles and aligns with the Indian government’s initiative to make services more accessible.
Since August 1, 2025, all consular services in the US are provided exclusively through VFS Global centres. Earlier in August, eight new ICACs were inaugurated in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose to enhance efficiency and reduce backlogs. The Los Angeles addition further improves convenience for the estimated 5.3 million-strong Indian diaspora.
The expanded network now includes return courier services in standard fees, along with on-site assistance for photographs, photocopies, and form-filling at no extra cost. VFS Global reported processing 363,842 applications as of mid-November, with numbers expected to rise by around 70,000 by year-end. Passport applications constitute 52% of total volume, while OCI applications account for 22%. Extended service hours and weekend availability have significantly reduced backlogs, allowing appointments within a few working days.
Sharma emphasized that the new centres serve as additional touchpoints for the diaspora, ensuring easy access, quick responses, and improved customer experience while supporting the Indian government’s vision of streamlined and accessible consular services.
