Sat Aug 02 05:09:38 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
India has significantly expanded its consular services footprint in the United States by inaugurating eight new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) and planning one more, bringing the total to 17. The expansion, officially launched on August 1, 2025, will make passport, visa, and other services more accessible to the large Indian diaspora and American citizens in the U.S. Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra emphasized the importance of the diaspora in strengthening India-U.S. relations and the expansion reflects Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to serving the community. VFS Global, which operates the ICACs, will now offer services six days a week, including Saturdays, for the first time for any government, highlighting their commitment to convenience and accessibility. The expansion of the physical consular foot print goes hand in hand with improvements to customer service, call centers and additional miscellaneous services that will be provided through these ICACs. The Ambassador also noted the upcoming opening of two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, further demonstrating the growing importance of the India-U.S. relationship.
**News Article:**
**India Expands Consular Services Across U.S., Streamlining Access for Diaspora**
**New York/Edison – August 2, 2025:** India has significantly boosted its consular presence in the United States with the inauguration of eight new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) on Friday. The move aims to streamline and expand access to vital services such as visa and passport applications for the nearly five million-strong Indian diaspora and American citizens.
Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Kwatra, virtually launched the new ICACs in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose. An additional centre is slated to open soon in Los Angeles. Effective August 1, 2025, all consular services, including passport, visa, and other essential documents, will be exclusively processed through VFS Global centres.
“This is a very significant expansion of the consular services delivery footprint offered by the Embassy of India across the United States,” Ambassador Kwatra stated, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s deep appreciation for the Indian diaspora. He emphasized their role as “the strongest brand ambassador of India” and a crucial link in the strong India-U.S. partnership.
The expansion brings the total number of ICACs across the U.S. to 17. VFS Global, the service provider operating the centres, announced that for the first time, they would be offering their services on Saturdays to accommodate working professionals.
Amit Kumar Sharma, Head of North America and Caribbean for VFS Global, emphasized the agency’s commitment to making services “more convenient, comfortable and more accessible.” He also noted that various services like call centres will be improved and streamlined to ensure enhanced deliveries for the community members
The Embassy of India is also enhancing operational accessibility with all 17 ICACs operating six days a week and offering miscellaneous consular and attestation services for added convenience.
Ambassador Kwatra also addressed plans to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the India-U.S. relationship. “The opening of these two consulates captures our intent that given the nature of our growing strength of India-U.S. partnership, there is a need to expand the diplomatic footprint across the United States.”
The inauguration ceremony in Edison, New Jersey, was attended by Consul General Binaya Pradhan, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, and members of the Indian-American community.
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