New Delhi: In a major diplomatic move, India will significantly expand its consular services in the United States starting August 1, 2025. Ambassador of India to the US, Vinay Kwatra, announced the opening of eight new Indian Consular Application Centers in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Addison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose.

The announcement was made via a video message shared by the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Announcing major expansion of our Consular Services in the USA beginning August 01, 2025. Here is a message from Ambassador Vinay Kwatra about this expansion and the positive changes it would bring to our service delivery,” the Embassy captioned the post.

Kwatra stated that the expansion will not only enhance India’s service outreach but also make consular assistance faster and more accessible to the growing Indian diaspora. “With the opening of these new Indian Consular Application Centers, our presence to provide extensive consular services and related delivery capabilities would increase and expand significantly,” he said.

A notable change is that all Indian Consular Application Centers will now remain operational on Saturdays, a move expected to ease access for working professionals and students.

The Ambassador also referred to the upcoming opening of two new Indian consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, a development earlier announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These additions aim to deepen bilateral and community ties, especially in key urban centers.

Kwatra urged members of the Indian community in the U.S. to regularly check the Indian Embassy’s website for updates on the rollout and availability of various consular services.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the US is home to nearly 5.4 million people of Indian origin, including approximately 2.07 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), making it the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the country.

In a parallel move strengthening Indo-US relations, the United States recently inaugurated its fifth consulate in India, located in Bengaluru.