Do you need to travel to Indian urgently? An Emergency Certificate is a one-way travel document that permits you to travel to India in an urgent situation. An Emergency Certificate is an important document to obtain, especially when you need to travel to India and your passport is lost, expired, or damaged and you do not have a legal visa status in the USA.
Learn in this comprehensive guide more about Emergency certificate, requirements, application process and processing time.
When is an Emergency Certificate Needed?
An Emergency Certificate is required when you need to travel to India and fall under one of the following circumstances:
- Expired Passport: You have an expired passport and no legal US visa status to live in the US.
- Lost or Stolen Passport: Your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged. Simultaneously, you lack legal visa status and must travel to India urgently.
- Deportation: You are under deportation orders by US authorities and lack the necessary travel documents. Deportation cases, as of now, are handled by US ICE.
Requirements for Emergency Certificate
To successfully apply for Emergency Certificate in USA, you must fulfil certain requirements.
- In-Person Application: For Emergency certificate, which is basically an emergency travel visa to India, you must apply in person at your jurisdictional Indian Embassy or Consulate. Mail-in applications are not considered.
- Valid Reason of Emergency: You must have documented proof of the emergency and the need for your presence.
- Police Report: In case, your passport was lost or stolen, then you must submit a police report for the same.
Documents Required for Emergency Certificate
For EC, or emergency travel visa to India, you need the following documents:
- Passport, or its copy, if available
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Identity proof. If original passport is not available then you must submit a valid government issued identity card, such as Driving License.
- Original or certified copy of the police report if your passport was lost or stolen.
- A written letter to the Indian Embassy or applicable Consulate explaining the emergency and relevant details.
- Document proof for the reason of travel, if available.
- Copy of your visa, resident status or address proof in the US.
- Copy of confirmed flight ticket to India.
- Other supporting documents specific to the case.
How to Apply for EC from USA to India
To apply for Emergency Certificate from the USA to travel to India, you must complete an online application and then submit it to the Indian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your residence.
Step 1: Gather Required Documents
Compile the necessary documents according to your specific case.
Step 2: Fill the Online Application
Visit the official Government portal and fill out the online application for Emergency Certificate. Print the completed application from and sign it.
Step 3: Pay the Fee
Pay the applicable non-refundable fee. Payment is typically accepted via cash, money order, or cashier’s cheque made out to the applicable Indian Embassy or Consulate.
Step 4: Submit in Person
Visit the Indian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your residence. Submit the completed application form and supporting documents.
Processing Time for EC
If your Indian nationality and passport particulars can be verified immediately at the Consular level, then the Emergency Certificate is typically issued within 1 to 10 working days. However, for extreme emergencies, it can also be issued on the same day if adequate proof of emergency is provided.
Emergency Certificate Fee in USA for India
The standard non-refundable fee is $17 in total. This includes $15 as Consular Fee and $2 as Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).
Practical Tips
Follow the instructions given below while applying for an EC or commonly called as the emergency travel visa to India.
- Compile the documents before applying. This saves you time and also helps you consider what documents are missing.
- File a police report if you haven’t already in case your passport was stolen or lost.
- Apply as soon as the need for urgent travel arises. Applying late can cause unnecessary delays.
- If you can, you must gather documented evidence of the emergency and the reason for your presence.
How Documitra Can Help
In emergency situations, compiling documents and navigating government portals can be quite exhausting. That is exactly why y ou should let the professionals, like the team at Documitra, handle the paperwork and application, while you focus on the emergency ahead. We can save you both time and effort, at the same time striving to get you approval on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I need to travel to India from US immediately but my passport has expired. What can I do?
If your passport has expired and you must travel to India urgently, then the best option is to apply for an Emergency Certificate, which is basically an emergency visa to India. It permits a one-time one-side travel to India.
Q. Can I apply for Emergency Certificate online?
You can fill the application form online. But you are required to submit it in person at the Indian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your state of residence along with the supporting documents.
Q. How much does it cost to get Emergency certificate in US?
The Consular fee for Emergency Certificate in USA is $15 and $2 for Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). So, in total it costs $17 as application charges to apply for emergency certificate.
Q. Do I have to visit the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC to get an emergency certificate?
You are required to submit the filled, printed and signed Emergency Certificate application form along with the documents to the Indian Embassy or Consulate that covers your US state of residence.
Q. Can Documitra help me with Emergency Certificate?
Yes, certainly we can help you apply for EC for Indian from USA. We have a team of professionals with years of experience in documentation and Indian Consular Services.
