Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Consul General Prakash Gupta Open First Indian Visa Center in Seattle and Bellevue
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle, jointly inaugurated the first Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) in Seattle and Bellevue. The event took place on Friday and marked a significant step in providing consular services to the Indian community in the Greater Seattle area.
Mayor Harrell’s Address
In his speech, Mayor Harrell praised the Indian community for their contributions to strengthening the bonds of friendship between India and the US.
Consul General Gupta’s Remarks
Consul General Prakash Gupta emphasized that the new visa centers reflect the Indian government’s commitment to deepening relations with the Pacific Northwest. He stated, “The opening of the Indian Consulate in Seattle is a reflection of the Government of India’s strong commitment to deepen our relations with Pacific North Western states of the US and through the opening of these new visa application centres (VAC) in Seattle and Bellevue, we hope to ensure for all consular applicants a more convenient experience to adequately prepare their travel to India.”
He also welcomed feedback and suggestions for improving consular services.
Services and Locations
The IVAC services follow the opening of the first Indian Consulate in Seattle in November 2023. These centers will provide services like visa, passport, OCI, and other consular requirements. An additional drop-off facility is available in Bellevue for convenience.
Management by VFS Global
Both centers will be managed by VFS Global, a long-standing partner of the Indian government. Amit Kumar Sharma, Head of VFS Global, expressed excitement about expanding their partnership and enhancing customer experience.
Benefiting the Indian Community
These services are expected to benefit the large Indian diaspora in the consular jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle, covering nine Pacific Northwestern states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.
