Your Indian passport expires next year, and your H-1B stamp, I-94 and travel plans all depend on it. Renewing from the US is mostly online now, with VFS Global handling the paperwork for the embassy and consulates.
As of November 2, 2026, here's the process as the Embassy of India in Washington describes it. Each consulate covers its own states, so check yours.
- You file online, then submit documents and fees to VFS Global in person or by courier.
- The embassy lists reissue when a passport expires within a year, has expired, or is lost, damaged or full.
- Normal processing is 3 to 4 weeks; tatkaal is 3 working days, both excluding shipping.
- A regular 36-page passport costs $127 including the ICWF fee, plus VFS's service fee.
- Missing documents must be supplied within 21 business days, or the application is rejected.
- Police verification in India may take up to two weeks, and the new passport can be used meanwhile.
When can you renew?
The embassy lists passport reissue if "your passport validity is Expiring within 1 year," it's "already Expired," or it's lost, damaged, out of pages, or needs "a Change in Details" (Embassy of India, Passport Services).
Don't wait for the last month. The State Department's manual says admission to the US "will not be granted by the immigration authorities for a period extending beyond the actual expiration date shown in the passport" (9 FAM 403.9-3(B)(2)), which can cut an H-1B worker's I-94 short. Our guide to an expired visa with a valid I-94 covers how the dates interact.
Which office handles your application?
The one for your state. The embassy asks applicants to "carefully verify that their applications fall under the correct Consular jurisdiction." Washington covers "Bermuda, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia," and other states go to their consulates.
If you applied through a different consulate before, start fresh. The embassy says those applicants "must create a new account on the Passport Seva Portal" because "the option to select the Consular jurisdiction is available only at the time of account creation on the portal."
How does the process work?
Three steps (Embassy of India, Passport Services):
- Online application on the Passport Seva portal for missions.
- Supporting documents, from the checklist linked on the embassy page.
- Submit to VFS Global, either at a VFS appointment or by paying online and sending documents by courier.
Then VFS checks the file. "If any documents are missing, VFS Global will notify the applicant by email. The applicant must submit the requested documents within 21 business days. Failure to do so will result in rejection of the application." The embassy "verifies the application, grants approval, prepares the passport," and VFS "dispatches both the new passport and the old cancelled passport."
Keep the old passport. The US visa rules say "an unexpired visa is valid for application for admission even if the passport in which the visa is stamped has expired," as long as you also hold a valid passport from your country (22 CFR 41.112(b)(3), eCFR). Our guide to a US visa in an old passport explains how to travel with both.
How long does it take, and what does tatkaal cost?
| Service | Processing (excluding shipping) | Fee incl. $2 ICWF (36 pages) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 3 to 4 weeks | $127 |
| Tatkaal | 3 working days | $252 |
| Normal, lost or damaged | Not stated separately | $252 |
| Tatkaal, lost or damaged | Not stated separately | $377 |
These are the Washington embassy's figures, and they exclude VFS's own service fee. A 60-page passport costs more: $177 normal or $302 tatkaal. The embassy also notes that "timelines apply only to complete applications" (Embassy of India, Passport Services).
What about police verification?
It happens in India. The embassy says "Police Verification (PV) in India is part of the Indian passport renewal process," and that the local police "will visit the address provided in India for verification. This process may take up to two weeks."
You can help it along. "If no one is available at the given address to meet the police in person, you may authorize (send) a relative or acquaintance to visit the nearest police station on your behalf." If your new passport arrives first, the embassy says "your passport remains valid and can be used for travel." Need a police clearance certificate instead? Our guide to the Indian PCC from the US covers it.
What should you update after renewal?
- Carry both passports if your US visa is in the old one.
- Check your I-94 after your next entry.
- Tell your employer, so H-1B or green card filings use the new number.
- Update the passport on any pending USCIS case if asked, and in your airline profiles.
Our guide to H-1B visa stamping covers getting a new visa in the new passport if you need one.
What this means for you
- Renew once you're within a year of expiry.
- Apply through the office for your state, with a fresh portal account if you've moved.
- Budget 3 to 4 weeks, or pay for tatkaal.
- Send missing documents within 21 business days.
- Arrange for someone to handle police verification in India.
Where to start
Passport renewals are one of many timelines on H-1B. A green card removes several of them. Our free evaluation at /evaluate/ checks whether EB-1A or the NIW fits your profile, and Frank, our AI assistant at /frank, helps you build the evidence. Petitions are reviewed and filed by our partner law firm, Lai & Turner.
Sources
All checked November 2, 2026.
- Embassy of India, Washington DC, Passport Services. Reissue reasons; jurisdiction; steps; 21 business days; processing times; fees; police verification.
- 9 FAM 403.9. Admission limited to passport expiry.
- 22 CFR 41.112 (eCFR, current text). Visa in an expired passport.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I renew my Indian passport in the USA?
The Embassy of India in Washington lists passport reissue for passports expiring within one year, already expired, lost, damaged, full, or needing a change in details. So you can generally apply once you're within a year of expiry. Renew early if your US I-94 or a visa interview depends on the passport date.
How long does Indian passport renewal take in the US?
The embassy in Washington lists normal processing of 3 to 4 weeks and tatkaal of 3 working days, both excluding shipping, and says the timelines apply only to complete applications. If VFS finds missing documents, you have 21 business days to send them, or the application is rejected.
How much does it cost to renew an Indian passport in the US?
At the Embassy of India in Washington, a regular 36-page passport is $125 plus a $2 ICWF fee, or $127, and a 60-page passport is $177, all excluding VFS's service fee. Tatkaal costs $252 for 36 pages. Lost or damaged passports cost more. Check your own consulate's page, since it handles your application.
Can I renew my Indian passport if my US visa is expired?
The embassy's reissue process doesn't list your US visa status as a requirement. Your US visa stays valid in the old passport if it's unexpired, and you can travel with both passports. If the US visa has expired, renewing the passport doesn't renew the visa; that's a separate stamping process.
Why do I need police verification in India for a renewal in the US?
The embassy says police verification in India is part of the passport renewal process. Local police visit the address you gave in India, which may take up to two weeks. A relative can go to the police station on your behalf. If you've received the passport while verification is pending, the embassy says it remains valid for travel.
Green Card Guide AI is not a law firm and this article is not legal advice. It describes evidence-building strategy in general terms; your attorney determines what belongs in your petition and how it's argued.
