Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Prakash Gupta, Consul Normal of India in Seattle, collectively inaugurated the primary Indian Visa Utility Heart (IVAC) within the cities of Seattle and Bellevue on Friday (native time).
In his inaugural handle, Mayor Harrell expressed his admiration for the Indian community within the Larger Seattle space, praising their function and contributions in enriching the bonds of friendship between India and the US.
Consul Normal Prakash Gupta emphasised that the opening of those new visa utility facilities in Seattle and Bellevue displays the Indian authorities’s dedication to deepen its relationship with the Pacific Northwest states.
He mentioned, “The opening of the Indian Consulate in Seattle is a mirrored image of the Government of India‘s sturdy dedication to deepen our relationships with Pacific North Western states of the US and thru the opening of those new visa application centres (VAC) in Seattle and Bellevue, we hope to make sure for all consular candidates a extra handy expertise to adequately put together their journey to India.”
“Offering easy and environment friendly consular companies is considered one of our high priorities and we might welcome any suggestions and strategies on additional enchancment from all candidates as we begin our consular operations within the Larger Seattle Space,” he added.
The IVAC companies graduation follows the opening of the primary Indian Consulate in Seattle in November 2023 and goals to offer consular companies like visa, passport, OCI and different associated consular necessities to residents of the Larger Seattle, Consulate Normal of India in Seattle mentioned in an announcement.”For ease of transportation and comfort of residents residing on the east facet in Bellevue, an extra IVAC drop-off facility for receiving consular functions has additionally been made practical at 1400 112th Avenue SE, Bellevue – WA -98004 (Suite 200),” the official assertion learn.
Each the Seattle and Bellevue IVAC Facilities will probably be managed by VFS World, the outsourced visa companies companion of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Amit Kumar Sharma, Head of VFS World, mentioned, “VFS World shared a long-standing relationship with the Authorities of India since 2008 and we’re excited to increase our partnership additional. The brand new centre in Seattle and Bellevue, United States of America will play a vital function in successfully catering to the rising demand for visa and consular companies to India.”
“We’re assured that these visa utility centres will improve buyer expertise by making the visa utility course of much more easy, thereby serving to us serve the travellers and Indian diaspora higher,” he added.
These companies are anticipated to profit the massive Indian diaspora neighborhood within the consular jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle, which covers 9 Pacific Northwestern states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.