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How can Indian Nationals apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the USA?
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a document provided to Indian Passport holders who apply for Residential Status, Employment or Long-term visa, or Immigration purposes. PCC cannot be issued for persons going abroad on Tourist Visa.
Non-Indian nationals
Non-Indian nationals seeking a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) should reach out directly to the appropriate Embassy or Consulate of India.
What should the applicants ensure before applying?
All individuals applying for Indian Passport, GEP (General Employment Permit), PCC (Police Clearance Certificate), and Surrender services at the Consulate General of India in Seattle must ensure that their existing or prior login credentials are accurately associated with the Seattle jurisdiction. This verification is essential for the successful processing of their applications.
If your login credentials are not associated with the Consulate General of India in Seattle, it necessary to establish a new username and password. This action is vital to ensure that the Government of India Form correctly identifies the Consulate General of India, Seattle, as your designated consulate.
Step -by-step Guide: Indian Nationals apply for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from USA
There are two methods for Indians to apply PCC from USA.
- Apply by Mail/Post
- Apply by Appointment
**Only Indians living abroad are eligible to apply for Passport Services using Passport Seva System under the jurisdiction of the respective Indian Missions (Embassy/High Commission) or Posts (Consulate Generals) abroad**
How Indians apply for Police Clearance Certificate through Mail / Post from USA?
STEP – 1
- Visit https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/
- Select the region/country from where you wish to apply for Passport/Miscellaneous Services.
- You will be redirected to the “Passport Seva“ website
- Next, click on ‘Register’.
- Enter all your details on the online application form such as name, date of birth, email ID, etc.
- Login with the registered login ID and Password on “Login” link.
- Choose the option in the Applicant Home Page (Apply for Ordinary Passport/Emergency Certificate/Police Clearance Certificate/Surrender of Indian Passport/Diplomatic Passport/Official Passport/Identity Certificate).
- Click on the ‘Police Clearance Certificate’ in order to file a new application.
- You must print out your properly completed online application after submitting it in order to receive your Application Reference Number (ARN).
- Visit the respective Application Processing Centre/Embassy/Consulate along with required supporting documents.
- To get the list of Application Submission centre, you may visit the Indian Embassy/Consulate/Outsource Service Provider by clicking on link “Embassy/Consulate Connect“.
- Choose the country and enter the captcha code.
- Click on ‘Go’ to see the details of consulates or embassy.
How to Fill the Indian Passport Application / Supplementary Form?
You may check and follow the instructions while Filling of Passport Application / Supplementary Form through the link.
How you can “Know your Police Station” while applying for PCC?
- Visit https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/Police
- Choose the State & Police District
- Locate the Police Station which listed below.
STEP – 2
What are the Supporting form | Documents required for applying PCC?
Police Clearance Certificate Checklist Documents – For Indian Nationals
Mandatory Documents
- Government Application Online Form – Original & Must Printed on Portrait Format.
- Photograph – 2 Photos
- Color Photocopy of Proof Of Address – Notarized
- Photocopy Of Indian Passport – Self Attested Color
- Photocopy Of Valid Status in USA – Notarized
👉 Check, Print, Sign and Enclose the Checklist (Original) With Your Application.
Additional Documents
- Fee Payment Proof & Courier Label
- Print of Checklist Signed
**Note: If the required documents are not submitted within 7 calendar days, the Embassy/Consulates may cease processing the application, and no fees will be refunded.
Processing Times for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
- Normal processing time for PCC services is 28 business days.
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Fees
| Application Sub-Category | Consular Fee | ICWF | VFS FEE | Total |
| Applying at the same consular post from where current passport is issued | $25 | $2.00 | $19.00 | $46.00 |
| Applying at a different Consular post from where current passport is issued | $40 | $2.00 | $19.00 | $61.00 |
**Note: Applicant must submit their application exclusively at the Consular Post that corresponds to their current state of residence. You may check the Consular jurisdiction from the below table.
| Consulate General / Mission | Jurisdiction |
| Atlanta | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virgin Islands |
| Boston | Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont |
| Chicago | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin |
| Houston | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas |
| Los Angeles | Southern California (10 counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial Riverside, San Bernadino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo), Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico |
| New York | Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Delaware |
| San Francisco | Northern California (48 counties: not part of Los Angeles Jurisdiction), Guam, Hawaii, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming |
| Seattle | Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Washington |
| Washington, DC | Bermuda, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia |
Payment Mode:
Online payment/ Payment by card (s) convenience charges @3.75% will charged over and over the total payment. Master Card, Visa only accepted for payment.
If you’re paying by Money order or Banker or Cashier check, then it should made in favor of “VFS Services (USA) Inc.
STEP – 3
For Online Fee Payment
You may pay the fees through online and Courier/Mail your application to the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre as per your Consular Jurisdiction/Address on the shipping label (asper below).
| Consular Jurisdiction | Address |
| ICAC Atlanta Centre | Suite 175, 1200 Altmore Avenue, Sandy Springs, GA 30342. |
| ICAC Chicago Centre | Suite 2075, 180 North Stetson Ave, 20th Floor, Chicago- 60601 |
| ICAC Houston Centre | Suite 550, 1001 Texas Avenue, Houston TX 77002. |
| ICAC New York Centre | 128 E 32nd St Floor 2, New York, NY 10016 |
| ICAC San Francisco Centre | 642 Harrison Street, Suite 200, San Francisco 94107, CA. |
| ICAC Seattle Centre | 3131 Elliott Ave, Suite 240, Seattle WA 98121 |
| ICAC Washington DC Centre | 1025 Vermont Ave, N.W. Suite 302 Washington, DC 20005 |
How Indians apply for PCC by Appoimtment from USA?
- Please follow the Steps 1 & 2 as given above.
- To book an appointment and pay fees, you may login VFS Global with your mail address.
- Visit the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre as per your scheduled appointment date and time which is given below.
| Consular Jurisdiction | Address |
| ICAC Atlanta Centre | Suite 175, 1200 Altmore Avenue, Sandy Springs, GA 30342. |
| ICAC Chicago Centre | Suite 2075, 180 North Stetson Ave, 20th Floor, Chicago- 60601 |
| ICAC Houston Centre | Suite 550, 1001 Texas Avenue, Houston TX 77002. |
| ICAC New York Centre | 128 E 32nd St Floor 2, New York, NY 10016 |
| ICAC San Francisco Centre | 642 Harrison Street, Suite 200, San Francisco 94107, CA. |
| ICAC Washington DC Centre | 1025 Vermont Ave, N.W. Suite 302 Washington, DC 20005 |
| ICAC Seattle Centre | 3131 Elliott Ave, Suite 240, Seattle WA 98121 |
| ICAC Bellevue Satellite Center | Clover Building, 14450, 29th PL, Suite 117, Bellevue WA 98007 |
| Boston | 90 Canal St, Boston, MA 02114 |
| Columbus | Suite 130, 100 E Campus View Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235 |
| Dallas | 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy A-230, Dallas, TX 75243 |
| Detroit | Fort Washington Plaza, Suite 100, 333 W. Fort St, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Edison | 2035 Lincoln Hwy, Suite 1080, Edison, NJ 08817 |
| Orlando | 934 N. Magnolia Avenue, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32803 |
| Raleigh | Suite 103, 8354 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 |
| San Jose | Suite D100, 1580-1630 Old Oakland Road, San Jose, CA |
What happens when you submit an “Incomplete Documents” to VFS?
If the application is not completed within 20 calendar days, then VFS will return your application unprocessed.
- Refund for the Consular and ICWF fee will occur after deducting any applicable postal charges (if applicable).
- Documents submitted via photocopy after a period of 20 days will be subject to shredding. Any original documents received will be returned to the Embassy of India or the Consulate General of India.
- Applicants are advised to directly contact the Embassy / Consulate General of India to obtain their original documents after these have been returned by VFS to the respective embassy or consulate.
Shipping | Packaging Service of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
PCC, issued by the Embassy or Consulate General of India, certifies that the applicant has not been involved in any criminal activities resulting in police intervention in India. It is a necessary requirement for individuals applying for emigration status to other countries. Applicants must include their Indian address and the name of the relevant Police Station in the application, facilitating the verification of their background by police authorities.
Follow the points, if you offered Third Party Courier Service for PCC
- You can purchase a courier service offered by a third party.
- Enclose only one application per package.
- Don’t enclose multiple applications in the same package.
- Only UPS Pak, UPS envelope, or UPS reusable envelope packaging permitted for shipping your application to the VFS Indian Consular Application Centre.
- Do not use UPS box or tube.
- Additional charges will be incurred if a different type of packaging is utilized, and these charges must settled prior to the processing of your application.
- Your return shipping address must match the proof of address submitted during your application process.
- Ensure courier delivery address is accurate and complete.
- VFS will not be responsible for any delays or damages if packages are in transit for inbound or outbound couriers.
- Return address on the shipping label must match the address provided on the application form to ensure proper processing and handling of the shipment.
- Do not share the shipping addresses of Courier stores or Hold at Location stations.
- Monitor the status of your package and arrange a pickup from the VFS Consular Application Centre when it becomes available.
- VFS disclaims any responsibility for delays or damages incurred during the transit of packages for both inbound and outbound courier services.
List of Indian Visa Application Centre (ICAC)
View the list of Indian Visa Application Centre (ICAC) contact details, applying procedure, costs through the above link.
How to apply and obtain Indian Visa: Procedures, Documents required?
View types of Indian visa, how to apply for Indian visa, procedure for applying, fees etc. through the above link.
How to apply and obtain Indian Passport: Documents required, Cost, Renewal?
View the How to apply and obtain Passport in India, how to apply / renewal, fees through the above link.
Immigration office in India
View immigration office in India address, phone, fax, working hours, email through the above link.
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