The U.S. visa application center in India has announced that effective August 1, 2025, third-party/representative passport collection service will be discontinued. The announcement indicates that this is to ensure the safety and security of the passports and confidential documents of visa applicants

If applicant has opted for collection of passport/documents, then, the applicant is required to collect them in person. For applicants under the age of 18, the passport can be collected by one parent or guardian. In this case, a consent letter signed by both parents is required in original. The update clarifies that a scan or electronic copies or print from an electronic copy of the consent letter will not be accepted.

At this time, it is not clear if applicants other than ones below 18 years can authorize a representative to collect the passport / documents. It may be easier for U.S. visa applicants to opt for premium delivery at a fee of INR 1,200 to avoid the hassle of visiting the visa application center to collect the passport. This update can be found here.