Warden Message

Adult Applications by Mail

Effective immediately the U.S. Consulate in Chennai will allow American citizens possessing ten-year U.S. passports that were issued within the last 15 years to renew their passports by mail.  Such applicants are no longer required to appear at the U.S. Consulate to renew their passports, although they may apply in person if they wish.  Requests for additional page inserts and amendments to ten-year passports may also be submitted by mail.  New and amended passports will be returned to applicants by registered post approximately two weeks after receipt of the application materials in our office.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  This new service is not available to the following people: (a) minors, (b) adults applying to replace lost or stolen passports, (c) applicants whose current passport was issued before the applicant turned 16 years of age, or (d) those whose passports have been expired for over five years.  Such applicants must still apply in person at the U.S. Consulate and present Form DS-11.  In addition, the Consulate reserves the right to require any passport applicant to appear in person at the Consulate in order to receive passport services.

Items required to renew a ten-year adult passport

The applicant's most recent U.S. passport

This will be cancelled and returned by mail with the new passport.  All valid visas in the old passport will not be cancelled;

 

Properly completed Form DS-82.
This form is available from http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html. All applicants must include a valid phone number and/or e-mail address on the application so that we may contact them if necessary;

Two 2-inch-by-2-inch (exclusive of any borders) color photograph on a white background:
Image size, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair) should measure between one inch and one and three-eights inches; At least one-half inch between the top of the head and the top of the photograph’s border;

 

Demand draft in favor of “American Consulate General, Chennai” for Indian Rs. 2948/- (Rupees Two thousand nine hundred forty eight) or US $67, drawn on a nationalized bank;

One self-addressed stamped envelope in the amount of Indian Rs. 50/- (Rupees Fifty) (postage must already be included on the envelope).  We recommend sending a 9-1/2” by 4” envelope (standard business size).  This envelope will be used to return the old and new passport to the applicant by registered post.  Please be sure to include the full name of the applicant, as well as his or her address on the envelope.