Passport Amendment
Adding Visa Pages
The Consulate can add 24 additional visa pages to a U.S. passport. Please note that, effective July 13, 2010, there is a fee for this service. When applying for renewal of your U.S. passport, you may request a 52-page passport book at no additional charge. We require applicants to complete the application form online, print it and bring it to the appointment.
This service can be done in person (by appointment only) while you wait. You may also mail your passport and signed DS-4085 (using the same procedure as for renewing an adult passport by mail). The passport holder (or the holder's parents in the case of a minor under age 16) must sign the application if the form and passport are delivered to the American Citizen Services Unit. If applying in person, sign the form in the presence of the consular officer.
Name Changes and Other Amendments
Department of State regulations do not allow applicants to request passport amendments to change any of the following:
- Name - includes changes from marriage or other legal name changes
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Passport Validity
If any of this information has changed or is incorrect, you must apply for a new passport.
A new passport to correct or change any of the data on the face page of the passport is free of charge if requested within one year of the passport's issuance.
To request a free replacement passport (within one year of issuance) for a name change or to correct any of the other data contained on the passport's face page, the applicant should complete Form DS-5504 "U.S. Passport Re-Application Form" online, print it and bring it to the interview.
If more than one year has passed since the passport was issued, the applicant must follow the normal passport renewal procedures, paying the full renewal fee to obtain a replacement passport.
Fees
Complete fee information is available here. If applying in person, you may pay with cash dollars, cash rupees (at the current exchange rate), demand draft or a major U.S. credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.
Passport Processing Time
Except in emergencies, passports are printed in the United States and take approximately two to three weeks. Please consider this timeline when renewing or applying for passports. You will receive an automated email when your passport is ready.
Passport Delivery or Pick Up
If you opt to pick up your passport, you may do so between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding the last Wednesday of the month and American and Indian holidays. You do not need an appointment to pick up your passport.
The U.S. Consulate is pleased to provide courier delivery services for U.S. passports, effective August 16, 2010. All passports which are not picked up at the Consulate must be delivered through VFS courier services. This service will allow for timely tracking and delivery of your passports. Please read carefully the instructions below so as to arrive at your appointment prepared.
-
Prior to your appointment at the Chennai Consulate, obtain a demand draft in the amount of Rs. 166 per passport service drawn in favor of “VFS Global services Private Ltd”, payable at Chennai. We cannot accept cash for this service.
-
At the appointment, you will be asked to provide the VFS demand draft and courier slip for each individual applicant. You may access the VFS courier slip on their website at: https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/uspassportservices.html.
-
Passports will still be printed in the U.S., so overall processing time will remain between two and four weeks. However, once the ACS unit provides your new passport to VFS, you will be able to check the status of your passport by entering your old passport number at the VFS website. Please click here to track your passport.
-
You will receive a receipt from VFS with the return of your passport.
Questions?
Email: chennaics@state.gov