Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle, opened the first Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) in Seattle and Bellevue.

Mayor Harrell praised the Indian community in the Seattle area for their contributions to the friendship between India and the US.

Consul General Gupta said the new centers show India's commitment to building a stronger relationship with the Pacific Northwest states. He hopes the centers will make it easier for people to apply for visas and other consular services to travel to India. Gupta also mentioned that providing smooth consular services is a top priority and welcomed feedback for improvement.

The opening of the IVAC follows the establishment of the first Indian Consulate in Seattle in November 2023. The centers will offer services like visas, passports, and other consular needs to people in the Greater Seattle area. For convenience, there is also a drop-off facility in Bellevue at 1400 112th Avenue SE, Suite 200.

The IVAC centers will be managed by VFS Global, a company that has been working with the Indian government since 2008. Amit Kumar Sharma from VFS Global said they are excited to expand their partnership and meet the growing demand for visa and consular services in the US.