Lesser Tax
8 min read
Quick answer: Indian passport renewal in Dallas now runs through the Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite A-230, which Ambassador Vinay Kwatra virtually inaugurated on 1 August 2025. The ICAC is a VFS Global centre under the Consulate General of India, Houston, so applicants in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma can file here. All 17 ICACs operate six days a week, including Saturdays. The ICWF (Indian Community Welfare Fund) fee is $2 per passport renewal; the government and VFS service fees are listed on the VFS Global USA passport page and change from time to time, so confirm the current amounts there before you pay.
Key takeaways
- The Dallas ICAC opened on 1 August 2025 as one of eight new centres inaugurated by Ambassador Vinay Kwatra that day (Embassy of India, Washington DC).
- Address: 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Suite A-230, Dallas, TX 75243, listed on CGI Houston's VFS helpline page (cgihouston.gov.in).
- Jurisdiction: residents of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas submit through this centre, under the Consulate General of India, Houston.
- All 17 ICACs run six days a week, including Saturdays, "extending beyond the previous five-day schedule" (Embassy of India).
- ICWF fee is $2 per passport renewal; the government fee and VFS service fee are set on the VFS Global USA site and should be confirmed there before payment.
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Does my renewal go to Dallas or Houston?
Both are VFS Global centres under the Consulate General of India, Houston. From 1 August 2025 Dallas-Fort Worth applicants no longer have to drive to Houston. The CGI Houston VFS helpline page lists Dallas at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Suite A-230, and Houston at 1001 Texas Ave #550 (cgihouston.gov.in). The jurisdiction is five states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. If you live in one, Dallas is now a choice; otherwise you file in your consular jurisdiction (New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta or the embassy in Washington DC).
Is it a renewal or a re-issue?
The Government of India calls it a "re-issue": you surrender the old passport and receive a new booklet with a new number, not a renewed version of the old one. VFS and the consulate use the same application type for a routine 10-year expiry, a damaged passport, a name change and a change of address. The paperwork differs by reason, which matters for the on-hold section below.
How much does Indian passport renewal cost in Dallas (2026)?
There are three separate charges, plus courier. The ICWF (Indian Community Welfare Fund) fee is $2 per passport renewal, "in effect from 01 September 2017" (CGI Houston ICWF fees). The government fee and the VFS service fee are listed on the VFS Global USA Indian passport pages and are the same at Dallas and Houston because both are under the same consulate; confirm current amounts on VFS Global USA before you pay. Tatkaal (urgent) processing in the US is case-by-case; eligibility and the add-on fee are on CGI Houston's advisory on urgent re-issuance.
What documents do I need?
For a routine adult re-issue the Dallas ICAC expects the same set used across the CGI Houston network:
- Online application from the Passport Seva portal, with photo and signature uploaded, plus a printed copy for submission.
- Two identical ICAO-compliant printed photographs with a white background, taken within the last six months, no glasses, no shadows.
- The original current Indian passport, plus one photocopy of the first and last pages.
- Affidavit for change of appearance and signature (standard for a re-issue on expiry).
- Annexure E, self-declaration of citizenship.
- Proof of valid US status: notarised colour copy of the green card, visa with I-94, EAD, or I-797A.
- Proof of US address in the CGI Houston jurisdiction: colour copy of a state ID, driver's license, utility bill less than three months old, or signed lease. A PO Box alone is generally not accepted.
- Prepaid two-way courier arrangement for return of the new passport.
Minor applications need both parents' consent (Annexure D), their IDs, and the child's US birth certificate; a lost or damaged passport adds a police report and Annexure F.
What are the current photo rules?
Upload what the Passport Seva portal asks for in the moment, not a stock photo from an older application: white background, taken in the last six months, no software edits, no glasses, shoulders visible, no flash reflection. Printed photos are two identical copies matching the digital upload. The rules are the same at Dallas and Houston.
Step-by-step: renewing through the Dallas ICAC
- Fill the application on the Passport Seva portal, upload the photo and signature, and print a copy. Note the ARN (Application Reference Number).
- Create a VFS Global USA account and start the "re-issue of passport" workflow. Attach copies of the Passport Seva form and all supporting documents.
- Pay the fee online; VFS issues a receipt with a VFS reference number.
- Book an appointment at 8360 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite A-230, Dallas, or submit by mail with the prepaid return courier.
- On the appointment day, bring originals, printed photos and the fee receipt. The ICAC captures the biometrics where required and forwards the file to CGI Houston.
- Track status on the VFS portal with your reference number; the consulate posts status updates back to VFS as the file moves.
How long does it take?
Processing varies with the type of re-issue and whether police verification is needed; CGI Houston publishes current expectations on its general passport information page. Tatkaal (urgent) trims the queue where eligible, with the add-on fee listed on the same page.
Why do Dallas VFS applications get put on hold?
The on-hold triggers are the same across US VFS centres and account for most delays:
- The jurisdiction field doesn't match the proof of address state.
- Name, date of birth or spouse details don't match the current passport exactly.
- The photo is the wrong background, wrong size, or software-edited.
- The printed form isn't in CAPITAL LETTERS or isn't printed double-sided where required.
- Photos stapled rather than clipped, or documents stapled through signatures.
- A PO Box used as the only address proof.
Fix the specific flag VFS lists, re-upload or resubmit, and the file resumes; a hold is not a rejection.
What does this mean for your taxes?
A new passport number flows into NRE/NRO KYC and the next year's FBAR and Form 8938. If you're on OCI, link the new passport under the Embassy of India's rules; our guide on missed 90-day OCI updates covers what to do if you've already travelled on it. For a broader checklist, see the NRI tax checklist, the city page for Houston and the full US renewal guide.
FAQ
Do I have to visit the Dallas ICAC in person?
Not for every case. Many routine re-issues can be submitted by courier; biometrics are only taken when the application type requires them. Check the VFS portal workflow for your specific case before booking an appointment.
My passport expired more than three years ago. Can I still renew in Dallas?
Yes. Long-expired passports go through the same re-issue flow, with the same documents. The consulate may add extra verification, which is a timing question, not an eligibility one.
Is VFS Global official? I've seen "CKGS" mentioned.
VFS Global is the authorised service provider for Indian passport services in the US. CKGS used to handle Indian consular services and is often remembered by applicants, but current submissions go through VFS.
Can I renew in Houston instead?
Yes. Both the Dallas ICAC and the Houston VFS centre at 1001 Texas Avenue, #550 sit under the same consulate, so either is valid for applicants in the five-state jurisdiction. Pick whichever is closer or has earlier appointments.
Do I need to notarise my US status copy?
VFS requires a notarised colour copy of your valid US status document (green card, visa, EAD or I-797A) for most adult re-issues. The checklist in the VFS workflow is the final word for your case.
What else is handled at the Dallas ICAC?
Under the CGI Houston network, VFS centres handle passport services and consular services such as OCI and renunciation; the CGI Houston helpline page lists Passport Services and Consular Services (OCI/Renunciation) as the handled streams at both Dallas and Houston (cgihouston.gov.in).