My Experience: Police Clearance Certificate from Indian Consulate

If you're a non-resident Indian in need of a police clearance certificate for a visa, education or any other purpose from an Indian consulate abroad, you're in luck. I recently (October 2018) did this from the Indian consulate in New York. And it was surprisingly troublefree and very convenient. 

I went through the documentation list provided here. I applied in person so I didn't have to go through the anxiety of mailing my passport. I had the following readily available:

1. Miscellaneous Application form - as the document is in MS Word format, I added some extra lines to fit my rather long residential address in India.

2. Nationality Verification Form - although it says 'applicant may fill' this form, I had it ready anyway. I typed the whole thing in a Word document to give me extra space for addresses etc.

3. Passport - I had the copies of passport ready, exactly the way described in the website. Although if you're missing copies you can always use the free photocopy service in the consular office. You can also print from email, it's also available as a free service inside the office.

4. Local US Driver's License - I had the original and a photocopy with my application. Any other local residential proof would also do. The primary purpose is to identify whether the consulate can issue you a certificate based on residency requirements. For example, the New York consulate only serves residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island & Vermont.

5. US Visa - a copy of my US visa, also I had my passport available.

6. Fees - they accept only cash, no cards. So make sure you've exact cash.

I walked into the consulate around 9:15 and it was already open. An officer quickly checked my passport and handed me a ticket number for the waiting list. Since I went early I got my turn within the half-hour. The lady at the window was friendly and she checked my documents. And she said to come after 11am and my certificate would be ready!

BTW, if you're passport was issued in India you already have a police clearance, so the consulate just has to verify it. But if your last passport was issued abroad (always without police verification), the consulate will send for fresh police verification to the last Indian addressed you resided. That's when police will take time to do verification and send the report.