Washington, Apr 6 (IANS): The Indian embassy and its consulates in other parts of the country have, like many missions in other parts of the world, outsourced passport related services.

Outsourcing Agency VFS Global would begin its operations for the embassy in Washington, and for the consulates general in Chicago and New York from April 16, the embassy announced Thursday.

For the consulates general at Houston and San Francisco, the operations would begin from April 30.

In Washington The VFS Global website http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/usa and a Call Centre number 202-800-7412 would be functional from April 9 for providing assistance to passport services seekers.

Applications would be accepted by VFS Global in person or delivered by mail from April 16 at Suite 103, 1625 K Street NW Washington DC. Addresses of VFS Global at other locations in support of the consulates general would be available on their respective websites.

Indian Visa/OCI/PIO services have been outsourced to Travisa Outsourcing company earlier and that arrangement continues.

Miscellaneous services like attestation of power of attorney would continue to be extended by the embassy and consulates general of India directly, for which no prior appointment is required.

Any information on these services can be accessed from the websites of the Embassy and Consulates General, the embassy said.