BLS Indian Passport Application Center USA

Really bad service!!! We won’t have to go through this but since we had a family emergency and passport was expired had to go to the embassy. We had a letter stating our emergency but since Monday till today Friday we were running in circles to get stuff done. Not a good experience at all and glad I don’t have to do this ever again.

01/​22/​2016:
Reissue of passport after 10 years — I was unable to get a appointment on their calendar so I anyways opted for sending a postal application. As I attempted to prepare my docket, the instructions were confusing so I googled and found this blog with step by step instructions which was very helpful to me
BLS has received my passport, will update the review with my experience. Fingers crossed
02/​19/​2016:
I was scared for my passport renewal after reading the BLS reviews here, contrary to the bad word my passport renewal was seamless. I received my passport last night, less than 4 weeks door to door. Wooohooooo !!! I’m super happy with my experience and applaud BLS for job well done :)
So listing down my steps, learned from the link above, Please note that I have listed steps and documents required for my passport renewal. Your scenario may differ so please use caution.
1. Go to
2. Select reissue of passport — 10 years
3. Download the check list, print rather —
4. Complete the Online NRI Passport Application form.

5. Once you submit the form, you can print it or save it to print later.
6. There are sections of the document you need to enter manually. Use a black pen to complete the forms. Follow the sample form directions to complete it easily -

7. Complete and print nationality verification form (3 copies for DC)
a. I printed the form and filled it by hand because the addresses were long and wouldn’t fit in the given space.
8. Complete the change of appearance form:
9. Got 2×2 photographs from Costco, very economic less than 10 $
10. 7 photos are needed — You need three photos for nationality verification form, one photo for change of appearance form, one photo on the passport form, and stick two additional photos on the last page below the signature boxes
11. Get the photocopies of all the required documents:
a. Colored copies of the passport pages first five and last two
b. Marriage certificate — requires notary, see below
c. H1B approval — requires notary, see below
d. Visa page of passport — requires notary, see below
12. Get the following documents notarized:
a. Visa page in the passport
b. USA address proof, I used my driving license
c. Affidavit of change in appearance
d. Marriage certificate, because I added my spouse name
e. Notarized copy of my H1B approval, or your current valid immigration document
13. Go to FedEx, BLS prefers FedEx or UPS only. Get two envelopes big and small, so that you can use the small one for return (BLS to you). Also don’t forget to get FedEx plastic sleeve for the mailing slip
14. Get cashier’s check for $ 91.20 in favor of BLS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES. Please check if the amount is different for your jurisdiction or if it has changed. Bank does it for free if you have an account with them.
15. Print the FedEx label to BLS, pasted this on the bigger envelope
16. Print a return label addressed to you from BLS —
a. Paste the return label on smaller envelope.
17. Now fill the BLS order form, in the form please select the application type as postal and enter the airway bill/​label number in the respective fields
18. Complete all the required information
19. Enter payment method as cashier’s check and entered the number in payment details
20. Once you submit the form, you get an email from BLS with attachment for BLS order form and BLS label.
21. Place this label on the bigger envelope addressed to BLS
22. Once you have all the documents, sort them in the following order:
a. Cashier’s Check
b. Online application form
c. BLS order form
d. Nationality verification form
e. Passport copies first five and last two
f. Notarized visa copy — H1B
g. Notarized address proof
h. Notarized marriage certificate
i. Notarized change of appearance affidavit
j. Old passport without I-​94
k. Two extra photographs, just in case
23. Place all the above documents and the return envelope inside the Big envelope addressed to BLS and drop off at a FedEx location.

OK. this is going to be a very long one …
Applied for two passport renewals in December. one for my passport that expired 9 months ago and the other one to convert a non machine readable passport. My passport was processed and delivered as per the schedule 3 – 6 weeks.
However here is where the ordeal starts. I applied for my wife’s non machine readable passport renewal and the documents were delivered on December 30^th at BLS. Was able to track the delivery date. thanks to USPS. Waited for a week to check the status update on BLS Website. nothing. Called multiple times (most of the call wait times were 30 – 45 mins). Apparently the calls on their 1 – 845 number are directed to a call center in India and they have no clue what’s happening locally. this comes from a BLS employee by the way. So that was a waste of time. Waited for one more week. No update whatsoever. panic sets in and wifey starts taunting that I should have applied TATKAL. Jeez :-). Finally I called the number again and asked them to change her application to Tatkal. For that I was told to go their office in Washington DC. At this point we are 10 days away from our scheduled cruise trip.
Finally I make a trip to their office in Washington DC. Reach there at 11:00 am and walk into this small room with one or two people waiting. The guy across the counter yells anyone for TATKAL. I told him that I was there to check the status of my wife’s passport as its been two weeks. He asks for the passport number and checks in the system and says they have not received the application. My heart almost skips a beat or two. Then I said I have confirmation from USPS (Original receipt) that it was delivered on 30^th December. He asks me to text him the USPS tracking number for self confirmation. Then the next remark. We have not received your package as we sign all deliveries. This time my heart skipped more than a couple of beats. The pressure is mounting …
Then reluctantly he said I will look into it. There were about 15 boxes of USPS/​UPS/​FEDEX boxes on the floor. Each box had close to 25 – 30 envelopes. I thought to myself. this would take forever and hope he doesn’t give up. Started praying at that moment. hoping he would find our application. I offered to help him look through those boxes. Mind it we were looking at boxes/​Letters delivered since December last week. Finally after going through 6 boxes I was able to identify our envelope. He took out the documents and entered the tracking number in the BLS System (After two weeks while it was sitting on their office floor). So much for efficiency and taking responsibility. KUDOS BLS.
He starts processing the application and casually says that we may not get this on time for our trip as it was a hand written passport from the 90’s. This guy is hell bent on giving me a heart attack. Finally he takes a snapshot of her application and passport and texts someone in the embassy and within a few mins the other side says OK. He gives me a smile and says that I was lucky to get that approval from the embassy. I was thanking my stars at that time. Finally my wife can join us on the cruise. without having to kill me first.
Paid the additional fees to convert to tatkal. Asks me to come the next day to pickup the passport. I couldn’t believe my ears. From almost getting a heart attack to dreaming of a sunny beach. slowly turning to reality.
Walk out of BLS office at 11:45. Yes it only took 45 mins to get this whole thing straightened out. If only BLS took some of the responsibility for their screw-​ups.
I would like to give 3 stars to Mr. Thakur for helping us get the passport in 24 hours.
Lessons learnt:
— Always hand deliver documents at their office and get a receipt.
— Make sure you follow the required documents list to the ‘T’. No short cuts.
— Have a smile on your face … despite your Blood Pressure is way above ¹²⁰⁄₈₀ and little short of a heart attack.
GOOD LUCK … and I don’t have to see them for the next 10 years. WOOHOO !!

Currently in the process of getting my passport renewed. Called the customer service number and asked them if I could get the number for the location which is renewing my passport and got the reply «You can search it on Google.» I don’t know what’s going to happen next. :)

WHY, WHY on earth do I have to deal with places like this one?! This hole in the wall place is not only hard to find, it is sort of messy and filthy with broken chairs and cobwebs all over. And then, there is the help desk staff. Unprofessional, will not give a straight answer to a simple question and will impose weird rules without explanations. I will not bore you with the deets of my own experience (honestly too frustrating), but I will tell you this — go in with nerves of steel, infinite patience and with the knowledge that you MAY have to make multiple trips to this abysmal place before you get what you need. SO MUCH for democracy and my right to information!

Submitted documents last Tuesday and got my renewed passport (expired for more than 6 months) today. Granted, their website is not a joy to navigate through. But, some careful reading and couple of google searches (
and some other sites providing information on how to notarize identification documents) helped me gather all the required documentation.
Submission of documents took about 10 minutes. I used the scheduling functionality on their website, which allows rescheduling (in fact, I rescheduled twice). I reached there 10 minutes before my allotted time-​slot. They opened promptly at 9 am and by 9:15 I was done. In fact, I could pay cash to have my passport couriered to me.
By the way, I called them twice on their toll-​free number. Wait time was about 5 mins in both instances. The person picking up was quite courteous and helpful.
Overall, 5 stars.

The despatch department sucks. I would suggest if you can go to DC to submit your application then it just takes 1 week from then to get the passport.

This Review is for Passport Renewal Service not Visa (which may be even worse !!!)
The overall experience with BLS International was horrifying, to say in the least.
We send the papers on March 23 and for nearly 4 weeks after that we had absolutely no communications or any way to get an update from BLS. All attempts to call them were met with the standards recorded message. We had to reach out to the consulate to get help, and they did help !! After that BLS started responding to us.
The missing documents were infact never listed on their site as required, so there was no way we would have included them in the package (on going to their office later, I saw a bulletin board, where they have added these documents in handwriting to the list of required documents)
When we send the documents by UPS, they were returned to us. UPS stated that delivery was refused at BLS !! So in the end, we ended up going in person to Washington DC to submit the documents. We called and got the address for delivery only to find that they gave us the wrong address !!! (this is the height of incompetency). After repeated calls, while walking around trying to find them in Washington, someone in the office guessed that they were on 800 K ST NW instead of NE — I could not believe that they would not know even the address of their own office.
On reaching the office, someone there actually had the gall to ask if we had an appointment !!! and the office was empty with no customers.
This by far has been the worst experience I have had. I have in the past renewed passports for myself, my wife and my other daughter — but the provider was different.
I was extremely happy to read that the consulate has reworked their visa processing services — I cannot imagine non Indian nationals having to go through this kind of experience to get a visa to go to India and the kind of impression that it would leave them with about our country.
I am hoping that the consulate will further revoke their passport processing and renewal services and give it to some other supplier who will certainly do a better job. I would have loved to send this note to the management at BLS but I do not have their mail address

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE INDIAN PASSPORT APPLICATION CENTER ON 800 K Street NW, Suite MR-​12, Washington, D.C. 20 001
A different venue does not change anything, its the same pathetic service here too. Ok, let me see how I can put things differently here compared to what other reviewers have said?
Yes, the staff is very unprofessional. A gentleman came in for Indian visa, which this center does not do. He had been to 2 different locations and was livid, and as soon he left they laughed and giggled about how angry he was, while I was still standing in front of them! There are many other similar things which you will realize after a visit here that this is hell hole. Oh yea… add rude and arrogant to the list. The list is endless.
I went to apply for a new passport for a relative living in NC. After fighting DC traffic and paid parking when you get there, they say you can’t just show up. First make an appointment, just to submit the application, but on the website you will find no link that allows you to make an appointment. I am copying the link below. Hope it helps. I feel pity for anyone who has to come here for any kind of service… Absolute pity!

(This review is for the passport service, not visa)
Even though my interaction with BLS started terribly (I arrived on time for my 9am appointment, only to find the office closed. When the staff arrived 15 minutes later, there was no apology), I received my renewed passport within 7 days of applying. I spent around 30 minutes while applying (including the 15min delay) and then less than 5 minutes while picking up my passport. Tip: Try and get the first appointment for any day, because that way you don’t end up having to wait if people in front of you take longer than they should.

Crazy Bad!
Almost no one on the phone or in the office tell you the correct information. Example, My wife had called and was told a list of things to bring. She checked and double checked with the person, upon going in person, she was told she needed another set items. So she was able to quickly go copy and get said items, upon return another person said there were additional items that she needed… so as you can count that is THREE different people three different explanations. If I could go to someone else I would, in a heart beat, heck I would pay extra if it actually ment getting something done right.
Again BLS is horrible, slow, they give you the run around, and expect you to be grateful for it… negative stars, but Unilocal doesn’t have those!
Steer clear!

Trying to read and interpret conflicting information on the website made the application process extremely frustrating. None of the phone numbers listed on the website (for assistance) worked. The enquiry email address was incorrect, and so enquiry emails just bounced back.
This whole visa application process was so difficult and left such a bad taste in my mouth. I honestly don’t know if going to India is worth this kind of mental stress and trauma.

WASTE OF TIME…
This office is in washington DC but is run just like some small government office in INDIA.
They got a crackhead skinny gujju girl manning the gate and she makes up facts as she likes.
They don’t have any idea on what they are doing. They ask you to make appointment but she lets people come in as they please.
For a country that invented IT geeks; their website sucks and so does their customer service number that goes to some back water call center in india.
I Can’t wait till embassy take their responsibility back from BLS and handles the visa servicers themselves.

After reading some previous reviews my anxiety level was pegging in the red. I’m late. Within 9 days of travel and two of those days are over the weekend. I don’t have my visa yet so I can’t claim success but it wasn’t as bad as I expected after reading some reviews and wading through the BLS and Embassy of India web page. My case was complicated and stressed mostly because my US passport was out of date and I was trying to game two systems at the same time. Had I only be dealing with the Indian visa and had I given myself two weeks to get through that process, I don’t think this would have been so bad.
First of all the BLS folks were polite though it certainly pays to do the research and go in there prepared. The BLS web page and the process is very confusing. They don’t seem to follow all the steps that are posted possibly because it was a holdover from the previous company.
Start with a good US passport. Trying to use my old number, while I sent the old passport off for renewal, was a big problem. They site indicates that you can do that but the software won’t accept dates of a issue and expiration dates of non-​current passport.
Start with the India Government Visa application online at
If you are getting a tourist visa, go for a 6 month multiple entry — don’t waste your time trying to do a 3 month double entry as an example — they will immediately change it to 6 mos when you get to the application clerk. It costs the same.
When you get your picture (one only) taken for your visa, be sure to get a digital .jpg copy on a disk. Have it cropped square with a file size not more than 300 kb. You’ll be asked to upload a picture during the online process and you’ll need the 2“x2″ to past to your application. Do your homework and make sure the info you enter on the form is correct because they check it closely. Be prepared to enter and name address and phone number of s point of contact in India and one for in the states. When you print your application make note of the serial number below the digital code starting with USASXXXXXXXXX. You’ll need that to do an order form for the BLS website process.
Next go to the BLS website and do an Order Form.
Then at the BLS site do an appointment reservation.
Print your Visa Request, Order Form, and Appointment reservation.
Paste your 2“x2″ picture to your visa request form and signe in two places.
MAKE A PHOTO-​COPY OF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE.
It must be the same address as the address on your Visa request form. If not find something else that proves you live at your visa request address and make a copy of it. This is a big problem if you don’t have a copy of something. I didn’t see this anywhere in the instructions but it cost me an hour walk to get a copy of my license made.
My appointment was for Wednesday but I went early on Monday. I didn’t have a problem. I was asked what time my appointment was and I said 10:00. Just didn’t say what day. It worked.
No one looked at or took my BLS web generated order form.
Be sure to have a money order for the exact amount of your fees. For a 6 month multiple entry, the BLS order form calculated my cost at $ 67.60.
If you are doing two visas, say for you and your wife, have two money orders. BE SURE TO HAVE A PHOTO COPY OF HER LICENSE WITH THE SAME ADDRESS AS YOUR VISA REQUEST
When I walked in the door, the assistant took my name. There were probably 25 people waiting on this Monday morning at 10:30 and my name was call in about 30 minutes. It took 10 minutes to turn my two packages in after the hour walk to get copies of my license.
The entire staff at BLS seemed to be ethnically Indian and they do things their way. All in all, much easier than going to DMV and much easier than I expected.

I saw the bad press and having done a lot of traveling (including a prior trip to india), I took it in stride. Unfortunately, my own experience captured most of the problems others have identified. I considered using a 3^rd party, but even the large ones are known for losing passports and the idea of using an outsourcer to deal with an outsourcer seemed redundant, esp. living in DC where they had an office.
First, the website: the material is very dense and poorly organized. They seem to have pulled together English translations of official documents for the text. Rather than illuminating important matters, all this detail makes it difficult to figure out the simple steps to follow. It takes multiple clicks just to get started for a simple tourist visa. It’s possible to make an appointment without filling out an application form online. I later learned that you needed the completed application form to have the appointment. When I did the actual form, the process generated 3 different ID codes at different points, only the last of which was connected to an appointment. Note that you need a reference for India (it can be an accommodation) – it’s a required field, contrary to some of the info circulating on the web.
Visit #1: Only one person ahead of me, a gentleman who had a US passport and had lived here for decades. The receptionist told him he needed his renunciation papers. He had no idea where they were. He left in a huff. Next, I received the bad news that I needed a completed application form. On visit #2, I discovered that was not always true.
Visit #2: I had my form this time. The woman in front of me had several mistakes on hers that were caught by the receptionist – missing a digit on the passport, transposing dates. She was told that these might be a problem, but it was up to the counter staff. It turned out that she knew someone in the office – they embraced and she had no problems. The office was busy and I waited well beyond the appointment period. During my wait, I noticed that the smartphone reception was poor and that there were two computers off to the side. One of them was used to help an older Indian gentleman fill out his applications form. So — lesson from Visit #2, bring more than a Verizon-​served smartphone to kill time and problems can get worked out under the right circumstances.
Visit #3: Despite having my email and assigning yet another ID code, they don’t provide email notification – you have to check on line (and you need to keep the form with the ID). My visa was ready in 5 working days. I arrived at opening time to pick up the passport. There was a line, we walked in, sat down and it became evident that we needed to surrender our forms from the application visit (this became obvious because some people started doing it – no real directions). Then they called people to claim their passports. Disorganized, but relatively quick.

Wow, there is some hate going on here. From what I’ve read, it is well deserved. That being said, I can’t really complain. My experience:
Turned in my application and passport on Sept. 11^th. Setting up appointment time was easy. Plenty of slots open. I scheduled a Wednesday afternoon appointment on a Monday two days before.
The website said 3 – 5 business days to process, and the woman at BLS told me the same when she handed me a receipt that had a tracking number on it. BTW, I walked right in, handed in my application, she reviewed it, and that was that. In and out in 5 minutes.
Alas it took 7 business days. I have to say when it passed the 5 day mark, I was starting to get worried due to the horror stories I read online (google BLS Fodors and you’ll see what I’m talking about). Thankfully I could take a big sigh of relief today when it finally said, «Ready for collection» on the BLS website.
When I went to collect the passport, no wait. In and out in a couple minutes.
So my experience getting a visa wasn’t too bad. Minus one star for a) being a little longer than the estimated time b) wanting exact change for payment. A bit annoying.

Very inefficient.

This is a typical Indian company. They took over the contract from Travisa on July 1, 2013 and the night mare has started for everyone I know. I applied for a PIO card for my daughter and followed the instructions. The website says that one will receive the PIO card in 7 – 10 business days. My friends who had worked with TRAVISA (previos company) in the past said that they all received the PIO/​VISA withing a week. However with BLS they do not honor their own words from their website. I called and they said that it is going to take 3 – 4 weeks.
They have 3 numbers listed on their website and one of the help line number is not is in service. The second helpline number will put you in queue for minute and then says that call back after some time as the agents are busy and drop you from the call. The third number almost always goes to voice mail. However if you continue to redial 100 – 120 times then some one might pickup if you are lucky.
Their website has information scattered all over the place and they keep changing their information on pages and keep moving info from one page to other. For example if you go to PIO section, it tells you what documents are required where to send the application and fees. However if you do not know anyone who has got a PIO from them you will never find out that they need you to send a «Order Form» which is on a separate page/​link or that you need get a pre-​printed barcode address slip from their web site and send it to them using that slip.
A couple of times some of the links did not open at all.
I can go on about lethargic and unhelpful customer service (I prayed hard to god so that they pick up my phone) when I think about BLS.