In a significant move to strengthen diplomatic relations between the United States and India, the US has opened its consulate in Bengaluru. The new consulate aims to streamline visa services for residents of Karnataka and surrounding states, who previously had to travel to Chennai or Hyderabad for US visa processing. The new consulate aims to ease the process particularly for students and professionals from Karnataka, which contributes 37% of India’s software exports. While this new step aims to strengthen economic and political ties between the US and Karnataka, the question remains: Will the consulate handle visa processing right away? Here’s the answer.
Will the Consulate Process Visa?
No, currently it does not process visa applications, and while it is not expected to begin immediately, the process will start in the near future. The services which will be provided from this Consulate will be announced soon.
“While visa services will not be available immediately, we are committed to bringing them here as soon as possible. This consulate will play a pivotal role in fostering collaborations in commerce, science, technology, education, and culture,” US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said at the dedication ceremony on Friday.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge slammed BJP for not starting the visa process. He took to ‘x’ and posted, “BJP MPs should stop misleading people. While the Consulate will be opened soon, it will be only to service Americans and businesses. It will take a while before they start processing Visa from here,”
The decision to establish consulates is made by the respective governments based on the economic significance of a city, not on the whims or personal preferences of BJP MPs or the External Affairs Minister.
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Where is the US Consulate located in Bengaluru?
Bengaluru will have the fifth United States consulate in India. The consulate, temporarily located at JW Marriott Hotel on Vittal Mallya Road, will function with limited staff until a permanent facility is established. More details on the services to be provided by the Consulate will be clarified in the coming weeks.
At first, the consulate will operate with a small team of officers from its temporary location, until the government finalizes a permanent site and fully establishes operations. Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya said that the consulate would benefit lakhs of students and professionals, boost commerce and trade between the two nations, which will also facilitate smoother travel for businessmen and entrepreneurs. He also mentioned that a fully operational US consulate in Bengaluru will be set up soon to directly assist at least half a million people.
History Of The Demand For A US Consulate
Residents of India’s IT capital have long sought a US consulate in the city. The proposal for a US consulate in Bengaluru dates back to 2006. The announcement was made on June 22, 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US. It was recently announced that the US will open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India will set up a mission in Seattle.
However, the opening of the consulate in Bengaluru was delayed. In December 2024, the outgoing US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, shared that the consulate in Bengaluru would ‘hopefully’ open in January 2025.
Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who initiated the idea, highlighted the political hurdles that delayed its establishment on social media. “On May 31, 2018, as Chief Minister, I met then-US Ambassador Kenneth Juster to emphasize Bengaluru’s rightful claim for a US consulate. This success is a testament to Bengaluru’s global significance,” Kumaraswamy stated. The existing US consulates in India are in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
Why In Bengaluru?
Bengaluru is regarded as one of the leading IT hubs, with over 50 percent of US-based companies having a presence there. Around 1,000 multinational companies have offices in the city, many of which also operate in the United States. Furthermore, Bengaluru and Karnataka are home to a significant number of students and businesspeople who travel to and from the US. The new Consulate is expected to benefit US-based companies in Karnataka, along with business travelers and tourists frequently traveling between Karnataka and the US.
