About Us Life Certificate

Life Certificate

How to Apply:

Applying in Person

Applicants can walk-in to avail Life Certificate service from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Monday to Friday).

Applying by Mail:
Send the application to the following address:
Miscellaneous Cell
Consulate General of India - San Francisco
540 Arguello Boulevard;
San Francisco CA 94118

Fee: 

For Pension purpose(s) – Life Certificate is Gratis. A non-refundable fee of US$2.00 (Two Only) towards Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) per application. For subsequent copies, US$ 2.00 (Two only) each must be paid by applicant.

For purpose(s) other than pension - A non-refundable fee of US $ 20.00(Twenty Only) and an additional fee of US$2.00 (Two Only) towards Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) per application. For subsequent copies, US$ 20.00 (Twenty only) each must be paid by applicant.

Fees should be paid through Money order or Cashiers’ cheque only drawn in favor of the ‘Consulate General of India, San Francisco’NO BLANK CHECK/MONEY ORDER WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE CONSULATE. Cash, Personal Cheques, Credit Cards, Debit Cards or other banking instruments are not accepted.

Supporting documents and processing instructions:

Applying in-person: Carry originals of all the supporting documents to be presented to the Consular Officer (photocopies of which are to be attached with the application).

Applying by Mail: Submit notarized copies of all the supporting documents. No originals to be submitted by post.

  1. Miscellaneous Services Form – Submit a duly filled and signed Miscellaneous Application form along with the following supporting documents. Each applicant is required to fill up separate Miscellaneous Application form and affix his/her photograph on the same.

  2. Copy of Passport (first and last page) [submit a notarized copy if sent by mail]

  3. Proof of your US Visa Status [any one of the following; submit a notarized copy if sent by mail]
    Photocopy of the page containing visa on passport (H1B, H4 etc.) and the copy of I-94.
    Clear Photocopy of Green Card
    Employment Authorization Document (Work Permit)
    I-797, I-140 or I-20 (If approval copy of these notices is pending, attach a handwritten note detailing the efforts being taken to regularize status)

  4. Proof of current US residence address [any one of the following; submit a notarized copy if sent by mail]
    U.S Driving license.
    PG&E, Water or landline telephone bill displaying applicant’s address
    House Lease Agreement
    State Identification Card
    Note: Bank/credit card/mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence proof


  5. Applicants for pension purpose may submit a self-attested copy of the PPO/ pension book/bank documents of pension.

  6. Applicants applying for Life Certificate other than pension purpose may provide reasons for the same in a self-attested statement.

  7. Life Certificate (to be submitted in two sets – one for attestation and one for office record): Submit duly filled Life Certificate Form for attestation. Applicants can also submit copy of the Life Certificate provided by the concerned department. The document has to be duly notarized if sent by mail.

  8. If the applicant is on B1/B2 visa “visiting his/her kids in United States”, following additional documents should be submitted. (Applicant should not have overstayed the Visa)
    a letter from your children stating the context and requesting the service for the parents.
    Your children’s current passport copy (Indian/US), Visa Status, Proof of address.
    Proof of relationship [ex- copy of Indian Passport with Parent’s name; Birth Certificate etc.]
    Copy of applicant’s i-94 form.

  9. If applying by mail - Please enclose a trackable pre-paid self-addressed return mailing envelope (USPS 'Express Mail' or UPS etc.,) for dispatching the processed documents.

    Processing time:
    For in-person appointment - It's a same day service. Delivery of Documents: 04.00 pm to 04.45 pm (same day).
    For postal mail - documents are processed within a week of being received at the Consulate.

  10. In case the Consulate receives applications with incomplete documentation/fee, the same would be sent back unprocessed in the return envelope sent by the applicant.

  11. If any, queries shall be routed to misc.sf@mea.gov.in

 FAQs - Miscellaneous Services

 

Consular Services