Public Services

Emergency Services

The American Citizen Services Unit provides emergency services to Americans in the event of death, arrest, illness, missing persons, destitution and other circumstances. However, the type of services provided are limited. For general information on the type of services that can be provided, please refer to the State Department's website for travelers: http://travel.state.gov.

A U.S. citizen who wishes to request emergency assistance can call the American Citizen Services Unit during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at (022)23633611, ext. 4134 or 4237. Outside of normal business hours, the person should call the Embassy switchboard at (022) 23633611, and request to speak with the "Duty Officer."  When calling from the United States, begin by dialing 91-22-23633611

Callers in the United States can also call the U.S. Department of State's Office of Overseas Citizen Services toll free at 1-888-407-4747. 

Medical Emergencies (Click here)

The American Citizen Services Unit provides emergency services to Americans in the event of death, arrest, illness, missing persons, destitution and other circumstances. However, the type of services provided are limited. For general information on the type of services that can be provided, please refer to the State Department's website for travelers.

A U.S. citizen who wishes to request emergency assistance can call the American Citizen Services Unit during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at (91-22) 2363-3611, ext. 4306, 4134 or 4237. Outside of normal business hours, the person should call the Embassy switchboard at (91-22) 2363-3611, then dial “0” and request to speak with the "Duty Officer."  When calling from the United States, begin by dialing 011-91-22-. When calling from within India but outside Mumbai, please dial 022-2363-3611.

Death of an American Citizen Abroad

If an American citizen passes away while in India, the Consulate can provide crucial assistance to the family members during this difficult time. For insurance and other purposes, surviving family members need to have a Report of Death Abroad for relatives who have passed away while outside of the United States. In order to issue a Report of Death, the Consular Section will need the following documents:

• Original death certificate issued by the local authorities
  
• Doctor's report with the cause of death listed
  
• Original passport of the deceased
  

If your American citizen friend or relative has died while traveling or residing in India, you can contact the Embassy at 2363-3611. (When calling from the U.S. remember first to dial 011-91-22.)

The Consulate regrets that it does not have funds available to help with the return of remains or other costs associated with funeral arrangements.

The Consulate assists relatives of U.S. citizens who die in India, by communicating with the deceased next-of-kin and following their wishes concerning disposition of remains. Those who make their own arrangements should bring the deceased's passport and the local death certificate to the nearest Embassy or Consulate. A consular officer will cancel the passport, and use the local death certificate to issue a Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen which can be used in the U.S. to settle the estate or in making insurance claims.

Indian regulations require that a deceased person must be cremated, buried or embalmedwithin 72 hours of death. Only the embalmed remains can be held in cold storage until instructions are received from the next-of-kin concerning disposition of the remains.

The Consulate will assist in arranging documentation for those remains to be shipped to the U.S., and oversee the required preparations, but all costs are the responsibility of the family.

Arrest of American Citizen

While traveling or residing in India, American citizens are required to abide by Indian laws. If an American citizen violates Indian law during their time in the country, they are susceptible to prosecution. If an American is arrested in India, someone from the Consulate will visit that person to verify his or her wellbeing, to facilitate communication with family members and to assist the citizen in obtaining legal representation. The Embassy and Consulates General may not pay for your legal representation, however. If your U.S. citizen friend or relative has been arrested in India, please contact the Consulate at 2363-3611. (When calling from the U.S. remember first to dial 011-91-22.) Article 36 of the Vienna Consular Convention obliges the Indian Government to notify an arrestee without delay of the right communicate with an American Consular Officer, and to promptly notify the nearest American Government representative whenever an American is arrested. In practice, however, this does not always happen.

The Indian legal system is based on English common law. An arrested person has the right to consult an attorney before making a statement. Any statement made to the police at the time of arrest or afterward can be used against the defendant in a court of law. The most frequent grounds of arrest for Americans are possession of narcotics (including marijuana) in any amount and customs violations (often, import or export of gold).

Under Indian law, an arrested person must be brought before a magistrate within 24 hours. Offenses are categorized as bailable or non-bailable, but even in bailable cases the court may decline to grant bail if it believes the accused is likely to flee. The basic legal principle is that the accused must be regarded as innocent until proved guilty and if kept in detention before trial, it is to ensure his/her appearance for the trial. However, in practice, bail is often difficult to obtain for foreigners. (Also, see COFEPOSA below).

The law requires detainees to appear before the magistrate every 14 days. Prisoners are entitled to legal aid. When a prisoner is unable to hire an attorney, legal assistance is provided in the court of sessions and the high court. Free legal aid is also provided in the lower court (magistrate's court) upon a prisoner's request.

The jury system has been abolished in India. Cases are tried in first instance before a metropolitan magistrate. An appeal can be made to a higher court. Most court proceedings are in English.

The Consulate's role in an arrest is to ensure that: (1) the arrestee is accorded rights and privileges as guaranteed under the laws of India as they apply to Indian nationals; (2) the arrestee knows the specific charges filed against him/her and is given a reasonably prompt opportunity for defense and (3) the arrestee is not mistreated while in jail or out on bail.

When the Consulate learns of an arrest, a consular representative visits the American in jail as soon as possible, provides a list of local attorneys, and offers to assist in notifying and/or obtaining funds from relatives or friends.

The Consulate cannot demand or obtain the release of a prisoner. A U.S. passport does not entitle its bearer to any special privileges in local courts. While in India, an American citizen is subject to Indian law, just as an Indian in the United States is subject to American law. The Consulate makes every effort to ensure that arrested or jailed American citizens receive fair and humane treatment from local authorities, and that legal and other needs are met. Any mistreatment of a prisoner should be reported immediately to the Consulate.

Welfare and Whereabouts

If your American citizen friend or relative is traveling or residing in India and you have reason to be concerned about their welfare or need to contact them in an emergency, the Embassy can be of some assistance in attempting to locate and make contact with the missing American citizen. Click here for detailed information on what services the Embassy can provide. If you wish to check on the welfare and whereabouts of an American Citizen in India, please contact the Consulate at 2363-3611. (When calling from the U.S. remember first to dial 011-91-22.)

 

Financial Emergencies

If an American citizen's money has been lost or stolen, the Consulate can assist that person in obtaining funds from friends or relatives in the U.S. For more information on how the Consulate can assist Americans traveling or residing in India to receive money transferred from the U.S., click here. If you need assistance in transferring funds to assist an American citizen in an emergency situation in India, please contact the Consulate at 2363-3611. (When calling from the U.S. remember first to dial 011-91-22.)

Transfer Of Funds: Many American banks are affiliated with Indian banks and will readily transfer funds. However, the traveler must know to which bank in India the funds are being sent. The only American banking services in Mumbai are American Express, Citibank and the Bank of America , with branches in New Delhi, Calcutta and Chennai (Madras). American Express does not process funds for persons who are not AMEX credit card holders or whose bank is not an American Express affiliate. Citibank advises that fund transfers from the United States generally take from 7 to 14 days. Western Union offers a money transfer service to participating SITA travel agents in 15 cities in India. For more information , contact a SITA agency if in India, or call Western Union 1-800-325-6000 if in the United States.

The following is the list of cities and numbers for Western Union locations throughout India:

Agra 91 568 363 922
Ahmedabad 91 272 409 105
Bangalore 91 812 578 091
Bhubaneshwar 91 674 404 408
Bombay 91 22 340 668
Calcutta 91 33 297 185
Cochin 91 484 353 012Hyderabad 91 842 233 628
Jaipur 91 141 682 26
Kanpur 91 512 211 458
Madras 91 44 478 801
New Delhi 91 11 33 111 22
Pune 91 212 668 707
Sikandarabad 91 842 834 137
Varanasi 91 542 429 45

In a genuine emergency, an American citizen can have funds transferred from the United States through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, Washington, D.C. The sender should first contact the State Department at 202-647-5226 in Washington D.C. for information on how to send money. When notified by the State Department, the Consulate releases the amount in rupees or U.S. dollars to the citizen in distress. Americans are cautioned that this facility is available only in a true emergency, when time does not allow transfer of funds through normal banking channels. It is not meant for the routine transfer of money. Funds cannot exceed the amount required to resolve the emergency situation. Large sums (over $1000) should be avoided. Funds transferred in this way are not to be used for commercial transactions. If funds are repeatedly received via the State Department, the Consulate, following current instructions, will be left with no alternative but to return the remittance.

Please click here for more detailed information on the types of services that are available to Americans in trouble overseas.

If your American citizen friend or relative is traveling or residing in India and you have reason to be concerned about their welfare or need to contact them in an emergency, the Consulate can be of some assistance in attempting to locate and make contact with the missing American citizen. for detailed information on what services the Consulate can provide. If you wish to check on the welfare and whereabouts of an American Citizen in India, please contact the Consulate at 2363-3611. (When calling from the U.S. remember first to dial 011-91-22.)