Boston is a beautiful and bustling city, famous for its rich history, thriving art scene, and of course its legendary seafood. It's a great place to live, especially for those with an interest in the Desi community. But even so, residents and visitors will occasionally be enticed to leave. Travelers from Boston will find, like all other international jet-setters, than passage to India may take less time than it took for their ancestors, but that there exist massive setbacks waiting to entrap anyone who forgoes basic preparation. In the modern era of significant delays, esoteric rules and regulations, complex paperwork systems that can often be confusing, and a generally hurried and overstressed mental atmosphere, it is of paramount importance to empower yourself with information and preparation to ensure that your trip starts off without a hitch. The Indian Embassy and the Consulate General of India Boston are two agencies in place specifically to aid travelers and other parties interested in US-India relations and regulations. FunduSearch is here to act as your guide to these valuable resources; a basic introduction, below, will help to get you started.


The Embassy of India in the heart of Washington, D.C., is meant to be accessed and used by both American and Indian citizens with an interest in the countries' relations, or with special problems or issues related to transit, residence, and law. The agency specializes in connecting its patrons with quick and expert assistance, and is the working place of Ambassador Ronen Sen, who comes from a very experienced and learned background in foreign affairs and previously served as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The embassy offers information on current inter-country relations, and provides a list of links to consulates and services throughout the country. The services offered by the Embassy are easily accessible for Bostonians online, while telephone inquiries are also welcomed, and those with special needs can make a quick commute to the nation's capital to visit the Embassy in person.


The Consulate General of India in New York handles all consular issues and inquiries for New England states, including Massachusetts. You can easily apply for an Indian passport online. To do so, whether you need a first passport or a renewal, visit the application page and review the list of necessary steps before printing, filling, and sending in your application. Processing can take several weeks even for those applications which are complete and do not contain errors, so it's a good idea to allow ample time and send in your paperwork as soon as possible after you know you'll be traveling.


Citizens of the United States making a journey to India for any reason or length of time excepting official and diplomatic missions will need to obtain an Indian visa through Travisa. Travisa's website allows you to apply for a visa online; you can fill out the application and send it electronically, print it for sending via postal mail, or visit the New York office to file your application in person. Information on which type of visa is appropriate for your stay, as well as other vital travel tips, abound in the agency's vast educational section.


These resources for Boston area Desis are but the tip of the iceberg at FunduSearch, where listings for the entire city include directions and reviews for everything from restaurants and movers to banks and pharmacies.