Get your power of attorney attested by the consulate general of Indian, Houston (Indian embassy).

Many people misunderstand the instructions provided on the CGI website. I  suggest reading the whole instruction (start to finish) at least 4-5 times or keep reading this article to clear your queries 🙂 . Let me help you simplify the process of getting power of attorney attested from the Indian Consulate General of India, Houston via mail (post) and in-person.

Visit Consulate General of India, Houston for more updated and detailed process information Or email to clarify any queries you have at info.houston@mea.gov.in. In case of attesting a Commercial/Agricultural document click here for details regarding the application and fee.

When it’s time to send a power of attorney to India it depends on receiving person (a bank manager, builder, register officer, lawyer, etc.,) as how easy they are with these documents.
You have two options for a power of attorney :
1. Just Notarized – Notarized power of attorney (sign and stamp by notary public) along with other required documents like passport, visa, USA address proof, Aadhaar card, PAN card, etc  which can be notarized or/and self-attested (signed by you), you have to confirm that with the person you are in contact with for power of attorney.
2. Attested by the consulate general of India (Indian embassy) – For getting attested by the consulate general of India you still need to get documents notarized and then get it attested by the Consulate General of India, which depends on if you are sending via mail (post) or through another person or in-person (yourself). This article will provide detailed information about documents required for attestation by the consulate general of India, Houston.

Below document’s check list applies if you are send via mail (post) or through any other person who visit consulate office in-person on your behalf, lets say you ask your friend go Houston on your behalf to get power of attorney attested.

Documents required for attestation of Power of attorney by mail:

1. Form MS-11
2. Notarized Passport copy
3. Notarized valid USA visa
4. Notarized Proof of USA address
5. Notarized power of attorney
6. Copy of Notarized power of attorney
7. Three (3) separate money orders or cashier’s checks
8. 2 photos (one on MS-11 form, second on power of attorney)
9. Shipping label (from your place to consulate)

1. Application form – Form MS-11

• Print this application form for attestation of power of attorney here.
• Fill in all the information correctly.
• If any of the information does not apply to you, do not leave it blank, make a straight line “———” like this or write NA (not applicable).
• Stick one passport-size photo¹ in the box.
• Date, place, and sign on the bottom

1. There is no clear specification mentioned about the photo. I would suggest a recent photo with white background, 2×2 inch should be an acceptable photo specification.

2. Notarized Passport copy

• First three² and last two pages of a valid Indian passport copy³ and get all copy notarized
• Same, if you have the USA or other foreign passport

2. You will see the page number on the bottom corner of your Indian passport
3. If you can print color copy otherwise black & white should be fine as well. Consulate has not mentioned anything about color copy,

3. Notarized valid USA visa

• Valid visa⁴ / Green Card for Indian citizens
• For other citizens of Indian origin attach a copy⁵ of their OCI card or PIO card and Renunciation of Indian Citizenship Certificate if applicable.

4. Valid visa means approved visa, in case your visa is in extension and you have just receipt of visa then you should submit current visa receipt + previous approve visa. Example- H1 extension receipt (I 797C) + previous approved H1 stamp (or I797A)
5. It’s not mentioned that you require a notarized copy of OCI or just a photocopy. I recommend notarizing the OCI card but if anyone got done without notarizing the OCI card please comment below which helps others as well.

4. Notarized Proof of address

• Notarized copy of your⁵ current USA address which can be your Driver’s License or utility bill (water, electricity, gas), or lease agreement. Your attested power of attorney will be returned to this USA address.

5. In case you do not have your current address proof on your name, you can submit notarized address proof on your spouse’s name along with a marriage certificate which will establish your relation.

5. Notarized power of attorney

• You must sign on all the pages of the power of attorney
• The photograph must be pasted on the front⁶ page and signed across the photo.
• Complete Power of Attorney as below and make sure Your name and your father’s name must match your passport (have below information in power of attorney together like your passport number and issued date and place etc, you can insert it at starting of power of attorney when you or your lawyer prepare power of attorney)

 “I (name of applicant), ……… son/daughter of (name of father) …………resident of ……… (address in India and abroad) and holder of Indian/US Passport No. …… issued on …… at …………… PIO/OCI card no …………. issued on …………… at …………… (if applicable) hereby …………….”

6. I have seen power of attorney for many of my clients who glued their photo on the last page and signed across as power of attorney was prepared like that or was required by the party (lawyer, bank manager, etc.) for some reasons and have received their attested power of attorney back. I suggest you can just stick a photo on the first page only or else the last page is fine as well.

6. Copy of notarized power of attorney

• After you have signed, affix the photo and got your power of attorney notarized, make a copy of all the pages and send it along with all other documents. The original POA consulate will stamp it and send you back, while the copy of original (notarized) POA consulate keep for their record.

7. Three (3) separate money orders or cashier checks

• The attestation fee – $20 (twenty dollars)
• + ICWF fee – $2 (two dollars)
• + Return mailing fee $20 (twenty dollars) (No prepaid envelopes are accepted)
• Cashier’s checks / money orders should be drawn in favor of “CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, HOUSTON”  (No blank cashier’s check/money order will be accepted by the consulate

You have to send a Three SEPARATE money order, you can not send one Money order for a total. 
Three cases for a better understanding of how many money orders to send:
Case 1 – If Mr. ABC is giving power to his mother who is in India. Mr. ABC needs his power of attorney attested by CGI Houston then he has to send 3 Money orders amount of $20+$2+$20.
Case 2– If Mr. ABC and his wife Mrs. ABC are giving power to Mr. ABC’s mother who is in India. Mr. A needs his power of attorney attested by CGI Houston then they send a 5 money order as ($20+$2)+($20+$2)+$20. Note that you have to submit all required documents for both Mr. & Mrs ABC.
Case 2– If Mr. ABC and his wife, Mrs. ABC, are giving power to Mr. ABC’s mother, who is in India, they have two POAs. Both Mr. and Mrs. ABC are signing both POAs. In this case, you have to fill out and submit one application per person, but the payment is per person per POA. So, for this case, they will be sending 9 money orders as follows: ($20 + $2) + ($20 + $2) + ($20 + $2) + ($20 + $2) + $20.

8. Two (2) photos

• You need total of 2 recent photo (passport size).
• One you have to affix on application form 
• Affix second on front page of power of attorney and sign cross the photo (half signature on paper half on photo) 

9. Shipping label (from your place to consulate)

• I recommend scanning the whole package and keep a digital copy with yourself (not necessary but I recommend)
• Go to a shipping store such as FedEx and hand them the address, You can find on the application form MS -11 or consulate general of Indian, Houston its “Consular Wing Consulate General of India 4300 Scotland St, Houston, TX, 77007”

After documents are mailed, there is no way to check status. It’s just a waiting game. One thing I would do is to email info.houston@mea.gov.in to the consulate general of India, Houston, and ask about the status. Usually, they will respond back saying to wait for 14 business days but receiving acknowledgment from them is all you need.

Below document’s check list applies only if applicant (which is you, yourself) visit consulate’s office in-person and submit your documents for attestation of power of attorney.

Suggestions:

• Take original for all documents like passport, visa, proof of USA address, extra photo, keep cash with you, an extra copy of power of attorney, and extra blank copy of MS-11 form.
• In-person for attestation of power of attorney, you can visit the consulate general of India (Houston) with all documents on any working day at 10 AM (earlier the better), first come first serve basis.

Documents required for attestation of Power of attorney In-person:

1. Application form – Form MS -11
2. Valid original passport + copy of passport
3. Valid USA visa
4. Proof of USA address – copy
5. Original power of attorney- self-attested
6. Copy of power of attorney
7. Two (2) separate Money orders or pay Cash at the counter
8. Two (2) Photo (one on MS-11 form, second on power of attorney)

1. Application form – Form MS-11

• Print this application form for attestation of power of attorney here.
• Fill in all the information correctly.
• If any of the information does not apply to you, do not leave it blank, make a straight line “———” like this or write NA (not applicable).
• Stick one passport-size photo¹ in the box.
• Date, place, and sign on the bottom

1. There is no clear specification about the photo. I would suggest a recent photo with white background, 2×2 inch should be an acceptable photo specification.

2. Valid Original passport + Copy of passport

• Carry your original passport plus
• Copy³ of the first three² and last two pages of a valid Indian passport
• Same, if you have the USA or other foreign passport

2. you will see the page number on the bottom corner of your Indian passport
3. Consulate has not mentioned anything about color copy, If you can print color copy otherwise black and white should be fine as well

3. Valid USA visa

• Valid visa⁴ / Green Card for Indian citizens
• For other citizens of Indian origin attach a copy of their OCI card or PIO card and Renunciation of Indian citizenship Certificate if applicable (carry all original, just in case).

4.Valid visa means approved visa, in case your visa is in extension and you have just receipt of visa then you should submit current visa receipt + previous approve visa. Example- H1 extension receipt (I 797C) + previous approved H1 stamp (or I797A).

4. Proof of USA address – Copy

• Copy of your⁵ current USA address which can be your Driver’s License, utility bill (water, electricity, gas), or lease agreement.

5. In case you do not have your current address proof on your name, you can submit notarized address proof on your spouse’s name along with a marriage certificate which will establish your relation.

5. Power of attorney 

• You must sign on all the pages of the power of attorney
• Affix the photograph on the front⁶ page and signed across the photo.
• Complete Power of Attorney as below and make sure Your name and your father’s name must match your passport (have below information in power of attorney together like your passport number and issued date and place etc, you can insert it at starting of power of attorney when you or your lawyer prepare power of attorney)

 “I (name of applicant), ……… son/daughter of (name of father) …………resident of ……… (address in India and abroad) and holder of Indian/US Passport No. …… issued on …… at …………… PIO/OCI card no …………. issued on …………… at …………… (if applicable) hereby …………….”

6. Many of my clients glued their photo on the last page and signed across as power of attorney was prepared like that or was required by the party (lawyer, bank manager, etc.) and have received their attested power of attorney without any issue. I suggest you can just stick a photo on the first page only or else the last page is fine as well.

6. Copy of power of attorney

• After you sign and affix a photo on your power of attorney, make a copy of all the pages. The original POA is stamped by the consulate and returned to you, while a copy of the original POA is kept by the consulate for their records.

7. Two (2) separate money orders or pay cash at the counter

• Carry cash with you. Cash is accepted at consulate’s counter OR
• Money orders for the attestation fee $20 (twenty dollars)
• + ICWF fee $2 (two dollars)
• Cashier’s checks / money order should be drawn in favor of “CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, HOUSTON” (No blank cashier’s check/money order  will be accepted by the consulate)

Yes, you have to send a SEPARATE money orders, you can not make one money order/cashier’s check for a total.
Below case will help you understand better:
Case 1 – If Mr. A is giving power to his mother who is in India. Mr. A needs his power of attorney attested by the consulate general of India, Houston then he has to send 2 Money orders amounting to $20+$2.
Case 2 – If Mr. A and his wife Mrs. A are giving power to Mr. A’s mother who is in India. Mr. A needs power of attorney attested by the consulate general of India, Houston then they send 4 money order as ($20+$2)+($20+$2). Note that you have to submit all required documents for both.

8. Two (2) photos

• You need total of 2 photo (passport size).
• One you have to affix on application form 
• Affix second on front page of power of attorney and sign cross the photo (half signature on paper half on photo)

Difference between applying for attestation of POA via mail and in person

1. In person, you get your documents back the same day, while when you mail them, you receive them back in about 10 days.
2. No documents need notary when you submit them in person, while you need to get documents notarized as listed when applying via mail.
3. You do not have to get a shipping label to ship the application, nor do you have to get a $20 money order for return shipping when you apply in person.
4. In person, they accept cash, so you do not have to get any money order; just carry cash.

This article is for Indian passport holder or Foreign passport holder with OCI/PIO card holders. 

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