The United States will inaugurate its consulate in Bengaluru on Friday, January 17 fulfilling a long-standing demand for an American Consulate office in the city. Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya announced that the consulate will be dedicated by the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti.
The consulate, set to commence operations on January 17, will be temporarily located at the JW Marriott Hotel on Vittal Mallya Road. This development will allow Bengaluru residents to access US visas and related services locally, reducing the need to travel to cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, or Mumbai. The JW Marriott Hotel currently houses the United States Commercial Service (USCS) office and will serve as the consulate’s temporary base.
Initially, the consulate will operate with a limited number of officers from its temporary location until a permanent site is finalized by the government and operations are fully established. Tejasvi said that the consulate would greatly benefit lakhs of students and professionals, boost commerce and trade between the two nations, and facilitate smoother travel for businessmen and entrepreneurs. He added that a fully operational US consulate in Bengaluru could directly assist at least half a million people.
This development follows the announcement made by US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modi’s 2023 visit to the United States. The leaders revealed plans to establish two new US consulates in India, one in Bengaluru and another in Ahmedabad. Ambassador Garcetti, in earlier remarks, expressed optimism about the consulate’s progress and said, “we’re committed to opening the consulate in Bengaluru, and we hope to make an announcement soon.”