(Image source from: The New York Times)

The Consulate General of India in New York has launched a new portal with an intent to streamline queries accompanying visa, passport, and a number of other consular services.

Named ‘Pramit’, a short form for ‘Pravasi Mitr’, which virtually means ‘friends of diaspora’, the portfolio was launched as the consulate was receiving calls from sheer number of people everyday and many callers have to either wait in line for their turn or have to email and then wait for a response.

The consulate says, Pramit, just like its name, intends to be a friendly medium that can answer thousands of queries directed towards the mission in the most efficient way.

Anyone submitting a query on the website will get a case number. Using that number, one can also check the status.

The consulate has one of the largest the largest jurisdictions of all Indian missions in the United States.

The new medium, the consulate says, will cut down the wait time, while also ensuring that the queries are directed to the right places in the most efficient manner.

Any resident of the United States, whether a citizen of Indian, the U.S. or any country, who may have any questions pertaining to Indian travel, passport, visa, commerce, education or any general query, can make use of Pramit, according to the consulate.

By Sowmya Sangam