If a U.S. citizen’s money has been lost or stolen in India, the Embassy/Consulate can help receive funds from friends or relatives in the U.S. If you need help in transferring funds to an American citizen in India, please contact your local Embassy/Consulate.
The most efficient way to get money to a U.S. citizen in India is to deposit money in that person’s U.S. bank account, and have the person withdraw the money in India using an ATM card.
If that option is not possible, we suggest wiring money through Western Union by following the instructions on their website. You may also contact them in India by phone at 1-800-425-1851 or 080-2222-1851.
Funds Transfer
If neither the ATM nor Western Union option is possible, you can do a funds transfer through a bank. Please be advised that this service can take up to 14 days for the cash to become available in India.
Many American banks are affiliated with Indian banks and will readily transfer funds. Please ask your American bank for information. American banks with branches in India include American Express, Citibank and the Bank of America.
American Express does not assist persons who are not cardholders. Citibank advises that funds transfers can take up 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 travel agency if you are in India, or call Western Union at 800-325-6000 if you are in the U.S.
Emergency Funds Transfer to the Embassy
In a genuine emergency, a U.S. citizen can have funds transferred from the U.S. through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), Department of State, Washington, DC.
Please contact OCS at 888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444) for information on how to send money. When the Embassy/Consulate receives notification from the State Department, funds are released in rupees or dollars to the U.S. citizen recipient.
This service is for true emergencies only, when time does not allow transfer of funds through normal banking channels. Funds should not exceed the amount needed to resolve the emergency situation and should not be used for commercial transactions. Large sums (over $1,000) should be avoided.
More Information on Financial Emergencies Overseas
Kolkata
For the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and West Bengal
The 24-hour phone number for the Consulate is 3984-2400 (if you are calling from the United States, first dial 011-91-33-)
The email address is kolkataACS@state.gov
Hyderabad
For the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha
The 24-hour phone number for the Consulate is 4033-8300 (if you are calling from the United States, first dial 011-91-40-)
The email address is hydacs@state.gov
Chennai
For the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The 24-hour phone number for the Consulate is 2857-4000 (if you are calling from the United States, first dial 011-91-44-)
The email address is chennaics@state.gov
Mumbai
For the Indian states of Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Diu and Daman, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli
The 24-hour phone number for the Consulate is 2672-4000 (if you are calling from the United States, first dial 011-91-22-)
The email address is mumbaiacs@state.gov
New Delhi
For the Indian states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the country of Bhutan
The 24-hour phone number for the Embassy is 2419-8000 (if you are calling from the United States, first dial 011-91-11-)
The email address is acsnd@state.gov
