VFS Global Launches Exclusive Netherlands Passport and ID Application Centre in the United States of America
MEDIA INFORMATION
Chicago, 26 March, 2019
VFS Global launches exclusive Netherlands Passport and ID Application Centre in the United States of America
The Centre in Chicago will manage the processing of Dutch passport and ID card applications The Netherlands is the first Schengen government for which VFS Global offers passport and ID card services Similar centres to be launched in other major cities in Canada and Australia later this year
VFS Global has launched The Netherlands Passport and ID Application Centre in Chicago, Illinois, as an extension to its visa processing services, on behalf of the Government of The Netherlands.
The centre will accept first applications for a Dutch passport or ID card, as well as applications for renewals. The key services delivered at the centre are:
Passport Application processing for Adults (New & Renewal) Passport Application processing for Minors (New & Renewal) Business Passport Application processing (New & Renewal) ID Card Application processing (New & Renewal) ID Card Application processing for minors (New & Renewal)
Dutch citizens resident in Chicago, Illinois, and other neighboring states in the Mid-West will benefit from this new centre, as it will streamline passport and ID card services for applicants and significantly reduce the waiting time for appointment bookings and application processing.
The centre, located at 142 East Ontario, Suite# 1700, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA, was inaugurated on 26 March 2019 by Mr. Louis Piët, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chicago.
Commenting at the ceremony, Mr. Louis Piët, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chicago, said, “Three-and-half years have passed since Dutch citizens have been able to renew and apply for a passport in Chicago. People had to travel to Washington DC or New York. This was very burdensome for some folks. But as they say here in the US, the squeaky wheels get the grease, which in this case is the partnership we made with VFS Global to process passport applications.”
Also present at the ceremony were key Dutch Ministry representatives of the Consular Affairs Department, including Ms. Jeannette Verkerk, Implementation Manager External Service Providers and Ms. Anja Kienecker, Dutch Travel Document Specialist.
The opening of the new centre in Chicago marks the launch of the first-ever Netherlands Passport and ID
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Application Centre in the Americas region. Later this year, similar centres will also be launched in other major cities in Canada and Australia. The contract to open these centres was awarded to VFS Global in 2018. Swiftly after winning the contract, a Netherlands Passport and ID Application Centre was launched in London in November 2018, followed by the centre in Chicago.
As an added convenience to residents in the area travelling to the Netherlands, VFS Global also provides proficiently managed visa application submission services on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from the same centre in Chicago.
While The Netherlands is the first Schengen government for which VFS Global provides passport and ID card services, the company also offers passport services for the UK, India, and Ghana.
Key benefits for applicants at the passport centre in Chicago: Flexible ‘prime time’ services for submissions outside of regular office hours (0700 hrs to 0830hrs on Monday to Friday, and 0830 hrs to 1230 hrs on Saturdays) Quick appointment availability and faster turnaround times for receipt of processed documentation Application tracking facility from the time the application is submitted Dedicated email for applicant queries
Chris Dix, Head of Business Development for VFS Global, said, “The passport and ID card services at the new centre in Chicago will significantly improve customer service, and we are delighted to extend our partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Americas region to include consular services. This extension to Chicago signifies our commitment towards raising the bar for streamlined government services and to developing a stronger network of Passport and ID Application Centres on behalf of the Government of The Netherlands.”
VFS Global has been providing visa services for the Government of the Netherlands since 2006 and currently operates 80 Visa Application Centres across 37 countries for this client government.
About VFS Global
VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has Swiss parentage and is a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With 2992 Application Centres, operations in 143 countries across five continents and over 191 million applications processed as on 31 January 2019, VFS Global is the trusted partner of 62 client governments.
Media Contact Sukanya Chakraborty [email protected] [email protected]
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