New Indian Consulate Opens in Seattle's Historic Federal Reserve Building

Houston/Seattle, Aug 27 (PTI) - The Consulate General of India in Seattle has unveiled its new chancery, inaugurated by Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra.

The chancery is strategically positioned at 1015 2nd Avenue, located within the historic Federal Reserve Building. This building, which served as the Seattle branch of the Federal Bank of San Francisco from 1951 to 2008, gained recognition on the US National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The Consular Section, offering public services, occupies the first floor, while the 11th floor hosts the Administrative and Commercial wings, as mentioned in a press release.

The inauguration event witnessed the presence of Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson, US Senator Maria Cantwell, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, marking the official establishment of the sixth Indian Consulate in the US. This initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2023.

The consulate began its operations from a temporary site in November 2023 and has, since July 2024, extended its services to 23,722 applicants across nine US states, including Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska, the press note highlighted.

Following the inauguration, Ambassador Kwatra engaged with the Indian American community, senior technology leaders from Seattle, and Washington State's elected officials, including Indian-origin leaders holding public office.

The website of the Indian mission in Seattle states that around 4.4 million Indian Americans or Indian-origin individuals reside in the US, with 3.18 million persons of Indian origin making up the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the country. Indian Americans have distinguished themselves in varied fields, including politics. As of March 2025, six persons of Indian origin serve in the US Congress.

The Indian student population, numbering 300,000, contributes over USD 8 billion annually to the US economy, generating numerous direct and indirect employment opportunities.

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