India, Sept. 1 -- The US Embassy will enforce stricter passport collecting regulations, marking a significant policy shift for visa applicants in India, beginning August 1.

Applicants will now get only two choices to obtain their passport or visa, as per revised instructions on the USTravelDocs website:

The options are home delivery at Rs.1,200 or self-collection from the assigned center.

The previous clause permitting friends, agents, or other representatives to pick up passports on applicants' behalf has been withdrawn.

The action was taken "to ensure the safety and security of applicants' passports/documents," according to an embassy announcement.

A parent or legal guardian must pick up a minor's passport if they are under the age...