I thought I will share my experience and capture the processes around this activity - Maybe this thread can become a knowledge base for anyone seeking information on how to renew or apply for Indian passports. (admittedly this is a 'Bangalore' experience - but I am told the same process is being rolled out across the country)
Firstly - in Bangalore- they have set up PASSPORT SEVA KENDRA's to process all applications. RPO no longer accepts any application directly. Details can be had here - http://passportindia.gov.in. They also have a very useful 24x7 helpline 1800 258 1800. Upon calling them this is what I was told....
MY PASSPORT
1. I needed to get my Passport address changed to the current one.
For which a copy of the first two and the last two pages of my Passport Plus those pages which capture any other endorsements like ECNR etc are required.
PLUS
A Copy of Land Line Bill (in my case BSNL.. but they accept Airtel also) - HOWEVER - along with the latest bill they also need us to produce any bill over ONE YEAR OLD .. apparently to prove we have been living in the same house for over a year.
(In case you have lived in multiple houses in the last one year you will have to provide multiple address proofs for all of them. )
MY WIFE's PASSPORT
1. Her old passport issued from Cochin expired in 2002. She needed a new passport with the current address
Unfortunately she did not have a single address proof in her name. The Gas, telephone etc was all in my name. Luckily her name was already included in my passport - hence we included a copy of my passport, and our marriage certificate and they agreed to accept the same tel bills as address proof (apparently as an exception - they had just changed the rule the previous day only. So please ensure your wife has SOME address proof in her name before applying for a Passport)
2. Spouse's Name to be included.
Copy of the marriage certificate.
3. Name change from Maiden name to married name.
Copy of the marriage certificate. You will have to mention the maiden name in the appropriate column in the application form too.
KIDS PASSPORTS
Please note that it is mandatory for both parents to have their names endorsed in each others passport for this to become easy. Else getting a passport for children will involve a lot of affidavits etc. Since we were all applying together, and since my wife's name WAS ALREADY endorsed in my passport, it went thru without any problem.
We submitted
1) Their BIRTH CERTIFICATE issued by the Municipality/Registrar of Birth and Death. (mandatory -they will not accept anything else).
2) A copy of my passport -first two and the last two sheets - PLUS the page showing wife's name endorsement.
3) Address Proof
4) A thing called ANNEXURE 'H' which you will find on their website. Its basically a joint application cum declaration from both parents on white paper.
5) Linked our file numbers (both parents) to their file number.
THE PROCESS FLOW
Our research showed us that they give only 100 tokens per day for walk-ins - and the queue for this starts at midnight itself!(they give out the tokens only at 8.00am everyday)
We were in no hurry. So we decided to go the APPOINTMENT route. We went to the PSK website - http://passportindia.gov.in
- We created our user ID.
- Filled out and uploaded each of our applications online.
- used the website to schedule the PSK appointment .. in our case the first available slot was an entire month away - I applied on 15th July and the earliest slot available was 12th August!!
- Take a print out of the appointment sheet. YOU WILL NEED TO SCHEDULE EACH APPOINTMENT INDIVIDUALLY.
Then CHILL for the month or so... get your paperwork in order.
Our appointment was for noon today. With all the ORIGINALS & ample self attested copies in hand, we landed up at the PSK at Bellandur at 11.45am. Mind you - EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON - in this case all of us went .. me, my wife and both kids (took chutti from school!).
- At the entrance you will find half a dozen security staff. Ensure you flash the print out of the appointment you had taken (INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS PLS else they will not allow you in!). They will check your name against their list of appointments for the day and after the mandatory frisking you are allowed into the token area. Time taken ten mins (we were four of us and they were methodical)
- At the counter give the printouts across - your documents will be checked to ensure you are carrying the necessary supporting documents and then a BAR CODED token is issued.
- You will then be ushered thru another security check/metal detector into the holding area. This holding area has drinking water, the loos, and a xerox cum tea-coffee-biscuits vendor. Time taken another 10 mins (to generate four tokens)
- To give you an idea of their efficiency we had barely sat down and our token was called out (advantages of taking an appointment). We were ushered into yet another hall with three rows of cubicles in three categories - A, B and C .. all serially numbered. There must have been some 20-25 'A' cubicles. We were asked to go to a particular A cubicle. Hand over your token and there a TCS customer service rep helped us retrieve the application we had filed online, collected all SELF ATTESTED copies of the required docs, verified it against originals, and scanned and uploaded them into the system. She then took a digital photograph (using a 10MP Canon Powershot for those who are interested) and fingerprinted us. She then allowed us to verify the final application for correctness of information/spellings etc. Then she tells you how much it'll cost you - fork over your money (1000 for normal 10 yr passports and 600 for 5yr ones for kids ). She then submits the whole file and the unique file number is generated. She will then print out the application form - which now has your mug shot innit - and ask you to sign in all designated areas. You will be asked to sign the receipt as well. She will then put the whole thing in a brown paper file - write your name, details and file number on it and give it back to you. Time taken 1 hr (about 15 mins per person)
- We then move to the adjoining Section 'B' where all the officials from Passport office sit. They are called VO - VERIFICATION OFFICERS. There are about 9-12 such counters and you await your turn - which is almost immediate. Your file number will be called out - you approach the designated counter and hand over the file you have just put together to the official sitting there. He will peruse the documents given , check it against the original, ask for more if required, and OKAY your file. Time taken - 20 mins in my case - five mins per application.
- You collect your file and move to the 'C' Section. This is where the GO - GRANTING OFFICERS sit. There are only FOUR counters. (notice the decreasing numbers) It takes the longest here - We had to wait for about 2.5 hrs thanks to the lunch break(1.30-2.15)... but it can take you at least one hour or more before your turn comes. The Granting officer will go thru your file, can either accept the docs give, or ask for additional requirements. In effect she will either 'GRANT' or 'HOLD' your application. He or she will also decide if your case qualifies for a Police pre-verification, post verification or NO verification. If they accept your file they will tell you so, stamp CANCELLED in your old passport and give it back to you....You say thank you, flash a smile filled with gratitude and get up and move calmly towards the exit. Time taken five-ten mins each file/person.
-At the exit they will ask for your TOKEN and the FEE RECEIPT. Both the fee receipt and your Token are bar coded. They scan that and the system generates an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER clearly stating all salient features .. of the services sought (new/reissue PP, name change, endorsement etc etc), documents given, status whether granted or not, and type of Police verification, etc.. They will take a print out of the same, staple your receipt to it and give it to you. You will find a touch screen facing you which will ask you to rate their services across four parameters.. you click the response of your choice and the security will let you out.
THE END!
We went in at NOON and were out by 4.15pm. This included the lunch break that we got caught in (so those who fix appointments may want to factor this in) We find that mine and the kids passports have been okay-ed without the need for ANY police verification. My wife's however will need Police verification since her passport was issued in Cochin and had expired in 2002.Coupled to that she also did not have an address-proof of her own in her name... hence.
I am told that the Passports without verification lands in less than 7 days.. lets see how long this takes! Tatkal is 3 days flat and will cost you 1500 per PP extra. The ambition of the project is to ensure they bring the TAT down to 3 and 1 day respectively! Will be remarkable when they do!
Status of your application can be checked online at http://passportindia.gov.in .. ... as can be any other information you seek. Amongst other things, they have a very helpful document assistant on their website to help you figure out what you might need (pls bear in mind however that the APO/GO may decide to call for additional documents - I recommend calling their helpline on 1800 258 1800 one day prior to your appointment to reconfirm requirements. Please carry additional documentation just in case!
All in all a very good experience!
We now await the postman!
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