This attempts to be a humourous distillate of the process in Bangalore for applying for re-issue of passport - this is as far as I have understood it and what I am experiencing at the moment.
The new passport seva kendras are the only places where you can submit your documents and apply for passports. The whole process has to be initiated via the internet by downloading the requisite forms and keeping the necessary documents ready, then creating an user id for passportindia.gov.in and "managing one's appointment" via the net.
For example for reissue of passport (in cases pages are over or getting over) + inclusion of spouse name + perhaps, address change, one needs the following documents.
SITE:
Passport Seva Portal
1. Application Form (PDF file downloadable from the site)
2. Address Proof document: Could be Mobile (postpaid) bill - one bill of last calendar year and one bill of current calendar year
3. Marriage certificate with joint photo
4. FORM D - Affidavit - stating marriage details + joint photo
5. Original passport (s) + 2 self attested photocopies of first 2 pages (including ECNR page)and last 2 pages of the same.
6. 2 Photos.
7. Cost of service Rs 1500 - payable by cash or card.
All the documents can be uploaded to the site and submitted in this way - only all of them need to be in PDF format only - size limit 1MB max each.
As I understand it, one needs to go to the PSK as per the appointment date - 30 minutes before the appointment time along with all the submitted documents in original and the self attested photocopies and then submit the same.
I also understand that they no longer use the standard passport size photos - they take photos of the person at the PSK using a Web Cam or VGA system like they do when one registers a property etc.
One can no longer go and stand in queue at the Regional Passport office like one used to be able to do earlier. Further, one can no longer use the services of agents for passport renewal/ re-issue or whatever.
One cant even go to these Passport Seva Kendras without an appointment as they wont let one in unless in cases of extreme medical emergency - (I can just imagine a heart patient or cancer patient who has to fly to the US or the UK for treatment being made to go through this - since one has to appear in person for the passport procedures).
My recent experience has been that the appointments are only available via "normal" mode around 40-45 days from the current date since there appears to be a lot of pressure on the system. At least this seems to be the scenario in Bangalore.
One can try and book a Tatkaal appointment by paying Rs 3000/- (double the normal charge). The internet based appointment token lottery system opens up sharp at 8am in the morning and one is able (in case one is lucky) to book an appointment for the very next day only. One cannot bid for or book a Tatkaal appointment for even 2-3 days in the future - only for the very next day.
Further, the Tatkaal system is operational from 8am Sunday through 8am Thursday. It is not operational on Fridays because Saturday and Sunday are non working days. It is also shut on all public holidays. The PSK is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
This could be a big challenge considering the number of people trying to logon at 8 am each day (on the relevant days) and book a Tatkaal appointment. Imagine then the scenario the next day - all those who failed to secure the appointment would again be logged on at 8am like lemmings, poised over their mouses (mice??!!) with itchy trigger fingers, licking their parched lips in anticipation of the big moment, drool dripping from the corners of their insensate mouths, eyeballs glued with superglue to their flickering LCD monitors/screens, waiting for the page to refresh asap, plus all the new chaps who decided that they wanted an appointment the next day would barge into the internets virtual queue and cause the page to refresh, but agonizingly slowly!
This would then become like an endless cycle on account of the massive and endless backlog that is being generated each day -rather like a hellish moebius strip, from where there is no escape until one either dies or goes completely mad.
Hence, getting a Tatkaal appointment would appear to be a little like playing Russian Roulette on the internet but without the loaded gun bit!
If one calls their famous "hell-line" (helpline) 1800-258-1800 (it is open for calls from 8am to 10pm daily except Saturdays and Sundays), one will be met with a very soft voice with a "being-helpful-with-gritted- teeth" sounding approach and a determinedly patient-sounding lady at the other end who will simply keep repeating (parrotwise) that they regret they are unable to assist with appointments and that the only way is to keep trying the Tatkaal method until one gets the appointment. "This is the process saar. What we can do saar? Please to be using internet website saar and so on." Else one is advised to be patient and go the "normal" route.
No amount of cajoling or coaxing or trying to explain that their methodology and/or logic is completely flawed, (with respect to "Tatkaal appointments being available only for the very next day"), will result in any kind of positive action - just a saccharine sweet "stock" reply will be elicited, ad nauseam.
By this time one is probably on the edge of a breakdown and has already ripped one's scalp open with one's frustrated and unsuccessful efforts to pull out one's little remaining hair.
It s been a truly educational and eye-opening experience so far. So I ve just booked an appointment via the internet on the normal quota. The appointment is fixed for a distant date in the future (end of May 2011) and I shall present myself quietly on that date to do the needful.
I understand that once the documents are submitted and accepted, the passport document will be re-issued and reach the applicant within 7-8 days maximum.
I shall be content with that, for now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghodlur Should not be a problem. You can apply for an re issue of passport. If you need it urgently then apply through Tatkal, will take 8-10 days for the passport. Thats the least time taken by the passport office.
Why do you need an agent for that when you can do it yourself? Apply online and take an appointment. Have all the documents in place (2 sets atleast) and visit the passport office on the appointment day, submit the docs, pay the fee and you are done. Wait till the passport arrives. No need to pay extra to any one. |