[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Just curious - no one here seems to be raving about the OUTSOURCED Passport Seva Kendras.

The one in Gurgaon (outsourced to TCS/CMC) is brilliant. Tidy place, knowledgeable staff and manageable queues.

SUPER FAST too - gave application for renewal on Thursday - same Sunday policeman came by for verification!

Negatives:
a. They have some random BPO types logic to disallow laptops/iPads and locker/stowaway provisions are obviously not given, of course!!
b. They open at 9, but the granting officers (RPO staff) turn up only at 10. Then there can always be IT problems. So best take afternoon/post lunch slots - less queues.

Lucky guy! I gave my passport for renewal on the 3 rd day after they had opened the Gurgaon PSK, Sep 14 th to be precise, and today is 1 st Dec and still haven't got my passport in hand. Even my PVR was completed within a week but still no sign of the passport yet. The status now shows PVR completed on 11/11/11 and now passport application approved on 25/11. Still waiting for my passport.
Really miss the days when Dad was in MEA and we used to get our Diplomatic passports made in 3 hours!
Alas, now we are a commoner, as Dad retired long time back.

Ps: unfortunately the MEA staff is opposing the privatization of this activity to TCS and often trying to undermine the PSK operations, they were also recently on strike against this.

Regards,
Behemoth

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by Behemoth

Ps: unfortunately the MEA staff is opposing the privatization of this activity to TCS and often trying to undermine the PSK operations, they were also recently on strike against this.

yes, there was an article highlighting this issue between the TCS & Passport office people. Anyway, things will be slow but keep going.

I remember the days when similar facility management was introduced in customs, and now I am sure both agents and commissioners are appreciating those.

Anyway, I thought of updating my status about the passport renewal.

Submitted on 22nd Nov, and yesterday had the PV done. Let's see how long it might take to get my hand on the passport.

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by mjothi

yes, there was an article highlighting this issue between the TCS & Passport office people. Anyway, things will be slow but keep going.

I remember the days when similar facility management was introduced in customs, and now I am sure both agents and commissioners are appreciating those.

Anyway, I thought of updating my status about the passport renewal.

Submitted on 22nd Nov, and yesterday had the PV done. Let's see how long it might take to get my hand on the passport.

I finally got my passport on 3rd December.. after 80 days of the application. In the online system, I had also put in a grievance on the 24th Nov, after which the processing probably happened. It is useful and is an internal escalation process - so for people who find a delay in their passports can use this.

Regards,
Behemoth

[amitoj]

Guys, whats the procedure now for getting an appointment at the PSKs in Bangalore? Earlier, we could get an appointment if we tried the website at 8AM. A colleague of mine is trying to book an appointment but this 8AM method is not working. Heard that they have shifted the time for opening the booking to 6PM? And that unless you have high speed broadband, the website will die on you?

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Amitoj

[vista_qjd]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Guys, whats the procedure now for getting an appointment at the PSKs in Bangalore? Earlier, we could get an appointment if we tried the website at 8AM. A colleague of mine is trying to book an appointment but this 8AM method is not working. Heard that they have shifted the time for opening the booking to 6PM? And that unless you have high speed broadband, the website will die on you?

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Amitoj

Start trying from 6:00 PM onwards. Doesnt matter if the connection is slow. There are enough slots available and if you keep trying you should be able to get it. The site can become a bit slow to respond sometimes, but keep refreshing and trying.
Overall very satisfied with the process - got my passport in 3 days flat.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Guys, whats the procedure now for getting an appointment at the PSKs in Bangalore? Earlier, we could get an appointment if we tried the website at 8AM. A colleague of mine is trying to book an appointment but this 8AM method is not working. Heard that they have shifted the time for opening the booking to 6PM? And that unless you have high speed broadband, the website will die on you?

Amitoj, try after 6PM. It shouldnt be all that difficult once you get to know the time after which the slots are released for booking. I was able to get my date of choice and also submitted my passport for re-issue. It's a different story that despite submitting my passport on the same day as mjothi, he has had the Police Verification completed, while no news of mine!

[joecherian]

Have booked a slot for tomorrow. Surprisingly, the slots for tuesday was open on sunday evening itself and hence managed to get a slot.

[joecherian]

Can anyone give me the directions to Sai Arcade PSK when driving from Marthahalli to sarjapur road ORR junction.

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

It's a different story that despite submitting my passport on the same day as mjothi, he has had the Police Verification completed, while no news of mine!

Yup. It is strange. I am yet to get the passport and the status is still the same - waiting for PV!!!

Originally Posted by joecherian

Have booked a slot for tomorrow. Surprisingly, the slots for tuesday was open on sunday evening itself and hence managed to get a slot.

Yes, Sunday you can book for Tuesday. It shows Monday too, if any slot available.

Originally Posted by joecherian

Can anyone give me the directions to Sai Arcade PSK when driving from Marthahalli to sarjapur road ORR junction.

Its right opp to the Intel office. Dont worry, there are huge signs where you need to take a U-Turn for Passport office. The moment you take a U-Turn, join the service road immd. Its little tough, but you can make it. Roads are not good. So, careful.

Then you will see the Hyundai showroom to your left, the building right next to it is Sai Arcade. You will have signs for paid parking, follow them. They are few meters after this building, take that left and park it in the marked area.

There is entrance from parking to the passport office. Its all well planned and marked.

Good luck.

[twistwrist]

Originally Posted by mjothi

Yup. It is strange. I am yet to get the passport and the status is still the same - waiting for PV!!!



Yes, Sunday you can book for Tuesday. It shows Monday too, if any slot available.



Its right opp to the Intel office. Dont worry, there are huge signs where you need to take a U-Turn for Passport office. The moment you take a U-Turn, join the service road immd. Its little tough, but you can make it. Roads are not good. So, careful.

Then you will see the Hyundai showroom to your left, the building right next to it is Sai Arcade. You will have signs for paid parking, follow them. They are few meters after this building, take that left and park it in the marked area.

There is entrance from parking to the passport office. Its all well planned and marked.

Good luck.

Hi Maheshwaran,

I need to my passport reissued , since it would expire in april. i approaced an agent for this task. I was told the passport office charges are rs.1000 amd his service charge is rs.1000. Is it worth to go thru the agent to faster processing and all.

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by twistwrist

Hi Maheshwaran,

I need to my passport reissued , since it would expire in april. i approaced an agent for this task. I was told the passport office charges are rs.1000 amd his service charge is rs.1000. Is it worth to go thru the agent to faster processing and all.

Hey you dont need no agents here in Bangalore. I got mine reissued last year in just 1 week without any issues. You can apply for Tatkaal mode like I did (they seem to encourage it over there at the PSK!). You just need 3 Photo IDs with at least one of them having your current address. You can use LPG connection, landline bill, electicity bill (if its in your name), previous passport (if its same addr), bank statement, Voter ID etc and also an affidavit (Annex I, though in my case they didnt check it!). The procedure is very simple. Simply download the form from Passport Seva site, fill it and submit it, get an appointment (prefer morning slots), and you could be done in max 2 hours now at the PSK! I am really impressed, far cry from my first Passport Office experience in 2000 at the Delhi RPO where 1 KM long lines was the norm!

I got my daughter's done today morning. Its a breeze now at the PSK (Sai Kendra one, on ORR). I got appointment for today on Sunday evening (at about 8pm! I was surprised slots were still available). I was there at 9:15 and we got out by 10:30! The process was very simple really. As I already had passport with my present address, that was sufficient as address proof. We had to give the following docs for our child's passport:
1. Address Proof (My passport)
2. Both Parents Passport (Although my wife's has different address and my name is not there but it didnt matter. My passport has her name and this was sufficient).
3. Annex H on plain paper
4. Birth Certificate. (My daughter's name is not there on the Birth Certificate. So we had to write an application on plain paper to the Passport Officer regarding that).

I also carried one more address proof (LPG connection receipt) and one more ID proof (PAN cards) that were not used. I also carried our marriage certificate but they didnt ask for that either.

That is all! I applied in Tatkaal mode (as there might be some travel in the next month for us) and it was Granted. Now waiting it to be delivered!

[benbsb29]

If there is an address updation in the passport, the police verification comes in. That's the biggest pain in the otherwise rather transformed system. That said, God bless 'em Passport Sevas. I totally loved the experience!

Now, twidling thumbs waiting for the police verification report.

[kavu75]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

If there is an address updation in the passport, the police verification comes in. That's the biggest pain in the otherwise rather transformed system. That said, God bless 'em Passport Sevas. I totally loved the experience!

Now, twidling thumbs waiting for the police verification report.

I am confused now.
Sometime during August i had applied for re-issue of my wife's passport and fresh application for my kids passport. My wife's previous passport was issued from a different city and even my current passport is also from Kerala. We got the passports without any PV, in flat within 10 days we got the passports. I had applied through normal channel.
Here is my experience.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post2440042

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post2452683

[benbsb29]

Kavu, all i can say is you guys were fortunate. Both mjothi and myself are going through the same agonizing wait for the PV report. Both our passports had address changes involved.

[whitesquall]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Kavu, all i can say is you guys were fortunate. Both mjothi and myself are going through the same agonizing wait for the PV report. Both our passports had address changes involved.

+1. I am also in the same boat since August!