Had to get my passport reissued to update some data. Waited for more than a year to get this done, as I had to gather an address proof of one year at the present address.
These days, we need address proof for almost anything, unless some major document such as the passport contains the current address. The first time when I applied for the passport at my hometown, I held the ration card as proof of address, but it was not much important then to prove that one had stayed at the address for one year so. In 2008, when I got it reissued at Bangalore I had very less proof - just rental agreement - and somehow it worked, though I was asked to provide alternative proofs, both while submitting the application and during the Police Verification.
In 2008, I submitted the application at a Bangalore One outlet. Things have changed from 2008 and now reissue of passport can be applied only at the new centers called Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) - Bangalore has two offices of this. And one cannot go there directly (without booking an appointment) unless there is a document to support the urgency for a 'Tatkal' mode of application for reissue of passport - only way to submit application in case of a 'Normal' mode is via its website.
Online application was not much of a problem for me, and uploaded few scanned documents too (a max of 4 can be uploaded) - though nobody referred to the uploaded documents during the application process. The big hurdle was to book an appointment at PSK from the website, the only place from where it can be done. The booking opens at 6 PM everyday except Friday and Saturday, but the slots get filled up within 3-5 minutes. I waited for quite a few days to crack the puzzle: finally got it after trying for around three weeks. Booking can be done for the day after the next - on Sunday it can be done for Tuesday.
For me, the application process was done without any major hiccup - only issue was that it took some time to convince the personnel at counter B about authenticity of the institute where I had done my graduation. She asked me to show the mark-sheet but I was not carrying the original (as nowhere it was not mentioned that mark-sheet would be required) and I forgot that I was carrying a photocopy anyways.
Police verification was done within two days. I was asked to carry 2 photographs, address proof of one year and photocopies of old passport (proof of date of birth) while visiting the Police station. Police kept the original address proof - BSNL bill of last month and that of another month one year back. I also had to write a letter notifying that I had no criminal records against me. I was surprised at the Police personnel filling up a Kannada form all by himself with my information from the application form. During 2008 renewal time, the Police asked me to sign the same form where nothing else was filled up and I could not read Kannada then - surely things have improved in this area too.
Overall a very pleasant experience; received the passport within 2 weeks.
The tips to share:
1. No need to submit documents online - nobody refers to it.
2. For booking an appointment, the most important point is to understand when the clock strikes 6 PM at PSK :)
3. While booking an appointment, once slots are shown, no need to type the random-text image in the top half of the screen, rather simply click one of the displayed time-slot straightaway; next page another random-text image will appear. Your appointment will be confirmed once you submit information including correct random-text image in the new page.
4. Get photocopies of all documents; all in A4 size. The file which is prepared at PSK during application can contain A4 size papers; so photocopies of jumbo size certificates in A3 size are not needed. And there is a xeroxing facility at PSK (Re 1 for each page), though I did not have to use it.
5. For ECNR, though certificate of a professional course or SSLC certificate is needed, it's better to carry the corresponding mark-sheet also along with its xerox copy. BTW, if you had ECNR earlier and now while reissuing the passport, then do not expect that ECNR will be carried over to the new passport - better to submit proofs again. I assumed the carry over while reissuing my passport in 2008, and got fooled :)
6. After security check, a token number is given, the same number is used in A, B, C counters.
7. Security guard at Lalbagh PSK, where I went, doesn't allow applicants to carry cigarettes and matchboxes inside the office and points to the 'No smoking' sign to support his claim that such things cannot be allowed inside.
8. Better to get early morning appointment as delay during the day can make a larger delay for those taking appointment later in the day.
9. In case of any confusion, feel free to call Customer Service of the PSK to get things clarified before physically reaching at PSK.
10. Though I cannot confirm, some friends commented that the experience at Marathalli PSK could be better than that at Lalbagh PSK.
11. And here's the most important tip: when you login into the website, it shows the last login time on top right area. Using this, figure out the time difference between your clock and the clock maintained by the passport seva kendra. Once you have figured it out, try logging in 2 minutes before it hits 6 PM at the clock of PSK. If you try this way, then even if you do not succeed the first time, you will do in a few days.
Other info from my experience:
1. In case of my wife's passport, it was delivered before police verification was done, as she used my passport as proof of address; passport was delivered in 2 weeks. BTW, passport office has the strange rule that it cannot be done the other way round: husbands cannot use the passport of their wives as a proof of address.
2. If passport office had made any mistake in previous passport while noting down a parent's name, then it is difficult to correct it out while reissuing. the documents listed in the website (such as property documents, pension order etc.) do not work: an affidavit is needed to make this correction.
3. Passport office will typically won't allow anyone other than the applicant to enter unless the applicant is a senior citizen or a minor. However, in case you are visiting with a small baby, both parents are allowed to go inside. In case of a kid's passport, the birth certificate and photographs are needed.
These days, we need address proof for almost anything, unless some major document such as the passport contains the current address. The first time when I applied for the passport at my hometown, I held the ration card as proof of address, but it was not much important then to prove that one had stayed at the address for one year so. In 2008, when I got it reissued at Bangalore I had very less proof - just rental agreement - and somehow it worked, though I was asked to provide alternative proofs, both while submitting the application and during the Police Verification.
In 2008, I submitted the application at a Bangalore One outlet. Things have changed from 2008 and now reissue of passport can be applied only at the new centers called Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) - Bangalore has two offices of this. And one cannot go there directly (without booking an appointment) unless there is a document to support the urgency for a 'Tatkal' mode of application for reissue of passport - only way to submit application in case of a 'Normal' mode is via its website.
Online application was not much of a problem for me, and uploaded few scanned documents too (a max of 4 can be uploaded) - though nobody referred to the uploaded documents during the application process. The big hurdle was to book an appointment at PSK from the website, the only place from where it can be done. The booking opens at 6 PM everyday except Friday and Saturday, but the slots get filled up within 3-5 minutes. I waited for quite a few days to crack the puzzle: finally got it after trying for around three weeks. Booking can be done for the day after the next - on Sunday it can be done for Tuesday.
For me, the application process was done without any major hiccup - only issue was that it took some time to convince the personnel at counter B about authenticity of the institute where I had done my graduation. She asked me to show the mark-sheet but I was not carrying the original (as nowhere it was not mentioned that mark-sheet would be required) and I forgot that I was carrying a photocopy anyways.
Police verification was done within two days. I was asked to carry 2 photographs, address proof of one year and photocopies of old passport (proof of date of birth) while visiting the Police station. Police kept the original address proof - BSNL bill of last month and that of another month one year back. I also had to write a letter notifying that I had no criminal records against me. I was surprised at the Police personnel filling up a Kannada form all by himself with my information from the application form. During 2008 renewal time, the Police asked me to sign the same form where nothing else was filled up and I could not read Kannada then - surely things have improved in this area too.
Overall a very pleasant experience; received the passport within 2 weeks.
The tips to share:
1. No need to submit documents online - nobody refers to it.
2. For booking an appointment, the most important point is to understand when the clock strikes 6 PM at PSK :)
3. While booking an appointment, once slots are shown, no need to type the random-text image in the top half of the screen, rather simply click one of the displayed time-slot straightaway; next page another random-text image will appear. Your appointment will be confirmed once you submit information including correct random-text image in the new page.
4. Get photocopies of all documents; all in A4 size. The file which is prepared at PSK during application can contain A4 size papers; so photocopies of jumbo size certificates in A3 size are not needed. And there is a xeroxing facility at PSK (Re 1 for each page), though I did not have to use it.
5. For ECNR, though certificate of a professional course or SSLC certificate is needed, it's better to carry the corresponding mark-sheet also along with its xerox copy. BTW, if you had ECNR earlier and now while reissuing the passport, then do not expect that ECNR will be carried over to the new passport - better to submit proofs again. I assumed the carry over while reissuing my passport in 2008, and got fooled :)
6. After security check, a token number is given, the same number is used in A, B, C counters.
7. Security guard at Lalbagh PSK, where I went, doesn't allow applicants to carry cigarettes and matchboxes inside the office and points to the 'No smoking' sign to support his claim that such things cannot be allowed inside.
8. Better to get early morning appointment as delay during the day can make a larger delay for those taking appointment later in the day.
9. In case of any confusion, feel free to call Customer Service of the PSK to get things clarified before physically reaching at PSK.
10. Though I cannot confirm, some friends commented that the experience at Marathalli PSK could be better than that at Lalbagh PSK.
11. And here's the most important tip: when you login into the website, it shows the last login time on top right area. Using this, figure out the time difference between your clock and the clock maintained by the passport seva kendra. Once you have figured it out, try logging in 2 minutes before it hits 6 PM at the clock of PSK. If you try this way, then even if you do not succeed the first time, you will do in a few days.
Other info from my experience:
1. In case of my wife's passport, it was delivered before police verification was done, as she used my passport as proof of address; passport was delivered in 2 weeks. BTW, passport office has the strange rule that it cannot be done the other way round: husbands cannot use the passport of their wives as a proof of address.
2. If passport office had made any mistake in previous passport while noting down a parent's name, then it is difficult to correct it out while reissuing. the documents listed in the website (such as property documents, pension order etc.) do not work: an affidavit is needed to make this correction.
3. Passport office will typically won't allow anyone other than the applicant to enter unless the applicant is a senior citizen or a minor. However, in case you are visiting with a small baby, both parents are allowed to go inside. In case of a kid's passport, the birth certificate and photographs are needed.
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