Passports

One of the most important revelations in the Passport Office is the facility of Online Appointment. I mean what can be better than that, you have been a specified time to visit the office and handover your papers. I had my appointment at 9:18 , Vanitha 9:19 & Geet at 9:21.

We were there at 8:30 AM only to be surprised that there were about atleast 150 members already waiting. I did not know which line belonged where, it was all so confusing.. I was trying to find out which Q should we stand as Vanitha was with Geet. I approached couple of constables at the entrance and they told me to wait and that we will have to enter the Main Building.

9:00 Office opens and I guess almost all the Employees entered the Office between 8:45 to 9:00 AM :) . At 9, the constables checked our online appointment papers and sent us in.

The Office is very very spacious and most surprising thing was the board outside & inside the office, it read “ Agents are strictly not allowed ” and the next line said “ If found will be handed over to the Police” Wow :)

Once inside the Person in Counter No 1 called all those who are with babies. That was very unexpected but I was extremely pleased by the courtesy shown by them. This person duty was only to check if the papers, documents, affidavits are all in accordance or not. So me & Vanitha with Geet gave our application, he saw my Employment letter, removed it and said this will not do, next was letter from my bank confirming my add and then my dad’s Gas Connection Voucher. That’s it, it was enough for me, same for Vanitha too. They had no issues with the Form as I had filled it to perfection and carried two copies ( change of names & change of add )

They collected the papers and told to wait, later the Main Officer called us, he again checked & signed on all documents which we gave, signed it ,handed over the passport and told us to visit the Passport Officer while they took the additional form of mine and told that there will be a police verification for me ( change of name ).

15 min from the time we entered in we were then directed to the Main Officer’s cabin which was at the Opp end. All three of us went there, we entered the cabin & I requested her to make our passports a bit early as we had to travel aboard, blah blah, she interrupted me and said that Passports will be dispatched in 3 days.

I was like, what? she again said 3 days is fine for you? I said absolutely fine and thanked her. We were now suppose to pay the Fees for the Passports. It costed us Rs. 7,100/- Mine & Vanitha Passport Rs. 1000 each + Tatkal Rs. 1500 each and for Geet Rs. 600 + 1500. ( later I realized all tatkal passports take only 3-4 days :P )

A pretty small Q to pay the charges and collect the Acknowledgement. That’s it

That’s it,  Our Passports were done, No Bribes, No Waiting, No Major Ques, It was so refreshing to see a Govt Office work like this, showing Courtesy to ladies & Kids, understanding the situation, first time I felt great coming out of a Govt Office and was so dam pleased with the service. In about 40 Mins everything was done :)

Bangalore Passport Office Rocks :)

Some Tips :-

  1. Please take a help of the Agent- maximum to fill the form & nothing else.
  2. Take Online Appointment
  3. Try to take Appointment in the morning, you are fresh, they are fresh all good
  4. For Kids, make sure you have the Birth Certificate – Must
  5. Take a Stamp Pad with you ( for fingerprints of minor )
  6. Keep two photo copies of all Originals with you, you never know if they need another copy
  7. Carry extra copies of your photographs
  8. Understand your requirement and what is required for that, for some passport issues like spouse name in passport – you may have to get Affidavits , or marriage Certificates, etc
  9. Dont Argue – they cannot bend the rules for you – I saw many trying to convince them, but they wont budge, it will not matter to them, if your tickets are booked or anything else.
  10. Thank them – Not mandatory, but I personally went to all the departments and thanked them :) they will feel good when you acknowledge their work and motivate them :)

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