Thursday, June 19, 2014

                                                           PASSPORT  RENEWAL                                                            

I had to renew my passport due to the impending expiry in 2015. I did the renewal from the   Trivandrum passport seva kendram , Vazhuthacaud. The procedure should be same at all other centres having the passport seva kendras .

The renewal process was a breeze as it has been made very people friendly , a big THUMBS UP to the government for that .

The procedure for renewal  that I had followed is as outlined below.

1. Online registration .

   Online registration is a must . Go to this link  :  http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink
   Register as a new user ( in the very unlikely case that you have already registered then log in as Existing          user ).

2. Click on the "Apply for fresh passport /Re-issue of passport  " link .

3. Select whether to fill online or download the form and fill it offline . (While filling online at each stage there     is an option  to save the information that has been entered and it can be retrieved  next time you  log in . )

4.Ensure that all the details are properly filled in . * The home address section will only accommodate 41          characters . So in case the address in the previous passport is longer then you will have to modify it and        make it shorter omitting what is least important in the address as there is no option even at the passport         seva kendra's to put in more than 41 ( approx ) characters.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED WHILE FILLING THE FORM AT THE PASSPORT SEVA KENDRA . ALSO SOME OTHER ERRORS OR MODIFICATIONS CAN BE DONE AT THE SEVA KENDRA AT THE COUNTERS .

5.Finally after the application has been filled and updated booking for the appointment has to be done .
for this you will have to go for the payment option and (no need to pay if you are only trying to find out an appointment date ) then before payment has to be made the appointment date that is AUTOMATICALLY generated will be displayed , so if it is convenient proceed else you can log off and later using the retrieve option apply  for re - issue .

6. Appointment time is mentioned in  the  Final copy or receipt that has to be printed and taken along with you  to the passport seva kendra on the appointed day . There is no need to go hours earlier than the appointed time as was the norm earlier . Reporting time is also mentioned there ensure that you are there by that time .

7. At the entry the guards check the Printed copy of the details that you have and passport copies  etc that you are carrying along ( requirement -as per  what you applying for ).

8.Inside there are Token counters and it is manned by staff of TCS . They are very helpful and will guide you accordingly .They will verify your documents and then give you  a printed token.

9.Move to the waiting area and the token number will be displayed on the screen along with the Counters .(It it will be like A1, A2 etc ).

10.At counter A, again manned by TCS staff all documents , details are verified and any changes ( minor ones ) to be made cane be done . Photographs and finger prints will be taken ( better wear a good shirt or dress as it will be the photo  on your passport for another 10 years ).Once all details are verified after consulting with you ( minor changes can be made even in address like say your house number was previously 211 now it has been re numbered by the society etc to 200  such changes normally wont require a re verification by police etc can be done there itself.)

11.Now you will have to move to counters B , this section onwards is manned by MEA  officials .they are also quite helpful .There again checks done at counter A is repeated and  the details appearing in Passport are finalized.

12. Then finally counter C and then the process is completed .

13 .Sign on your way out .

DOCUMENTS :
The documents to be carried along have been very clearly mentioned in the  website . All ID proofs that are acceptable also clearly mentioned leaving no room for confusion .No need to carry additional papers as they do not require anything other than those mentioned , so don't worry about the others ,go by what is there on the website .

  • In case you have applied for a normal passport and require it under tatkal it is possible,  if you tell at the counters they will arrange for you to pay the extra amount ,2000 rupees and convert it to tatkal .In tvm you will get you tatkal passport very next day. Please ask the staff  they will let you know the current status.
  •  ( As of June 2014 in Trivandrum  it is wiser to apply for tatkal and 36 page book                      as jumbo book is unavailable.There is  shortage of normal 36 page books is also so they have been instructed to process tatkal applications over normal ones .Normal ones may take over a month for you to get the passport  under current circumstances. Once this is resolved then it will not take time for normal  passport applications also and that route would be better .
( I had initially applied for Normal application / 60 page jumbo booklet , they asked me if I wanted it changed and immediately got it changed at one of the"A" counters by paying 1500 rupees extra , they adjusted the difference btw jumbo and normal booklet and included it in the tatkal fee  without any fuss .)

The process is very  simple and most importantly people friendly . All the best !!

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