Get your passport in 10 days! Know the right process.

Are you one of those who believe that getting a passport is a hassle? Who are actually afraid of even initiating Passport application? Does the thought of getting into police verification makes you afraid? Do you think the passport interview would be more tough than your next job interview?

I used to be one among you. But no more, I finally shed all my fears, applied for passport, and got it within 10 days ! Yes you read it right, in 10 days I had my passport. And no, I didnt went to any agent, neither have any contacts to get it done faster. I did it all by myself, without any aid, thanks to the superfast transparent passport system now a days.

Still wondering how ? Let me explain —

First, create your profile in passport seva, just like you would do in FB or twitter. Link is http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink

Then, login to your profile, click “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport”

You can either fill the form online or download and it it at your own ease. I recommend the latter.  Click here to download the soft copy of the form

Unzip the file you have just got. This has a pdf file that is the form you have to fill.

Lets look at the various fields —

Applying for : Fresh Passport
Type of application : Normal
Type of booklet : 30 for 1500 rs, 60 for 2000 rs
Name
Surname
Gender
Known by other name : Depends on individual, usually No
Ever changed your name : Depends on individual, usually No
DOB
Place of Birth : Depends on individual, usually No
Village/City
Marital Status
Citizen of India : By birth
Employment type
Is parent a govt servant?
Educational Qualification : Depends on individual, usually Graduate and above
Eligible for non-ECR category : Usually YES.
Distinguishing Mark
Adhaar No
Give Family details
Is present address out of India : No
Permanent address same as present address : No
Emergency contact details : Dont give no of your parents, give details of your roommates/colleagues
References : You can give 1 reference of your landlord / PG owner and another of your colleague/office persons/neighbor if they know you well
Have you held/ hold any diplomatic/ official passport?  : No
Have you ever applied for passport, but not issued? : No
Other details : All of them NO
Click I AGREE, give Place, and date.

Click Validate and Save. This will ask a location, give location. This saves your file in XML format of around 8-10 kb. Dont worry, this is the right format passport application is uploaded in website.

Once you upload, it will ask for PAY AND SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT. The payment portals are fast and within minutes you’ll pay the amount (1500 or 2000). They’ll ask if you want to avail SMS services worth 40 rs. I’ll say its good and go for it, as this will keep sending you SMS on your application status, which is worth knowing. If you do not subscribe for this, you can anytime login to your profile and check the status.

Pick any convenient date, pick your nearest PSK, and schedule the appointment. Now wait for the big day to arrive.

Lets talk about documents now–

For DOB proof — provide your 10th & 12th marksheet and migration certificate (keep handy)
For ID proof — provide your PAN Card, or Adhaar card
For address proof  — provide your bank passbook that has same addressing running for not less than 1 year (if you dont have, get into a joint account with a friend who has one) OR a letter from your office that says this employee is residing on this address since these many years OR/AND an affidavit that says the same (get one made from BDA complex, Domlur).
Keep these docs along — Your degree certificate, rental agreement, Office ID card,  driving license, or anything that can be an identity proof.

Yes, if you are born in or after 1989, you need to get birth certificate with your name on it. Not sure of complete process of getting that done though.

Complete list here –
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/popuponline/AttachmentAdvisorSub?subDocID=7001&minorFlag=1
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/popuponline/AttachmentAdvisorSub?subDocID=7002&minorFlag=1

Big day preparation:

First, dont be late, infact be there before time. Secondly, ensure to pick all possible documents you have. Thirdly, do not panic. Fourthly, ensure to take out the print out of application form, no xerox required.
Also, ensure you take one set of xerox of all things you have in originals. Even the xerox of your company ID Card. Also,  carry all originals, leave nothing behind. There is no requirement of taking passport size photographs.

In bangalore, PSK is at two places – one near marathahalli, other near kormangla.

As you enter the premisis, you see a guard at the gate. Tell him what you are there for (passport application form) and he’ll tell you one counter. Stand in queue at the designated counter. Once you no comes, provide the executive all the documents (only xerox, not originals) he is asking for. These guys are quick, so you have to be attentive. Once he is okay with all docs, he’ll ask you to wait.
Few minutes later, you name will be called out, and you’ll be handed over a file of your application docs. This also contains your token no which you have to remember throught the process. You’ll be asked to go to the main hall.

Main Hall

Before you enter the  hall, read the display that has the token no and the counter no against it. Once your no gets displayed, go inside the hall to the respective counter. There are 3 counter – A, B,  C. Reach the counter no in A category first and wait for your turn.
Here you’ll be asked for your application form, taken a picture, taken the thumb and finger impressions and sent to counter B. Counter B is the place where your documents will be verified. The person will be helpful and if he is not satisfied with any of your docs, will ask you for alternate documents. If you are missing any xerox, you’ll be sent to counter A1 for getting so.
Once done, wait for your no again for Counter  C. Thats the last place for final verification. You might also be asked to go to passport officer cabin for any special check (not to be afraid of, she/he is very polite and helpful). Once all counters done, look at the status in your receipt, if it says GRANTED, you should say thankyou to the last counter executive 🙂

You’ll be asked to fill feedback at exit, and take the receipt home. Once you go out exit, you are out of the main building and cannot come back. So if you have any questions, ask before you are out.
Ok, so you have cleared LEVEL 1 of Passport application. You must have received an SMS saying the same. Go home, sleep without worries !

LEVEL 2

Next day or two , check your application status in passport website https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/secure/loginActionWorkList. It should say about Police verification pending. Fret not, Police will come to your present address and you need to be present with all the documents, originals and one set of xerox, along with one passport size photograph. They’ll call you a couple of hours before they arrive.
If you are not available when the police calls, tell them sorry and ask a time when you can go to police station to get the verification completed. Go to your police station and ensure to carry all originals, one xerox, one photograph. If you live in a PG, also get a letter saying that this person is living in this PG since this date and has no criminal records, with the PG Reg ID, and owner signature. (If there is no ID, tell this to the police and ask for alternative).

The police would be very cooperative and ask for your docs. After complete verification, they’ll take your picture, your signature and signature’s picture. Once they write CLEARED on the first page, you should say THANKYOU SIR with a big smile 🙂

Wait a day or two. You should receive an SMS saying that police verification cleared and your passport is in printing. Thats the time there is no more to worry about at all ! In a day or two, you shall receive another SMS saying that your passport is dispatched. Quickly login to your passport profile and see the status. from there, copy the Consignment no and track it here — https://www.indiapost.gov.in/VAS/Pages/trackconsignment.aspx

Find out the post office where your passport has reached from this page. You need to be physically present at your present address where the postman will deliver your passport. If its not possible for you to stay and wait for whole day, call the post office and tell your area and ask for your postman’s number. They’ll give you without any issue since its passport matter. Call your postman, check with him when he’ll come and  be there at that time.

Get your passport from postman, sign on the page, and Remember, say THANKYOU to him.

THIS IS IT !
You have finally got your passport, and without any much hassle. The whole procedure is super smooth and very fast, and if you have all documents correct, this should not be a worry at all. The whole process from appointment at PSK to delivery of your passport should not take more than 2 weeks. Mine took exactly 10 days !!

If you find this info useful, or need any other more info, please write a comment.

Thankyou for reading this long post. Hope you get your passport without any hassles 🙂

Cricket – A religion in India !

Mom : “Beta get ready we have to go to Sharma Aunty’s house warming ceremony.”

Me & Dad looked at each other in shock. There was India vs Australia Champions Trophy match about to begin in an hour and we both were super excited about it.

But then Mom just dropped a Nuclear Bomb over our plans. Dad stared at me in question. Rather, questions ! He is an avid cricket lover like me, and there is no possibility we would miss such a high intensity match and attend a boring function of our nosy relatives.

I said in a calm voice “Ok Mom.” Dad was more shocked to hear that. He continued looking at me with an ocean of questions. There is no way I will miss the match, he knew it. He knew I will be having some plans and he was equally curious to know about it.

Dad asked me in sign language about my plans. I hand signaled him to relax. We left for the function.

In the car, I quickly opened my twitter, went to the TL of @UCBrowser, as they regularly update the key points in the match, and told Dad that its India’s batting first. He jumped in excitement as his favorite batsman Rohit Sharma is gonna open the innings and he just cant miss seeing his master strokes Live.

We reached Sharma Aunty’s house in sometime. The innings was about to start and Dad was getting impatient. Though I was constantly updating him with progress of the match through @UCBrowser’s tweets, but watching the match Live has its own fun.

The guests were just settling here and the match was just beginning there. Rohit & Dhawan were entering the field. I got to know this through tweets. “Its the right time”, I said.

I called Dad and we went towards the deserted balcony. “His patience was as test. He asked the score. I said “Why dont you see it yourself?”

I opened the UC Cricket space in my Moto g’s UC Browser. All I had to do was click http://www.ucweb.com/ and go to http://www.ucweb.com/English/UCbrowser/cricket.html

It has a dedicated space for cricket fans like us, that streams live cricket !! I just touched the link, and it took no time to start streaming the LIVE INDvAUS match on my Mobile. Dad jumped into excitement again. He was skeptic that the buffering might ruin the whole fun but it just didn’t. It was seamless, very smooth, very much like we see on TV.

Dad looked at me with pride. I felt touched. How could i let Dad miss out on his favorite thing on earth, Cricket ! Rohit played a fantastic innings and Dad enjoyed every moment of it. Within no time, couple of other relatives who are equal cricket lovers joined us and enjoyed the match on my UC Cricket Space.

I also showed Dad the Yuvraj Singh advertisement of UC Browser which he really liked. Its right here –>

Cricket is not just a game for us, its the way we live. Thanks @UCBrowser for this dedicated space for Cricket that is just the thing we cricket lovers needed !