Passport Seva Kendra better known as PSK are launched by Ministry of external affairs in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to facilitate and simplify the process of issue of Indian passport. They promise a much better infrastructure and facilities than the days when I ran from pillar to post for Reissue of passport after expiry of 10 years validity or stood in scorching sun at RPO Bhikaji Cama Place for issue of passport for minor daughter.
We don’t use passport as primary proof of address or identity so this time round when my wife’s passport was up for reissue after 10 years there were lots of changes to be made:
a. Change of name (Surname post marriage)
b. Change of address
c. Change of Signature
d. Addition of spouse name
For any change in passport particulars you are issued a new booklet so we thought it makes sense to get the address changed as well as getting the spouse name added in passport together after a span of almost 10 years.
Now RPO (Regional passport offices) at Delhi no longer accept passport applications so we identified the nearest PSK. The gurgaon PSK is located at MM Towers, Plot No. 8 & 9, Phase IV, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon.
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But before that there is much more to be done. The complete application and appointment process is now managed on http://passportindia.gov.in instead the old passport site www.passport.gov.in Follow these steps to initiate the process :
– Register on the site and create a username & password.
– Fill the online application form
– Submit the form online
– Select a date and time for the appointment (The toughest of all). The online appointments are available for booking every day exactly at 6:00 pm and all the slots across all PSK get’s over in a minutes. So need to be extremely lucky to get through in one try. It took us three days 🙂
– Take printout of the appointment confirmation
Now another challenge was to ensure that all the necessary documents (original and self attested photocopies) are collected and checked before the appointment date. In our case we need the following documents :
a. Old Passport in original
b. Self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages
c. Self-attested photocopy of ECR/Non-ECR page & the page of observation
d. Marriage certificate
e. Proof of address (Aadhaar Letter/Card is accepted as proof of address (PoA) and Photo identity (PoI))
f. Husband’s Passport (I got my passport reissue when PSK were not there)
g. Annexure I – Affidavit & Annexure F – Verification Certificate (In case of Tatkaal )
We reached at PSK loaded with all the documents well before the appointment time. The office opens at 9:00 and there is no proper parking available. Most of the vehicles are parked on the road.
PSK are literally a joint venture between MEA & TCS as the complete process is divided in 4 parts and first two are taken care by TCS and rest by MEA employees.
TCS role
– Issue of token & file at the reception. The TCS staff does a preliminary scrutiny of your application and documents. If they find the documents in order they make a application file with all relevant documents (We carried extra documents as precaution)and issue a token number. A printed slip pasted on the file explains rest of the process as A – B – C – exit
Section A : There are 10-12 desk manned by TCS employees. They once again verify the original document and then scan & upload them. They also click your photograph and take finger print scan. The complete process take less than 5 mins. Process to section B cake walk huh ! wait till you get pass section B and C.
Government Employees
Section B : There are three B counters (B1, B2 and B3) for all the people who are been cleared by TCS staff. AND Here comes the passport officers appointed by Govt. Their only task is to verify the documents which has already been done twice. But there are 10 employees feeding 1 application each every minute to 3 officials. Outcome can’t be simpler than a room full of sweating and cursing applicants. Remember we are in Gurgaon so half of them would be cursing in fake American accent.
And as the luck would have been , while we were waiting for our turn these officials seemingly went on a flash strike or something. Apparently not happy with the way TCS guys were working. So now imagine TCS guys are working at the same pace and adding applicants to the queue, there is nothing moving at stage two. Luckily they got back to work in hour or so.
Section C : There are three C counters (C1, C2 and C3) manned by senior passport officers and doing …. guess what ? Checking the papers. But they have the final say in the whole process as they sign the acknowledgement for the acceptance of your application. Also the old passport is stamped as cancelled.
Now the final step. The application file has to be submitted at the exit gate and a receipt is issued. The gate are opened for you and you are a free bird. But you can’t fly yet …
Update 1 (13th Feb 2013) : Status Changed to – Police Verification has been initiated on Post PV basis to SP Office, District North West Delhi. Printing of your passport is in progress at the Passport office.
Update 2 (15th Feb 2013) : Status Changed to – Your Passport has been printed and You would receive an sms/email once the passport is dispatched.
Update 3 (17th Feb 2013) : Police verification done.
Update 4 (18th Feb 2013) : Status Changed to – Passport application is under review at Regional Passport Office.
Update 5 (19th Feb 2013) : Passport Received but the Status on the site is still Passport application is under review at Regional Passport Office.
Update 6 (20th Feb 2013) : Passport XXXXXXXXX has been dispatched on 19/02/2013 via Speed Post Tracking Number EDXXXXXXXXXIN.
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