Monday, August 19, 2013

Getting a Passport

Getting a passport in Bangalore was quite a feat.  A passport of ten years was going to expire and it was required for a one year valid passport to make a trip abroad.  When the regular formalities were done, it was discovered that the old passport was damaged because it had been renewed in the US and lamination had been affected. Therefore the passport could not be accepted for another new passport.  There are so many touts who will come and promise all kinds of ease with which they can get another passport and they charge heavily.  But beware!  It is better to go through the regular way because touts can only do so much....eventually you have to do the actual requirements of getting a new passport yourself.  So don't let anyone promise you that they can do all the running around for you!

To get all the information of the annexures and documentation required, you can get it from the Regional Passport Office in Lalbagh.  The damaged passport was taken care of through Annexure L.  Also, to register, you need to do this on the website www.passportofficebangalore.com or www.passportindia.gov.in.  Once all the papers and documentation are in order, you can get the passport without the help of touts.

Getting the signature of the gazetted officer is necessary and the website tells to what level a government officer's signature is valid!  The visit to the police commissioner's office was fine except for waiting.....thankful for the Bangalore weather where it never gets too hot!

Then the trip to the Koramangala branch of the Regional Passport Office, and the interview.  The last call again at the Lalbagh Passport Office and then you get the receipt and the passport came by courier.

So many proofs and checks, quite a rigmarole, but finally it was done!