Renewal or Re-issue of passport for minor Chennai

The process of renewal or re-issue of passport for a minor is actually quite simple.

1. Register yourself as a user at the site http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink
2. Fill up the online form with all details required (For list of references please mention neighbours and not relatives)
3. After filling every page, at the bottom of the page click "Save details" and move forward
4. Once the form has been filled, book an appointment type under tatkal category.
5. Select the Passport Service Kendra and fill in the captcha code.
6. Preferably select an appointment from afternoon onwards as the chances of getting the appointment is more than that of the morning slots.
7. If you select a slot, but by the time you fill in the captcha code, it gets booked as there are other users, you have to start the process all over again. Please be online from 1.45pm onwards to book the slot from 2pm onwards. Within a span of 5 mins all slots get booked!!
8. Next step is to collect the documents. There is a document advisor feature on the website that lets you know what you need to carry with you on the day of the appointment. But it never hurts to carry a few additional documents just in case.
9. Print out Annexure 'H' and both the parents/ legal guardian need to sign it.
10. 2 xerox copies of the child's old passport with self attestation done by the parents (first and last page only)
11. 2 xerox copies of the parent's passport (first and last page only) - again with respective self-attestation done by each parent.

• Carry child's original passport as well as both parents original passports

12. School bonafide certificate with the child's most recent photo in it and stamped by the school authority OR school bonafide certificate along with student id card.

• Original birth certificate + 2 xerox copies attested by parents

13. 2 xerox copies of the above documents attested by parents
14. Proof of address: (Carry any 2 of the following)

• Electricity card + last year bill + latest bill (2 xerox copies with self attestation)
• Property tax card + latest bill (2 xerox copies with self attestation)
• Ration card + xerox (2 xerox copies with self attestation)
• Election card (2 xerox copies with self attestation)

15. Parent's PAN card  (2 xerox copies with self attestation)

16. I had also taken a formal letter requesting tatkal for immediate travel - just in case

17. I had also taken an additional printout of the list of references mentioned in the website

18. Print out the application receipt once the appointment is booked as you will be allowed inside when you present it.

19. Now, all the abovr holds good if your child's old passport and both the parents passport along with proof of address have the same address.

20. If not, please make arrangements to secure Annexure I and Annexure F - refer the website for additional details.

PROCESS

1. I had picked PSK Aminijikarai - took me 3 weeks to get an appointment!!!

2. I reached an hour before reporting time just to be safe, but no problem there as the crowd was small and things were moving very fast.

3. The location is right behind ampa mall on nelson manickam road. It is the 2nd building inside on the 1st floor.

4. I stood in line 15 minutes before reporting time. The security guy checked the application receipt, annexure H, asked me if i had self attested all xerox copies and then let me in. I WAS IMPRESSED!!

5. There a few counters inside, 2 for normal processing and 1 for tatkal. They even have a xerox machine inside in case you require it or they tell you to take it.

6. Then you are sent inside another waiting area with excellent lighting, seats, A/C, small cafe, water drinking facility and restrooms :)

7. Here your name is called out and you are issued a token number. In the screen facing the seats, your token number will be displayed along with a counter number.

8. You then take the file and go to the next room to the corresponding counter where the photos are taken, fingerprints and your details can be checked by you for spellos or addition of details on the address as we are not given sufficient space while filling the form initially.

9. You are then forwarded to a counter where the passport official cancels the old passport.

10. Next you go to the counter which has the Passport granting officer who "grants" the new passport.

11. You then take a passport acknowledgement recepit and leave. You are done.

12. The time the passport is dispatched - you receive an email as well as an sms. The passport arrives the next day morning.

I must say - i am thoroughly impressed with the process though it took me a good 3 hours because of the comfortable environment. With kids, it is easier to manage them with the new process. Thanks TCS for expediting the process and making it a smooth process :)

All the best, folks!!

Steps to apply for passport through Tatkal

1. Visit Official web site of Chennai passport office
http://passport.tn.nic.in/

2. For application of passport under the tatkal scheme, visit
https://passport.gov.in/cpv/TatkalScheme.htm

3. It is advisable to carry atleast 4-6 id card size photographs of the applicant.

4. Do carry both DD and cash of the required amount as a safe backup.

5. It is a good idea to take ration card, elector's card, pan card, birth certificate and their respective copies for verification.

6. The online registration is mainly to go to the passport office on that particular day, but it is better to be there well ahead of the alloted time (say a couple of hours ahead). There is always a rush and you would not want to miss your turn.

7. If you apply through an agent, you would still have to stand in line on the appointed day for the passport application.

8. When applying through tatkal, it takes about a week to 10 days for you to receive the passport.

9. It comes via registered post, so the applicant will have to personally be there to receive it, otherwise it is sent back. You would then have to follow it up. Need I say that won't be easy.

10. When applying for minors, you will have to take the child along with you. Do take their birth certificate and its copies. Also originals and copies of the parent's passports.

11. For older children, you can obtain a bonafide certificate from school as one reader correctly mentioned.

12. ALL THE BEST :)

Passport application for minors - Tatkal

Let me narrate my experience while applying for a passport for my 2-yr old daughter (minor). I thought that by visiting the passport website of Chennai, I would have all the right documentation and cash/DD ready for the application (in my case, Tatkal). I was also in touch with a travel agent, as they have all the latest information, and a couple of friends who had done the same a month back.

The day of the appointment, I happened to call the agent to re-confirm all the documents were in order, and then was told that it was DD for tatkal and cash/DD for normal. I panicked and ran to my bank, and thankfully they gave the DD. I also withdrew cash to be on the safer side, wanted to finish it that day.

Reached Shastri bhavan at the appointment time and see a huge line everywhere. I enquired as to where the tatkal document verification line was, and got lost in the sea of people before finding the right “q” with a few 50 people before me!!

Apparently, the appointment time really holds no value!

The verification is done at the ground floor on the right hand side as you enter straight ahead. Here they check if you have the right documents, staple them together and put a stamp of “tatkal” on your form.

From there, we were sent to the 2nd floor, where another check is done with reference to you original documents. The counters “e”, “f” and “g” are allocated to that. Here I was standing in line for a good 1 hour before my turn came thanks to a Good Samaritan who saw me holding my sleeping daughter for the past few hours.

There when we mentioned to the officer, he said that we should have approached him earlier becoz we had a child. I was fuming and was ready to blast that there was no board to indicate that and no special “Q” for people with children, pregnant women and senior citizens.

That taken care of, my husband proceeded to the other counter to pay the DD. Don’t forget to make a copy of it. He got the receipt and was told that we would get the same in a week.

Hopefully we do! At the end of it, you wonder if this is a country moving forward where one of the most important documents-passport has its office run in such a chaotic manner.

Why can’t they have better sign boards, more information on the internet? Just by having a website won’t cut it. True easier said than done, but I am sure a few changes would certainly improve the situation and people like me would not have to blog on this topic atleast :) Passport is one of the most important document one could have, and the office handling that document needs to cater to basic needs such as assigning the passport in the given time frame, or intimating the person giving the reason for delay.

The passport site has the list of necessary documentation listed out correctly, but fails to mention certain things. While applying for a fresh minor passport:

- You need to have two copies/Xerox of each documentation self-attested.
- Passport copies of both the parents’ only need to contain the first 4 and the last 4 pages – self attested.
- In case of spouse name inclusion and address change that has been recently changed, do attach that page too as a part of the copy.
- In case one of the parent’s passport is with the passport office submit a letter that the passport is with them and a copy of the receipt.
- In the application the photos could be of any color back ground – but lighter so as to see the thumb impression on it
- On the main form the thumb impression needs to be in the specified box horizontally.
- In the personal particulars form it has the be half on the photo and half on the form. Also at the bottom of the PP forms
- For minors the amount for the DD is 2100/- in the name of “Regional Passport Officer” payable at Chennai.
- For other applicants, the amount is 2500/- in the name of “Regional Passport Officer” payable at Chennai.
- It is cash/DD for application through the normal process.
- Make sure you have address proof as a back up with copies – bank stmt, ration card etc.
- Annexure – C can be obtained from the passport site needs to signed and attested by both parents, and also include your passport numbers under your signature.
- Affidavit is required for children from 15 – 18 yrs
- Original Birth certificate of the child along with 2 attested copies by parents is required
- Make sure all the original documents are intact after submission