Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:30 PM
Now that you know the process, you are empowered in some way at least. It will take some of the uncertainty out of the process. However, much needs to be improved at the Bangalore RPO. This whole bureaucratic sham of sending letters and replying is so unnecessary and can be totally avoided. It is so... shameful to see that the Regional Passport Office and the people in charge don't seem the least bit concerned about these issues. I don't know what it will take to for the situation to improve in the passport office of this so called glorious IT capital of India.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:30 PM
You might be able to bypass waiting at the enquiry counter for step 4 by taking a photocopy of the letter, writing 'pls see policy section' and date say '14/01' in red ball pen at the bottom and try this on the police officer. There is no computer entry required from the enquiry clerk other than thi...s stupid signature and it would actually benefit her if people don't approach here for this.
I wanted to help people so that one does not have to suffer the misery and uncertainty that I did for getting my passport. If all goes well with each visit, you will only have to visit the enquiry counter thrice. However, I visited them six times. The first time, I was sent back as my driver's license was rejected as a form of proof. In between, I was so frustrated so I tried an online appointment only to be told that transfer cases are only handled at the enquiry counter. When I got the letter to pay 5K fine, I tried going to the policy section only to be stopped by the constable who decided that I should waste 2 hours of my life getting a signature from the enquiry clerk. I had to come another day as it was late in the day and the queue was too long.
It took me 8 months in total to receive my passport from the time I applied for it at Mumbai. But you might be able to get it in 5 months if you're police verification happens quickly and you visit the enquiry counters as soon as you get each of the three letters from the RPO.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:29 PM
Do keep in mind that the enquiry clerk at the counter wants you to clearly admit that it's your fault when you submit this letter so she will read the wording and may refuse to take it until it sounds apologetic. Seems the Bangalore RPO is very concerned about covering up it's inefficiency so they w...ill not tolerate it if you blame them in the letter.
If the enquiry clerk is satisfied that the wording does not in any way implicate the Bangalore RPO for their spotless record, she will stamp the Suppression of fact letter that your had received from Bangalore RPO so please carry this letter along with you too when you approach the Bangalore RPO enquiry counter for the 2nd time.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:28 PM
Step 3 - Submitting a letter of explanation for applying from your hometown
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You think your problems are over? Think again. The Bangalore RPO is not done messing with your life. You will now receive a Suppression of fact le...tter stating that you have hidden your present address and that you are supposed to respond in 10 days failing which they will initiate action against you. This is where I don't understand us indians. Why do you assume that everyone is a criminal? After wasting so much of our time so far, the wording seems so shameless and revolting. They make it sound like they are doing us a favour putting us through such unwanted misery. Who the hell are they to ask me for an explanation?
How about explaining to us why there is only one enquiry counter for 250-300 people daily? I received this letter after exactly 2 months of submitting my appln and required proofs. How about explaining why it took them so long to send me this letter and not even update this on their website? The least they can do is change the wording. The criminals get their passport anyways. How about explaining that to us?
I was stunned when I received this letter after two months from submitting my appln and proofs and my parents were worried. But I'd come to expect this with the Bangalore RPO. I was only concerned that my family did not get too upset.
To solve this, you need to bring this letter and stand for another 2 hours at the enquiry counter and submit another letter of explanation on a blank sheet(write it at home to save time) addressed to the Regional Passport Officer Bangalore RPO explaining that you were not aware that you had to apply from your current residence blah blah and so forth. it doesn't matter. They don't care. They just want you to admit that it is wholly your fault and that they can be bastards to you for that. You will see why. Just submit this letter.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:28 PM
Do note, that some police stations might call you up and call you for police verification to the station(thus making the whole police verification thing a sham) so that they can quietly ask for little more money. In a way, I feel sorry for the police Inspector drawing 5K salary but I wonder will he ...be so understanding and help me if I need the help of the police someday? Will he lodge an FIR if say my credit card is stolen and misused or will he tell me that he can't as there are too many cases of the same nature?Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:27 PM
Step 2 - Police Verification of your present address
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You will now have to wait till your file reaches the local police station and your local police verification happens.
While the experience would be location dependent, let me share my exper...ience. After two weeks or so, a police constable came one sunday afternoon unannounced to my place. He asked for a copy of my old passport, address proof and an appln letter to the Superintendent of Police stating how long I was residing at myplace, list the proofs submitted, write the date and my mobile no. at the top of the appln and the purpose of applying for a passport.
He tried to show off a bit and be rude as he could but he was a young fellow and I knew he was trying to act strict so that I would give him some cash. A Rs 100/- brought the smile back to his face. When he found out I was a local, he was even more delighted.
Please keep these items ready after you have completed step 1. It was a real headache to arrange for these items as the policeman did not even call ahead before coming over.
After a week, I was called again to the police station by a senior officer. He was not satisfied that I had lived at my house for more than a year. I don't know if he also wanted something but I was fed up by this time. I took a copy of my khata certificate and gave him. He took it and stamped 'Approved' on my verification report. It seemed that he was just doing his job after all. But I seriously wish that the constable had asked me this before I was called to the police station. It gave me quite a scare.
Again, I want to emphasize that it would be better if you submit an older proof like a year old telephone or electricity bill that clearly has your name on it.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:25 PM
(Updated Jul 20, 2008 06:26 PM)
iv) Application for transfer on blank paper
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In this day and age, the bureaucracy at the Bangalore RPO wants you to write an appln letter requesting the Regional Passport Officer in kind words to transfer your case from your hometown to ...Bangalore. Proof that we will still never change. Do they think I'm waiting for 2-3 hours and submitting all my proofs and appln forms just for fun? And the best part is, this requirement is not even mentioned on their website which leads me to believe that they are making you do this just for their sadistic pleasure.
At your home, just write an appln to the Regional Passport Officer, Bangalore RPO that you had applied for a passport at RPO and have transferred the file to Bangalore RPO. Please process file no accordingly. Write your current address at bottom and write residing since
This will again save you a lot of hassle of running to the on-site photocopy center and buying 5 pages and having to explain to the cop(who just doesn't care and is keen on sending you at the back of the line) why you want to get back in line just to submit your appln again.
Miscellaneous
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Please self attest the copy/copies of your company letter, bank certificate, old passport(for renewal cases) and birth certificate by signing somewhere below on the xerox copy. 1 copy of original is required and I guess two copies of your birth certificate for transfers involving fresh applns. It's very difficult to attest them at the counter so save yourself the trouble.
If the enquiry clerk accepts all your documents, she will stamp the first intimation letter that your had received from Bangalore RPO with a seal that says Received reply on .Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:25 PM
The wording does not have to be exact but please ensure that it specifies that 'As per our records,his/her address is'. The stupid staff at ICICI gave me a bank statement without mentioning it and just printing my address. The enquiry lady at the counter said that only 1 year old telephone bill or r...ation card or property tax receipt is acceptable as a second proof after seeing the statement.
Also, please get 1 copy of the above two documents(self attested. No need for notary or anything like that).
I cannot re-emphasize this enough. They want some proof indicating where you have been for a year. The older the proof, the better. The worst part is that she was looking at me as a migrant despite me having a house here and having lived here for the past 5 years. In this regard, an occupancy certificate, khatha certificate etc with details of address should really help. Pity I did not bring these so I did not ask about them. Your IT returns form should also be ok.
iii) Birth Certificate
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I am not exactly sure, but the lady at the enquiry counter did not need my birth certificate. She mentioned that since this is a RENEWAL and I submitted a copy of my old passport, my birth certificate is not needed. For a transfer case involving a FRESH ISSUE of passport, a copy of birth certificate may be mandatory.Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:23 PM
i) Details in passport form to look out for
They need to clearly identify your surname from your name. You can do this in two ways. a> Either mention your SURNAME only on the first line and your names(1st, 2nd etc) on the second line. OR
b> Put a comma in the box after your surname and be...tween your surname and name.
In page 2 of the appln form where they ask you to specify whereabouts in case you have been living at another address within the last year and if you have lived at one address only, write SAME SINCE .
ii) Address proof
Approach the counter with this. This proof is the main thing required. The passport authority wants to ascertain your whereabouts for the duration of a year. Hence, a driving license or only recent BSNL telephone bill(despite being mentioned as acceptable on their website) will not be accepted as address proof. I learnt the hard way attempting to submit a photocopy my driver's license only to be sent back.
To save yourself a world of misery, get the following when you arrive at the enquiry counter. This is what is told to all applicants who aproach the counter unaware of the address proof hassle for the first time.
1) A letter in original from your company specifying date of appointment and current address.
Format: This is to specify that Mr/Mrs has been working with us since . As per our records, his current address is .
2) A letter in original from your bank(any bank will do) specifying date of opening a bank account.
Format: This is to specify that Mr/Mrs is maintaining a bank a/c since . As per our records, his current address is .Read More
Commented on own review
Jul 20, 2008 06:20 PM
(Updated Jul 20, 2008 06:24 PM)
Step 1 - Submitting new appln and address proof
First, you will receive a letter from the Bangalore RPO stating that the Bangalore Passport Office has received your file. You will have to go to the passport office with this letter.
You can also check if a file no has been generated (F00XXXXXX)... by the Bangalore RPO.
Use the ’’Status of Application’’ link option at http://nitpu2.kar.nic.in/passport/index.
htm
Use the Find File No option at http://nitpu2.kar.nic.in/passport/index.htm
and give your DOB and first name(try last name also or a combination of both - case insensitive. Once you find your file no., only then, go to the Passport office approach the enquiry counter. Or else, you will stand 2-3 hours just to hear that your file has not arrived. I have witnessed this before my very own eyes. They can do nothing without your transfer file no.
When you approach the enquiry counter armed with your intimation letter, Submit a filled in appln form-1 and two copies of PP form along with address proof, birth proof, degree certificate(to prevent ECR stamp on your passport) and an appln letter address to the Regional Passport Officer requesting that your appln be processed in Bangalore RPO.
My appln took 3 months to transfer from Mumbai to Bangalore. So, I guess you will have to wait for months after transferring your case. Actually, you will be intimated via postal mail from the Bangalore RPO (and your hometown RPO), after the file has arrived in Bangalore but it takes some two weeks (thanks to the efficiency of the postal dept) for the letter to arrive at your house.
Guidelines on what you submit during your 1st visit to the enquiry counter are given below.Read More
Reviewed Bangalore Passport Office
Jul 20, 2008 06:14 PM
18157 Views
(Updated Jul 20, 2008 06:33 PM)
I have seen a lot of praise for the Bangalore RPO i.e. it's corruption free system and systematic approach to appln of new passports. But that's where the glamour ends. In reality, it is still an archaic bureaucracy with a lot of inefficiencies that are not talked about. You will realize this wh...Read more
