Narration of events: the reissue of my passport.
PSK Saligramam, Chennai
I got my appointment scheduled for Aug 8, 10:00am, arrived half an hour earlier, the security at the gate directed me to a waiting hall. I was one large hall, really large waiting area, where one could ease himself, refreshments also provided, got to pay extra for that.
At 10:00 am the security calls in and proceeded to the sorting counter, here they check whether the basic documentations are in tact or not. Though you might get rejected at this place you can ask them to reconsider. Very helpful staff.
I applied under the TATKAL mode, but was rejected, though I had all the documentations as prescribed by the website, they did not consider PAN card and AADHAR card as far as PSK Saligramam is considered; its not accepted. So they asked me to still give it a try if you want to and directed me to counter A11.
At counter A11, the same iterations no PAN card accepted. I only had my bank statements, PAN card and Voters ID card as necessary proof; though had Annex I and signed document from my landlord, I still could only apply under NORMAL mode. He said dont worry your application will be processed in under 20days dot. He ask me to put in my old passport, bank statement and my Voters ID Card photocopies and keep them ready and proceed.
Okay not thinking too much I proceeded and he gave another counter on A where I did my photo, address verification, thumb prints, signs, document scanning. The lady at this counter clearly asked me one detail by detail and asked any addition or removal of words/letters were required.
I only wanted the word Street not to be written as “STâ€. Online limit of characters for the address field is 79 Chars, but she can edit upto 82 Characters. A file is created and the documents are filed using a brown over cover paper file and tied with a loose thread.
Counter A processed and now to Counter B, I had to wait for sometime for the token to reflect on the LCD screen. Though the waiting area here is small, you can get yourself accommodated; also refreshments are provided at an extra cost. The token reflects, to counter B, here its a Government official; he just double checks all scanned documentations and asks no question to me. He opens the last page and asks me to write my name, sign and date it.
Proceeded to counter C, Here too there is a waiting area, enough place to sit. A green pen official finally signs the file. The lady asks me my name, place of birth and take my old passport and seals Cancelled. She lets me know it will be again processed under 20 days time.
Now the wait begins thinking when the police turns up for verification. I get a call on Aug 15, from the police saying he is coming for verification in the evening and to be at home. The police arrives in the evening, he pulls out his 3 page questionnaire and ask his sets of questions to verify my whereabouts. He too has the copies of all the documents submitted by me. He verifies my signatures again. As I stay in a rental accommodation he asks my room mate too , for how long i have been staying there. He takes my sign and left thumb print on two documentation. Though he did not demand anything I still paid something. For doing this he gave a big lecture of how I dont take money from anyone so on so.......! I just wanted my job to be done, cos I was in a desperate state to leave this country. That was done.
Now the online status changed to Passport printed on Aug 21. The passport dispatched on Aug 22, As I was not at home to collect the passport, I had to collect it from the Velachery Post office on Aug 23. Oh I had to tip the postman too. All in all I'm happy its over with ease.
Days took to process the Passport under NORMAL scheme, under 2 weeks. Considering two big holiday weekends of EID and Independence day. Superb.