I had to apply for a fresh passport for my 1 year old
daughter and renew passport of my wife.
Now those who have gone through the pain earlier of applying a passport
and till they receive it after police verification, understand the predicament
I was in since it involve time and money to compete the process.
I had heard about the passport seva Kendra which is run by
TCS. Had heard good/bad experiences but in my scenario, I stay in a rented
apartment and there are limited address proof which we can submit. Also police
verification had given me trouble during my passport application 5 years back.
With this task in hand, Deepa and I started planning for the
application. We listed out all the documents from the website and read through
many blogs. We also spoke to few friends who had recently got their passport
and understood the process. We then
documented all the documents which we could bring and started arranging for
them. We also decided to apply in the Tatkal category which expedites the
passport application.
We got the following documents ready for both applications.
1)
Bank passbook with new address (Only PSU Banks
allowed)
2)
Rental agreement ( we did not have the original)
3)
Company Letter
4)
IT return
5)
Marriage certificate
6)
Our passports
7)
PAN card/Aadhar card/Driving License
Now we need to submit only 1 document as address proof, but
then knowing how our system works we made sure we have enough backup documents.
We then took appointment for Wednesday 1130 am . We reached
there around 11am. Since we were with 1 year old kid they allowed 1 parent to
go inside and sit. At exact 1130 reporting time, we were allowed to go inside
and directed towards the Tatkal counter. Here the TCS team verified the
documents, asked for more details and arranged the documents. Some of the
documents were not photocopied properly so we got them done inside the premise
( this is time saver). We gave only the passbook, marriage certificate and
passport copies here.
Since we had a tatkal application, we had to go the APO first
to get details of our file first and then token would be issued. So we had to
wait till 1200pm to get the APO verification. Till then it was lunch time for
my kid so there was a Child care available. Once the APO provided the Go ahead
, we went back to the original counter and our tokens were issued.
Now there are 3 counter A
for Application processing, B for Verification and C for Confirmation.
At A counter, TCS associates are there and at Counter B&C government officials are present. There are
almost 20 A counter, 6 B Counters and 4 C counters.
Deepa token was called and we were greeted with a pleasant
greeting and asked for all the documents arranged by the person on the token
counter. Her photo was clicked, the details on the application were verified by
using a dual screen. Also all the documents were scanned and her work was over
in 5 minutes. Since Deepa’s details had
to be added to Kyra passport, we had to wait for 10 minutes. Meanwhile I worked
on Kyra application at the A counter, Deepa already had her number called for
the B counter. Meanwhile they took Kyra thumb impression and her application
was also done by 1pm.
At the B counter, more documents were asked from Deepa and
then she shared the rental agreement.
She was again sent back to A counter for scanning the documents. After scan she was again
required to go to the B counter. All the tokens were automated and transferred
based on system logic written. Just after B counter application was done, Kyra
was called to another B counter. Due
some difference in names, we had to show Deepa License and marriage
certification again. But then people at the B counter were helpful and nice. We
completed the B counter process by 1320pm.
Now both the applications went to APO office for some verifications.
Deepa was then directed toward C counter to complete the process. By then Kyra
was asked to go meet the APO, but then he saw the documents and cleared the
application and Kyra was not even required to go the C counter.
From there we went to the exit to collect the final
application acknowledgement and it was 1330pm
( just before the official lunch time).
And the best part which was written on the form that Police verification
was not required for both the application. ( This was a great relief as we know
how the police verification happens and how applications get stuck) . The whole
process was completed in 2 hours flat.
As we left Deepa was still saying that we might still face
some issues but I was confident that we
will not face any issues. By the time we reached home, we got an SMS stating
the passport is being printed. By evening we got an SMS stating the passport
has been printed. Next day we got an SMS that Passport has been dispatched along with the tracking
number. We thought it might take 1-2 days to receive it but then next day
morning we left for office and my mom called at 11am the passport was
delivered. So in flat 48 hours we had our passports in our hand
I was completely
dumbfounded and happy with the overall experience and kudos to the corporate
government partnership along with technology
which has made our life very easy.
Thank you GOI and TCS. It was really great customer experience!!
