September 4, 2018:
Recent amendments by the Ministry of External Affairs have made obtaining a passport an easy affair.
From doing away with police verification and marriage or divorce deeds to enabling applicants to apply anywhere in India, obtaining a passport has become an easy affair.
Where do you need to apply for a passport?
You can apply from anywhere in India. Choose the Regional Passport Office (RPO) and the Passport Seva Kendra where you want to submit the application even if the residential address in the form doesn’t lie in the jurisdiction of the specified RPO. The police verification will be conducted at the temporary address mentioned in the form (if required).
How can single parents apply for passports for their kids?
Consent of both the parents is no longer required for passport. The applicant can provide the name of only one parent or legal guardian in the online form. The divorcees and those who are separated can drop the name of their former spouse without having to provide the divorce declaration or decree.
What for adopted, orphaned or those born out of wedlock?
They can simply give a declaration on a plain paper declaring about the adoption. Children born out of wedlock would require to give a statement that the other parent is not giving consent for the passport. In the case of Orphaned kids who are without any proof date of birth proof, a declaration on the official letterhead from the head of the orphanage or the child care home authenticating the DOB of the applicant will serve.
Do you still require attestation?
No need. Applicants can submit the required annexures in the form of self-declaration on a plain paper without any attestation or affidavits.
How will elderly and children get relief with F-tokens?
The RPO at Chandigarh has introduced an F-token facility for four categories of applicants:
1. children below six years of age; 2. their parents; 3. senior citizens, and 4. physically handicapped.
It means they have to take an online appointment, but need not wait in a queue.
Is there any respite from police verification in person?
Police verification has now been restricted to those with a criminal record. No cops will visit the residence of the applicant.
Is officer’s recommendation required for a Tatkal passport?
The Ministry of External Affairs has done away with the mandatory requirement of Annexure F, which entailed the recommendation of a Class I officer.
What is m-Passport Seva Mobile App?
The mPassport Seva mobile app available in Android and iOS platforms will let you apply, pay for, and schedule appointments for passport services.
How indispensable is the marriage certificate?
Married applicants don’t require to fulfill the marriage certificate or the erstwhile Annexure K anymore.
Which documents can serve as proof of Date of Birth (DOB)?
Apart from the birth certificate (BC) issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths or the Municipal Corporation or any other prescribed authority, the MEA has now allowed the following documents to be accepted as DOB proof. These include:
* Transfer/school leaving/matriculation certificate issued by the school last attended/recognised educational board, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card/E-Aadhaar, copy of the extract of the service record of the applicant (only in respect of government servants) or the Pay Pension Order (in respect of retired government servants), duly attested/certified by the officer/in charge of the administration of the ministry/department of the applicant, driving licence, Voter Card issued by the Election Commission, a policy bond issued by the public Life Insurance Corporations/companies.
Source : Hindustan Times
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