The Passport Saga

Can you imagine a passport could cost 25k. Yeah! it did for me. I applied for passport on 21st Dec '05 (after constant nagging from my parents for about an year). My police verification was done in first week of Jan '06 and I was expecting passport in Feb last week. However, it wasnt issued. I went home for a week in Mid March. My parents asked me about my passport I told them "Will be getting it soon". After coming to Mumbai, I went to passport office and they gave me a terrible news. "Your police verification report status is pending" (What the hell!). They asked me to go to CID office to get more information in this matter. CID office told me that Powai Police Station havent sent my police verification report. I went to Powai police station and they said they have already sent all the documents. I again went to CID office (for those who dont know where the CID office is, its at VT) they told me that file was sent on 23rd Dec '05 and they havent received any police verification from Powai Police Station. I again went to Powai Police Station then they again told me that they have sent file on 9th Jan '06. Then I again went to CID office, they again told me that they have once got the file but they had to send it back because birth certificate was missing. As Powai Police Station didnt get the file back they asked me to get xerox of my form and give to Powai Police Station so that they can start the passport procedure from scratch. Fed up with this shitty system where people cant even handle a file properly, where a passport officer cant talk to you with some decency and where your precious time and efforts are wasted without any gain. Giving up all the hopes I called up home and asked my parents to get passport in Tatkal from Indore.

So hunt began for Tatkal. Remember for Tatkal passport you need to provide valid reason for urgency. One way out is getting a letter from some company saying that they are sponsoring your trip to abroad. Though I would have got the letter someway or the other but my Dad didnt want to waste his time in this issue. I told him other option of TOEFL exam and he said "Good, go ahead and register". So I registered for TOEFL exam on 28th Apr. I sent all the form to Indore with my friend. Then agent asked me to close the file in Mumbai. I had to again pay my visit to the passport office to get letter from them. I speed post it to Indore. They submitted my file on 13th or 14th Mar. They asked me to come to Indore between 16-20 Apr. On 16th I got fever but I didnt want to miss on the passport so I went ahead but by the time I reached Indore I was boiling at 103 degrees. My mom was furious that I didnt inform her about my fever in advance. Anyways I took some rest that night. Next day on 17th I had to get my "advance police verification" done, which is done by SP of the city. Well it was a piece of cake for me to get that certificate because my fufaji has got very good contacts in Police department (He himself is a forrest officer). So in the middle of fever I had to do all the formalities. On 18th I got the certificate gave it to agent and he sent it to Bhopal on 19th. But I needed the passport on 20th as I had to reach Mumbai on 21st Morning for my end semester exam on 22nd Apr. So it was kinda tight situation but my agent assured that I'll get passport on 20th. So I made my plans for Bhopal trip. On 20th Morning I called my agent. He said that situation is little dicy and he can confirm only after an hour. I told him my situation how I came to Indore in fever, about my exam on 22nd. Told him every possible thing which came to my mind at that time (Seriously I desperately needed that passport. I didnt care whether I'll go somewhere in summers or whatever but this passport thing had given me all the troubles in life and I took it as challenge. I thought whatever happens I'll not leave for Mumbai without passport). I called him 5 times during that one hour. And he finally said "Welcome to Bhopal" . I was finally relieved after hearing those words (Seriously!). Went on for three and half hour drive to Bhopal with my Mom, grandparents and two cousin sisters (It was Innova, we thought it would be fun to take grandparents and sisters along, atleast they enjoyed movie in the cab :) ). Reached Bhopal at 4:30. Passport office opened at 5. They put the list of tatkal passport which were approved and my name was on the first page (What a relief it was after seeing name on that list). I called up my agent and he said he'll turn up at 5:30 but he didnt turn upto 5:45. I got anxious (passport are delievered upto 6) so I got up asked passport officer whether my name was called out. He said "No". After 2-3 people my name was called I gave couple of autograph, took the passport and sailed away with joy :). Finally my mom said "you always get things you want but you always get it late". I said "Yes. I get everything late. But finally I do fetch them". So my passport saga finally ended. My fever also ended. My exam also ended.

Airtickets = 8000/-

Registration for TOEFL Exam = 6500/-

Agent Passport Fee = 6500/-

Cab rent = 2500/-

Passport (Mumbai) = 1000/-

Three visits each at CID, Passport Office, Powai Police Station = Frustration

Feeling of having passport = Priceless

Yes! I can travel all around the world now and this time is coming soon may be May :) I can feel world at my door steps :P .