Thursday 4 July 2013

Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process

The process for booking Passport appointments through Passport Seva Online Portal has undergone a few changes. As per the new process, slot date/time will be automatically allotted by the system as per the availability of slots at the desired PSK. 

Prior payment of passport service fee will be mandatory for booking passport appointments at PSKs. For this purpose, the Online Payment feature has been introduced through the Passport Seva Online Portal www.passportindia.gov.in. The Online Payment functionality will be deployed in phased manner starting with the Dehradun Passport Office.

An applicant will be able to Manage/reschedule the slots only twice within one year of first appointment date. System will not allow booking of online appointment for that ARN once two reschedule options are exercised or first appointment was scheduled more than one year ago.
These changes will be effective from 01-Jun-2013.

2. Appointment Booking Process for PSKs where Online Payment is NOT Mandatory for Appointments

1. Generate an ARN online for the desired passport service.

2. Select the ARN and click the Schedule Appointment link.

Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 1
3. Select the slot Quota (required only in case of Tatkaal ARNs), and click the Next button.

4. Select PSK location whose appointment is sought, enter Captcha characters displayed, and click the Next button. 

5. System will display the next available slot date for the selected PSK. Click the Book Appointment button to manage an appointment.

Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Add caption
Figure 2

Note: In case slots are not currently available for the desired PSK/Appointment Quota, system will display the message ‘Currently no appointment is available for the selected Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). Please try scheduling an appointment from <next availability date/time> onwards. ‘.

6. An appointment slot will be automatically booked by the system for the ARN, and the same will be displayed on screen.
Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 3

7. Click Print Application Receipt to take a printout of Appointment Receipt and carry it along with the required documents while visiting the PSK on the appointed date and time.

3. Process for PSKs where Online Payment is Mandatory for Appointment Booking

Prior payment of applicable passport service fee has been made mandatory for booking passport appointment in Passport Seva Kendras of a few Passport Offices. For this purpose, the Online Payment feature has been introduced. The Online Payment functionality will be deployed in an RPO-wise phased manner.
Online payment for Passport or related service fee can be done using one of the following payment modes:

 e-Payment Modes:
 Internet Banking (through SBI and associate bank accounts only)
 Debit Card (Visa and MasterCard only)
 Credit Card (Visa and MasterCard only)
 Challan Payment Mode: Bank Challan (payable at SBI branches in India only)

3.1. Internet Banking

Applicant needs to perform the following steps for payment through the Internet Banking payment mode:

1. Register through the Passport Seva Online Portal and create the User Id.

2. Login with the registered User Id.

3. Click the Apply for Fresh Passport/Reissue of Passport link under the Services section.

4. Generate an ARN under the Normal or Tatkaal scheme either by filling the form Online or by uploading an e-Form.

5. Attempt to manage an appointment by clicking the Schedule Appointment link on the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen.

6. Select the ‘Appointment Quota’ (Normal/Tatkaal). This option is available only to the applicants with Tatkaal ARNs.

7. Select the preferred PSK for appointment booking.

8. System will display the next available slot date for the selected PSK. After verifying the details, click the Pay and Book Appointment button to redirect to the SBI’s Multi Option Payment System (MOPS) website. The MOPS screen will be displayed only when slot is released for the selected PSK under the desired appointment quota.

Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 4

9. Select NET BANKING as the preferred mode of payment by selecting SBI or any other SBI associate bank listed in the menu. Login using the Internet Banking User Id and password to make Online Payment of indicated passport service fee.
Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 5

10. Login through the Internet Banking screen to make Online Payment of indicated passport service fee.

11. After successful payment, applicant is redirected to the Passport Seva Online Portal.

12. The Appointment Confirmation screen is displayed along with details. 

13. Click the Print Application Receipt button to print the Appointment Receipt, which contains details of the payment made along with the Payment Reference Number as proof of payment. 

3.2. Credit/Debit Card

Applicant needs to perform the following steps for payment through the Credit/Debit Card payment mode:

1. Follow Steps 1-8 of Section 3.1 Internet Banking to redirect to the SBI’s MOPS website. The MOPS screen will be displayed only when appointment is released for the selected PSK under the desired appointment quota.

2. Select CARD PAYMENTS as the preferred mode of payment by selecting the desired Debit or Credit Card payment option listed in the menu. Login using the Internet Banking User Id and password to make Online Payment of indicated passport service fee.


Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 6

3. Applicant will need to provide necessary card details as per the following self-explanatory screens.

4. After successful payment, applicant is redirected to the Passport Seva Online Portal.

5. Appointment Confirmation screen is displayed along with appointment details.  

3.3. Challan Payment

Citizens applying for various passport services (Fresh Issuance/Reissue of Passports/IC/PCC) Online through the Passport Seva Online Portal have an option of making respective application fee payments at SBI branches through a system generated Challan. Applicants need to take a printout of the system generated Challan and submit it at a nearby SBI branch along with the indicated application fee in cash. Payment will be reflected after at least two working days of depositing the fee in the SBI branch. Applicants can try booking PSK appointments once the Payment Status is displayed as ‘Success’ in the system.

Applicant needs to perform the following steps for payment through the Challan payment mode:

1. Follow Steps 1-4 of Section 3.1 Internet Banking to redirect to navigate to the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen.
Figure 7

2. Click the Pay using Challan link to navigate display the Make Payment screen.

Manage passport appointment
Figure 8

3. Click the Generate Challan button to generate an SBI Bank Challan.

 Online Passport Appointment Booking
Figure 9

4. Take a printout of this Challan and deposit the same along with the indicated amount (in cash) at any of the SBI branch during banking hours. On deposition, SBI official will enter the fee payment details in the system. The Transaction ID (Bank Journal Number) will be generated and noted in both copies of the Challan. One copy will be kept by the bank and the other copy, duly stamped and signed by bank official, will be returned to the applicant. The ARN details printed on the Challan will be validated by SBI and Payment Status will accordingly be updated in the Passport Seva system after at least two working days.

5. The reconciliation process updates Passport Seva Online Portal regarding Payment Status of the Challan. Applicant will be notified by an e-mail regarding the actualisation of the Challan.


6. Applicant can also track the status of the Challan using the Track Payment Status screen.

 Online Passport Appointment Booking New Process
Figure 10

7. Once the Payment Status is confirmed as ‘Success’, an e-mail will be sent to the applicant (if e-mail ID has been provided while filling application form) to book a PSK appointment. Applicant needs to navigate to the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen and click the Schedule Appointment link to schedule an slot. 

8. Select the ‘Appointment Quota’ (Normal/Tatkaal). This option is available only to the applicants with Tatkaal ARNs.


9. Select the preferred PSK for appointment booking.

10. Click the Book Appointment button. An Slot (if available) is booked automatically for the selected PSK. Confirmation screen with appointment details is displayed.

4. Cancel/Reschedule Appointment

Applicant needs to perform the following steps for cancelling or rescheduling a booked slot:

1. Click the Schedule Appointment link on the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen.

2. Click the Reschedule Appointment/Cancel Appointment button. A confirmation message displaying the count of reschedule/cancel attempts left is shown. 

New Process for Online Appointment Booking
Figure 11
3. In case of rescheduling the appointment, select the preferred PSK and click the Next button.

4. After checking the available appointment date displayed for the PSK, click the Book Appointment button. An appointment (if available) is booked automatically for the selected PSK and previously booked appointment for the ARN is automatically cancelled.  



5. The Appointment Confirmation screen is displayed with the Print Application Receipt button to print the application receipt.  

Passport Appointment Booking in India

Urgent requirement of client site travel led to sudden requirement of passport renewal at earliest. I was least expecting a travel else could have planned better. Anyways passport  validity was over last year and need to be renewed for this unforeseen travel.
So I landed up on passport site and started with registering process. That went on smooth. Even the custom built pdf form for filling up the application was very easy to fill no hassles. Good job by the authorities and designers.

But after the filling of application process the condition of only online booking for appointments was horrible. Since I was trying for Tatkal I selected that option for booking. After repeated failures I checked on google if some policy change has happened. To my surprise the Tatkal online booking was cancelled from mid 2012 but on the site no mention of it and in the drop down of options one is still able to select TATKAL. I would have been wiser to remove the option from dropdown altogether or mention on the main site that TATKAL booking is stopped but nevertheless who cares????
Then on searching -2012 Hindu article I found out that TATKAL booking should be done under NORMAL booking only. Later I traced it in website too.

I tried through NORMAL booking but in 3 minutes each day the seats get filled. for 3 days I have been trying... today I was bit close where it showed appointment timings...but when i selected.... the internet explorer showed error due to heavy rush on site I guess. By the time i filled details again all booking slots were gone. Some 2000+ slots gone in 3 minutes :|...

Next was checking on the documents needed for renewal . Site mentions only 2 documents needed . Old passport copy and proof of current residential address. I wanted to double check with customer care executive. To get through the executive is minimum 5-10 minutes. Even after that sometimes the call just hangs up for no reason.... its like you have just reached the entrance of place and the place disappears :P when you are about to ring the bell.

After repeated tries I was able to connect through the executive. But to my surprise he said i need Annexure D as I have got married now. I also asked him I am not able to book an appointment so if I can directly go to the Passport Office to book  a walk in appointment. He said ok when I said It is urgent for travel to client site. When I checked on site...annexure D is for woman applicants... no way he could have confused my voice for that of a woman for sure :P.  Wonder why he suggested>>>>>>

To reconfirm I called up again to call center and after few hung ups i was successful in speaking to the executive. This executive said only 2 documents needs as what site mentioned. So BINGO ! but to my disappointment he simply rejected the idea of getting appointment by walking in to Passport office. HE just said only through web you need to do.... not listening to me that I have been unsuccessful for past 3 days and need appointment urgently....

Now, I plan to Passport Office tomorrow and request for a walk in appointment. Let me see if I get any success there.............

---wanted to but this down to ease my frustration :|

Police clearance certificate PCC application details and status

Police clearance certificate PCC application details and status Online Passport Appointment Booking Appointment Opening Timing for Diffe...