Passport applications from senior citizens and children to be treated as tatkal cases

Applicants required to pay only a fee of Rs.1, 500 as under normal category

Applications seeking passports from senior citizens above the age 65 years, minor children up to the age of 15, and government or public sector employees would be treated and processed as tatkal cases even if the applications are filed under the normal category, K.Balamurugan, Regional Passport Officer, Tiruchi, has said. However, the facility would be available only for senior citizens whose adult child holds a valid passport and for minor children whose parents hold valid passports.

Applications from government servants or public sector employees and their dependent family members, including spouses and dependent children up to the age of 18, would also be treated and processed as tatkal cases. However, the government servants or PSU employees have to produce prescribed identity certificate (Annexure B) under the format available in the website www.passportindia.gov.in

Applications seeking reissuance of passports, if applied before expiry or within 3 years after expiry of passport, would also be treated on a par with tatkal applications provided there is clear police verification. All these applicants would be required to pay only Rs.1, 500 as fee as under the normal category of applications. However, all such applicants have to submit proper documents and the decision of the passport officers will be final, Mr.Balamurugan said in a press release.

Mr.Balamurugan also pointed out that physically challenged persons, senior citizens (above 60 years of age), minors up to 15 years of age (with parents holding valid passports), Central and State government servants (with no objection or identity certificate), their spouses and dependent minor children, applicants seeking deletion of ECR (emigration clearance required) status in passports without change in personal particulars or inclusion of name of spouse in passport or new booklets can walk-in at the Passport Seva Kendras in Tiruchi and Thanjavur without waiting for appointments.

Such applicants have to come with the printed copy of the online application form with application registration number (ARN) and the requisite documents. Walk-in applicants would be entertained only between 10 a.m. and noon.

The walk-in system was meant to avoid long queues at the PSKs and in view of representations from such applicants citing difficulties in getting the appointments online, Mr.Balamurugan said.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/passport-applications-from-senior-citizens-and-children-to-be-treated-as-tatkal-cases/article4224388.ece