In Hindi there is a idiom "Jab dadhi mein aag lagi tab kuve ki taraf bhaage"!! Yes thats precisely what I did. But I was lucky to find a well and that too with water :). In short I was plain lucky. But it was a learning. A learning which I wont forget. This is how the story goes:-
One fine evening around 8:30 PM, I was still at office. I had newly joined the company and was only few weeks into this particular project. My Sr. Manager, a very friendly person, asked me out for a smoke. Over a smoke he asked me "Pravin are you ok with an onsite travel for 3 months?" Oh..hell, I m absolutely fine with it. That sounds exciting! I wanted to shout this out but, wait, my inner self asked me "Dude you still dont have a passport,,isnt it?"..Hmmm wouldnt it be embarrassing to tell the same. So, with a little hesitation,I asked him when would I have to travel. He said "Dont worry it wont be on a short notice, but still be prepared in a month and a half or so". I heaved a sigh of relief and thought ok I still have time. But the devil(or I would say the laziness) within me told "Hmm these managers keep promising loads of stuff, dont believe him. Dont apply for passport now. Wait for a confirmation from the Director himself :))". Ya ya I know that was too stupid of me to think like that. But unfortunately I did not take any action(I m not considering getting the Application form as a progress here ;) ). I just slept over the form for a week or so. Then one day my manager asked me "Hey did u apply for the visa. Do it soon. You are left with a month". I felt as if water was splashed on me.I kept quite. Did not tell him that I have yet to apply for my passport.I felt guilty for not doing anything over the last week/10 days .
From this point on it was like a humungous task for me. Now guys I had one month to procure my passport and Visa too. And worst part is my manager did not know yet that I did not have a passport.
My best bet was to get a passport under tatkaal scheme. Looking at the information on website, I found it to be little difficult. More info on Tatkaal - http://passport.gov.in/cpv/TatkalScheme.htm . First part says to have 3 of 14 documents mentioned on the site. And tricky part is atleast one should be out of first 9. And only two things which a comman man like me could possibly have(a Private company employee who doesnt have a cast certificate, who is not a freedom fighter, doesnt own a property or a fire arms license) were a ration card and Election ID card. Damn!! I did not have either. So plan B. Plan B looked tougher but atleast possible. It required a Verification certificate as per Annexure F(site for details) and a standard affidavit as per Annexure I.
I knew a lawyer and called him up, pretty reliable. This guy is around 55 years of age named Karar Ahmed. And when i called him he said (in a typical Bangalorean accent) "Saar, come down saar. I m a passport consultant. Oh..you did not know that??" Now how the hell m I supposed to know that a lawyer could be a passport consultant. Still before going to the lawyer I made sure of the mandatory things on those documents. And believe me these are absolutely mandatory:-
For Annexure F:-
1. The person who is giving you the Verification Certificate(VC) should attach his ID card xerox with the VC.
2. VC should be typed on a letterhead of the person.
3. The letter head should be in colur.
4. The seal of the authority should be such that its half on the letter and half on the photo of the person whom hes endorsing.
Mind me, there should not be any deviation. Or they reject your documents.
For Annexure I:-
1. The affidavit should have your name spelt correctly.
2. The address should be exactly the same as on the address proof you would be providing.
3. It should be hundred rupees stamp paper.
4. And the most important - should be signed by a Notary of Govt Of India(not by a notary of Govt of a state).
The Annexure I is a cake walk. But Annexure F takes hell lot of time(maybe 4 - 5 days). No authority would give the VC very easily. The lawyer was sure to get it. It only meant spending more money. But,I lost patience on 3rd day and started looking for alternatives. And did a mistake of approaching an agent. He promised me that we would apply the normal way and once the police verification is over, we will apply for tatkaal. I thought he would help me in getting through the police verification. But once we submitted the form in GPO, Bangalore, he said "No its you who has to get your Police verification expedited". I felt cheated, but did I have an option. He gave me a tentative day, on which my form would reach the local Police station. I went to the station that evening and as expected my form had not reached. I went again the 2nd day and met the same Inspector who said(quite impatiently) "Will call you when we get your application". Suddenly the truth dawned on me , I put a 50 Rs note in his hand and he smiled. He assured me to call the moment he recieves my form. And I did get a call next morning. I rushed to the station and smilingly the guy showed my application. Verified my documents. Prioritized and pushed my file to the main Inspector. When summoned, my form was signed after being asked few simple questions.
Now after the job done, I paid 150 more to the guy. He promised me that my application would be sent to the commisioner's office the very next day. And he did. I went to the commisioner's office and met the guy who gets all the application forms from that particular police station(I got his number from the first guy). So another 50 Rs and my data was feeded in their database and and my GR(good report) number generated on a priority basis. They asked me to go the RPO next day and apply for Tatkal. As they had completed everything from their end, the status in the website was reflecting as "Police Verification Completed". Took all documents and went to passport office, with the agent, who agreed that he will come with me to help me for tatkaal application. But once reaching there he gave me directions on how to go ahead for Tatkaal and said "Sir you go ahead. Agents are not allowed inside. Call me if you have any doubts" Phewww, this is what I paid you 1000 bucks for?? But again no choice. So the bottom line is "DO NOT APPROACH ANY AGENTS"!!
So I went inside the office. Approached a counter with my documents and a letter specifying why I need a Tatkaal passport. The lady verified everything and gave me a token number. With the token number I went to meet the RPO. RPO just looked at my form and put a dispatch date, which was 5 days later. I came out and realised, I could have asked for an earlier dispatch date(maybe in the next 2 days or so). Still, relieved, came out and now it was just a matter of my passport being delievered.
In the meantime every other day I was asked about the status of my Visa by my Manager. I used to somehow dodge the question. Finally the day I applied for tatkaal passport, I told him that its only now I have applied for passport and I should get it in next 5 days. He was surprised but still told me "Just hurry up!".
I got my passport exactly on the day promised. I rushed and applied for Visa the same day. I got an appointment in consulate after 5 days.
Finally exactly after a month of my applying for passport in the GPO I was aboard the plane for my first onsite trip :) Its all due to Lord Venkateswara's blessings..
Lessons learnt:-1. Be prepared in life for surprises. 2. Passport is a very important document, not only for travelling but for many other purposes. 3. If you havent applied for one yet, do so immediately. Do not wait for opportunity to show up. Just be prepared :)
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