Getting a Passport - Why is it so difficult?

India
June 2, 2011 4:28am CST
Recently I applied for passport through an authorized agent. My earlier experience of applying all on my own has left bitter feelings that I decided to do it through an agent. The amount of documents that have to be submitted - address proof, id proof, name change document (changing a name is definitely a luxury)and so on. How has been your experience?
3 responses
@laniekins (4579)
• Philippines
3 Jun 11
I applied my first passport last year, I did it on my own, no escorts. I didn't find it hard to produce the documents specially for normal application, they just take my authenticated birth certificate and NBI and they get the xerox copy of my voter's ID. However, for special cases like changing name, that would be more difficult to handle. I was late at my appointment when I arrived but I was still accommodated. My only fault is that I choose the 10:00 am that is near the lunch time. I've waited for long hours before I was enrolled, I was so hungry that time.
• India
3 Jun 11
In my opinion, despite the use of Information & Technology in passport offices, the process has to be streamlined so as to favor the end user. There are several bottlenecks that sometime makes application to public services almost impossible.
• Philippines
5 Jun 11
I applied for a passport some years ago and I went through the process with the help of traveling agency. It was a smooth process and I was able to complete all my paperwork without delay. The only inconvenient thing was that I have to show up personally on the government office that handles the process. After that meeting, I went back to my class. The amount of documents is really overwhelming but it has its perks. Passport s one of the government issued ID's that you can use for easy identification. Though with the government today issuing a document after the other, sometimes it is easy to misplace an important paper for a requirement.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
3 Jun 11
First time I got a passport way back in 2001, it was quite easy for me. I sent the forms through an agent and it was done without any issues. But for my son he had some problems because he was not available for police verification as he was studying in a college in Rajasthan. it took many days for his passport because another verification at Rajqasthan had to be done and then it was issued. this time when it was a renewal now particulars are stored through computer only --I went through an agent -- I went at 7 am stood in the queue came out around 2 pm. After a week we got it issued. Government employees would like this problems to continue because they are happy, they need to do less work and agents and they are also thriving. If all documents are correctly produced and u are able to spend a day there in PPO then u can get it. have a good day