[I submitted my application for passport reissue on 12/07/2011
under tatkal service at HCI london.
Reached IHC London: 07:00 (120 people ahead of me, some were sitting on the floor, most were OCI card/PIO applicants). Day travel card £15 zone 1-6 yeah I know thought i will have spare time between submission and collection, wasnt the case just made a return journey between victoria and the temple tube station.
Security check bags were allowed in though I didnt have any bag but a plastic folder.
Token no. received: 228 (It was mentioned in the token that I am 29th in the passport service queue).
Passport service counter didnt opened till 9.50 a.m.
Called to window: 11:40
The lady seems to be in good mood and the guy next to the counter was bit rude, when i asked to him "excuse my sir can I get tatkaal service" gave cold look didn't bother to answer.
Luckily I took the email from HIC, London where they have confirm the "same day tatkaal service". I attached the print out of the email as the first page, just on the top of application form, gave it to the lady over the counter.
She read that email gave it back to me and asked "do you want tatkall service ?" said " oh yeas please " she told me first pay be £29 first and I will call out your name, once i will get an approval.
She put wrote "tatkaal" on the receipt gave it to me. Then she shouted my name, (only when I waved at her) oh yes now you can pay me another £100 and she gave me another receipt which says "Tatkaal fee £100". She told keep the two receipts with you safe and come back to collect your passport between 4-5 pm.
Went in to collect at 3.30 pm. at 4.20 pm passport counter opened. Then she started shouting names in some random order. There was no sign of my name, because i can hear she was telling-off some "not ready yet" (standard one-liner). It was around 5 pm, I asked when I told "Maadam" you havent called me.
She shouted " oh you tatkaal service" didnt asked for any reason.
She asked her colleagues " where is his file ? he went in to check inside said " he couldnt find it ....
" she said can you check that stack? suddenly she said " here it is ...it was lying on the floor just next to her feets .... she said or that was mixed with other files and put that on the floor.
at that time i had the glimpse of my old and shiny new passport"
She asked "where is your receipt" .. I told i gave to you and you gave to your colleague who went in to check...inside. finally he handed my receipt to her.
She said please check "the details on your new passport of there is any error come back tomorrow" .. luckily the details were OK may be i didnt asked for change of address to cut out the beaur/ecracy around it.
Lesson 1: Tatkaal works
Lesson 2: Dont hesitate to rush upto the counter and ask without fear of being shouted down.
Lesson 3: When you go to the counter to pay the Tatkaal fee, she has the approval it meant "your application is in order anyway" basically you know the out come. then one can change themind if you live in or around london.
she told me why pay that much if you can collect it in a week time. She also told me that her husband has same name as me
so a friendly advise.
But want to avoid the second trip to london and taking another day off. Beside i am due for Tier 1 (ILR) in a month time and passport was expiring in three month.
Documents Submitted
1. Current-but-expiring-soon passport.
2. Application form, duly filled electronically and signed (by hand and tciekd yes/no question by hand).
3. Photocopy of first, last and the current UK visa page.
4. Two photographs (handed both to case worker or the IFS/IAS officer).
5. Fees in cash.
£29 (They have increased by £2 as service charge)
6. Tatkaal Fee £100
+ Also had a letter from employer confirming my job details (didnt gave it to
her)
New passport collection :
Collection date given: same day
Collection time given: 4-5pm ( but collected 5.10 pm)
