Passport, visa application availibility to be made simpler
by P. Jayaram, India Abroad New Service

New Delhi, Sep 14  - The Indian foreign ministry is undertaking major
reforms in its consular services by making availibility of passport
applications simpler and launching a website from which visa application
forms can be downloaded.

In a bid to reduce the milling crowds of passport seekers at its passport
offices, the Indian government is giving franchise to private parties to
sell passport applications, officials said today.

The move is expected to considerably reduce the crowding of not only
passport seekers but also touts who make a fast buck by cornering the free
application forms and selling them to passport seekers who want to avoid
the queue.

The officials were speaking to journalists after Foreign Secretary K.
Raghunath launched a website (http:/passport.nic.in) of the Central
Passport Organisation. The website will carry information on passport, visa
rules and regulations and about Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards issued
to people of Indian origin to facilitate easier visits to the country of
their roots.

The website would also have information about the fees for various
services, status and deficiences in applications submitted at the Delhi
passport office till  the facility is extended to the other 28 passport
offices across the country.

Importantly, passport seekers would not have to go to the passport office
for applications as they would be able to download the forms and these
would be acceptable at the passport offices. Foreign nationals could also
download Indian visa application forms from the website.

With more Indians travelling abroad, the 28 passport offices in the
country issued a total of 2.22 million passports last year, compared to 1.6
million in 1991.

"Radical changes are being initiated in each step of the process for the
issue of passports and the results would be visible in the next few
months," Raghunath said, adding that the inauguration of the website was
part of the ongoing programme for stramlining and improving passport
services.

"You will see in a few months crowds thinning and services spread out," he
added.

The passport authorities are also considering issue of out-of-turn
passports for a higher fee for those who are in a hurry, the officials said.

Forwarded by Frederick Noronha
Courtesy India News Abroad Service