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Question: My wife has a passport from Chennai, since she was residing in Tamil Nadu at the time she took the passport. Now we have moved to Delhi. Her passport is going to expire. Do I have to renew the passport in Chennai, or can I do it in Delhi?
Ans: One should apply for passport within the place of jurisdiction only that is where one resides at the time of application (fresh or renewal).
Question: I have recently shifted to a new house. But the house is under a company lease. The house lease agreement is in the name of my company and not in my name. So I cannot provide the lease agreement copy for proof of address. I have therefore obtained a letter from my company, on the company's letter head, stating my residence address. Can I submit this company letter for proof of address?
Ans: Yes, Passport Office accepts letters from reputed companies, on their letter head, for residence proof. To supplement the proof, you may attach either (i) telephone bill or (ii) bank letter confirming that you are operating an account with the bank from the address mentioned. Note: Lease agreements are not acceptable as independent proofs of residence.
They can however be submitted along with an additional address proof, such a mobile phone bill etc.
Question: While submitting applications at Passport office is it required to produce original documents for verification at the counter? Who are the officers authorized for attestation of photocopies of supporting documents?
Ans: Two photocopies of all supporting documents, duly attested by gazetted officers, are required to be submitted along with the application, as is customary. The originals are required to be produced at the submission counter, for physical verification by the counter staff, who will certify on the photocopies that the originals have been seen and returned. Gazetted officers approved by the Center/ State Government are authorized to attest the supporting documents. For reissue cases, the old passport (in original) is to be submitted along with the application. This will be returned to the applicant (after cancellation, in the case of valid passports) along with the new passport.
It is advised that all applicants keep a set of photocopies of the application and all the supporting documents in their custody until the application is successfully processed and their passport is issued.
