Indian Passport Renewal for Minor - BLS

Hi All, Recently I have applied for my Son's Passport Renewal in NY consulate via mail to BLS.  And when I read all the info on BLS website there was lot of Information available and quite confusing for me. In which I have filtered all the information according to my requirements. It was a hassle for me to collect, download, fill them and notarize the required documents and all. 

Phew...any how I did it and waiting for my son's New Passport.

OK... This process is for
Mother & Father is on - H Visa
Minor Kid (6 years) with Indian Passport.
So please note others may require additional documents/Information.

I would like to tell the easy Process. Because when I did, all the process was confusing. Instead of doing in an order 1,2,3 and so on... I did in an order 5,3,4,..1 LOL. So I want to share my experience  to make other parents simple.

I will divide into 4 simple steps.So here is the procedure.

STEP:1(Arranging and Preparing for ORDER FORM)

Normally This is the first thing we have to do but every one do this step as Final step Including me.This makes lot of confusion. But I prefer this the best and easiest way to start with.

1)Very First thing Get Eight recent color passport size (2in x 2in) photographs of your Kid.

    3 photos to stick on 3 Notarization form's.

    1 photo you have to stick to Application

    1 photo to stick on Change In appearance Affidavit. 

    3 photos we have to send separately with Application.

   

FYI:
**Costco is the cheapest.They charge $5 for 4 Passport size photos. So for 8 photos you have to pay $10 only.
**Sam's Club Charge $5 for 2 photos. So for 8 photos you have to pay $20.

2) Take Money Order from USPS or from any bank For processing Fee.
Below is the fee structure.

Service Type	Service	Consular Fee	ICWF fee	BLS Service charge	Total
Regular Charge	Application Fees Child below 14 years	$50.00	$3.00	$13.20	$66.20
	Application Fees Child above 14 years	$75.00	$3.00	$13.20	$91.20
Tatkaal	Application Fees Child below 14 years	$200.00	$3.00	$13.20	$216.20
	Application Fees Child above 14 years	$225.00	$3.00	$13.20	$241.20

3) Go to UPS/Fedex. I wasn't comfortable booking online so I directly went to UPS. Buy 2 prepaid self addressed envelops  with tracking numbers one is from you to BLS and return -from BLS to you. If possible add signature facility so that the UPS guys just won't drop your passport at door.

4) Fill the Order Form  and save.They will email you the Links for Order Form and additional link with For 'Passport Shipping Label' STEP:2( Filling Forms and Downloading) Online NRI passport Application. You have to fill it online and make sure everything is correct then save it. Download the completed and saved application and complete the remaining information which you haven't able to complete online.(There are some columns you have to fill after downloading the application).  And other forms you can fill in downloaded PDF or take print out and fill by hand. I directly edited in PDF. Below is the Online Application for Passport Renewal Online Passport Registration at Indian Missions/Posts for NRIs Click here to fill online Click below mention links to download form Nationality Verification Form / Performa For Verification of Nationality / Personal Particulars Form Click here to download Sample Nationality Verification Form Click here to download Change in Appearance Affidavit Click here to download Affidavit for No Status (Applicable to applicants applying in Atlanta/New York/Houston and SFO Jurisdiction Only)  Click here to download Affidavit of Applicant Parents for Passport for Minor Child Click here to download Authority Letter for Collection of Passport Click here to download CheckList Click here to download CLICKS HERE FOR SAMPLES / SEE HOW TO FILL THE FORMS.(will update this soon) STEP:3(Taking Printouts of all the Documents) Now Its time to take all the Printouts. Take some extra copies where your kid's signature and notarization are involved. I am providing number of copies based on what you have to send to BLS. 1) Application Form -1 copy  2) Nationality Verification Form -3 copies 3)Change in Appearance Affidavit-1 copy  4)Affidavit of Applicant Parents for Passport for Minor Child - 1 copy (contains 2 pages these 2 pages must be notarized) 5)Photocopy of Proof of Residence- For example Driving License/ Utility Bill –  Gas/Electricity/Water/ Rental lease agreement /Home Mortgage Bill (In case of minor  proof of residence of either or both parents is accepted) -1 copy 6) Check List .You have to fill this at the end before sending the documents and send this along with your documents. -1 copy 7)Oder Form - 1 copy and also you will get additional link with order form For 'Passport Shipping Lable' which you have to take the printout and stick in the sending packet to BLS which works as tracking number to them.1 copy. 8)The below steps are for  a) Mother   b) Father  c) Minor Kid  -1 copy each Photocopy of the first five pages and last two pages of the passport Including VISA Stamped Page.(**color photo copy for Visa page only) I 797 & I 94 photo copies. STEP:4(Notarizing Required Documents) After all the forms are duly filled you have to get some of them notarized. Notarization can be done for free of cost at any bank If you have an account with them. OR else you can get it done at UPS. But they charge some $$. For Notarization Both parents and Applicant(minor) have to Sign in front of the notarization officer and must present their ID's ( Passport / Driving Licences) at the time of notarization. ** (If your kid can write his/her name then they can write their name where ever applicant signature is required) So here is the list of Form which you have to get it Notarized.

Page 3 of the application form should be notarized. Photocopy of the first page and last page of both parents passport Including Visa Page should be notarized. (**color photo copy for  Visa page) Change in Appearance Affidavit should be notarized. Affidavit of Applicant Parents for Passport for Minor Child should be notarized (contains 2 pages these 2 pages must be notarized )  Photocopy of Proof of Residence should be notarized.- For example Driving License/ Utility Bill – Gas/Electricity/Water/ Rental lease agreement /Home Mortgage Bill (In case of minor proof of residence of either or both parents is accepted)  Color Photocopy of Proof of Valid Visa should be notarized. EX: Visa on Passport/ Green Card/ Permanent Residency Card/ Employee Authorization Card/ I-797 Approval Notice/ I-485 for children FINAL STEP(Setting up all the documents to Dispatch) 1)Paste the photographs where ever required     3 photos to stick on 3 Notarization form's.     1 photo you have to stick to Application     1 photo to stick on Change In appearance Affidavit.      3 photos we have to send separately with Application. 2)Remember you have to send original Passport of your Kid. (Not yours) 3)Include Money Order along with your documents. 4)Do Check all the columns and do fill them before sending. 3)Do Check for all the signatures including Minor child, Parents,Witness and Notary Officer's. 5) Include the Check List and Order Form In your documents. 6) Don't forget to Include Prepaid Return Envelop with Tracking number. 7)Finally Arrange Documents In order according to the Check List. Don't forget to send any of the documents. How to handle Rejected Application: They rejected our applications because of our fault. I forgot take the signature of our son on "Change In appearance Affidavit" and forgot to take the signature's of  Witness on " Affidavit DECLARATION OF APPLICANT PARENTS". BLS will send you the information In detail what we have missed and what we have to do.They will update that on their website Itself.You can find that updates while Tracking your Application .So If you are in hurry you can arrange the required documents before you receive the packet and again you have to get Prepaid UPS/FEDEX envelops for sending and receiving the passport with tracking numbers and fill the Orderform with new tracking Information and take the printouts and get everything ready. So while sending the application again I have filled the NEW Order Form in which we have to give New Tracking numbers other than that all the information is same including money order number.  PS: I hope I have included all the information. Please do your own research and get more information from BLS Website. Let me know If I have missed anything and share your experiences,Ideas, and Views. All the information is collected from BLS WEBSITE.

**Though I have not sent the color photo copy of  Visa page.But A/C to BLS website they need color photo copy for only Visa page.