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.
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.
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.
**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.
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.
**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.
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FINAL STEP(Setting up all the documents to Dispatch)
1)Paste the photographs where ever required
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.
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**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.
Thanks a lot Ambica for sharing all this info.
ReplyDeleteIt really help me a lot.when I went to BLS, officer did high five with us and mentioned that it is rare to get everything correct and in order.
For us our kid had previous passport with thumb impressions and this time he wrote his name so officer asked us to right a simple letter to consulate general informing that our kid can now sign.
I am glad you did this in one shot :) Did you setup an appointment or just walk-in??
DeleteHi Ambica, Thanks for the detailed post. Its really useful. I find the BLS site saying for minor applicants walk-in should be done. I see your post talking about mailing the application to BLS. Do you have any information on this?
ReplyDeleteHi Niths, Sorry for the late reply. At the time of my child's renewal we have sent the documents via mail. I don't have an idea about current situation.
Deletevery helpful info ! I have a question . on the minor affidavit form notary told me the second page only needs to be signed by witness and dont need notarized but you said that
ReplyDeleteboth page should be notarized can you confirm if its required to notarize both page
Hi Kirtesh, Please check the website. It says "A Notarized Affidavit (Page 1 & 2) from Parents applying for a minor child is required and Pg. 4 of the Application form must also be notarized. (The APPLICANT must sign in both boxes for Sr. No.29)." Web link http://www.passport.blsindia-usa.com/reissue&freshminor.php
DeleteHi Ambica
ReplyDeleteFirst of all..commendable job. You have made the documentation process very simple and easy. Thanks.
I had one question, I have shipping labels from FedEx and one more label from BLS order form. Do we need to stick both of them on the envelope that we send to BLS?
Thanks
Divya
Yes Divya, you have to stick that label on the envelope along with your shipping label.
DeleteAnd don't forget to include your order form along with your documents Plus your return shipping label.
Hi Ambica, quick question. Do I select "Reissue of passport" or "Passport for children upto 15yrs of age" when I fill the form for the renewal of my son's passport. His passport is expiring in June and is 6 yrs now. Also, I am now confused with Niths's comment on going personally for a minor's passport
ReplyDeletehttp://www.passport.blsindia-usa.com/reissue&freshminor.php may help. I am not sure but it might be Reissue.
DeleteHi Ambica, one more question that I missed. When we say "Change in Appearance Affidavit should be notarized" or "Affidavit of Applicant Parents for Passport for Minor Child should be notarized", do we need to get an affidavit from somewhere else for these and then take it to a notary to get it notarized, or we just download the form from the BLS website, fill it and then take to a notary to get it notarized
ReplyDeleteThe affidavit should be filled and signed in front of the notary officer then the officer will notarize that document by signing and stamping on it.
ReplyDeleteHi Ambica, Thanks for an informative post. Do you know who needs to sign on Notarized Affidavit for change in appearance? (Now my daughter can sign as she is 12 yrs old. We are renewing her passport. Current passport has thumb impression.) Do both of us (my daughter and I) need to sign on this affidavit? Any idea...
ReplyDeleteI remember my son Signed that change of affidavit form. He was 5+ years old then.
DeleteFor affidavit from parents for minor child, do the witness need to sign the document in front of notary?
ReplyDeleteYes, you need to sign infront of notary officer.
ReplyDelete