Getting a Police Clearance from India

mmohan

Hi

If anyone could help in giving me some useful pointers in getting a Police Clearance Certificate.

My first passport was issued in Chennai in 1994 and I got it renewed while I was in the US (for 4 months). The renewed Indian passport was issued in the US.

The question, I have is:

If I submit an application for getting a Police Clearance to the nearest Passport Office in Chennai (thats what I have been told is the current protocol), any idea how long is it going to take to get one? I have been told that it may take months as this case is special.

Secondly, do people require a Police Clearance Certificate who have stayed for less than 6 months in the US.

Kindly revert

AwayFromHome

Hi,

I can relate a personal experience, hope it helps.

I lost my passport as soon as I arrived in India. The passport itself was issued in Houston, US, about 3 days before I left the US, because my older one had expired.

(Please don't tell me what a dolt I am - I know, already).

So, I go to the Passport Office, and am excited that there is a chance I can get a Tatkal type passport issued. It all depends on whether they can locate my credentials on-line, which in turn depends on whether the nice folks in Houston had the time to enter my new Passport details.

So, no luck. No Tatkal.

Next step - give the Passport Office copies of all documents, including Police Clearance. And then WAIT.

Police clearance is very thorough - they will visit your residence and ask many, many (very often irrelevant) questions.

They will also require 2 signatures from neighbours that will attest that you have lived there for so long.

And there will be more than one police visit - depending on your luck, you may or may not have to part with some money.

Bottom line, it took me about 2 and a half maonths to get mey new passport.
Thank God I had no plans to travel while this was happening.

Good luck to you - I hope Tatkal works out in your case.

Nick-H

My wife got a tatkal passport replacement within one week. It could have helped that the original had also been issued from Chennai only a year or so before, although the issue of that passport was marked by incompetence and delays.

She got it done through a travel agent, got several other amendments (spouse name, etc) included. The passport arrived within a week; it was painless. She was told to visit the local police station, went a couple of times, and was told the concerned officer was out. The last time she was more-or-less told not to bother!

A few days later, a policeman did come to our door. She was out. I showed him the new passport, and he asked to see my papers too. I called Mrs N, and she spoke to him on the phone for a couple of minutes. It was very quick and simple; he was pleasant and not obtrusive --- and there was absolutely no suggestion of any "extra" payment to be made.

I'm sure that experiences differ widely, in every respect --- especially the last one!

AwayFromHome

I guess Chennai police-wallahs have greater integrity than Gurgaon police-wallahs.

Can we send some of them your way for some 'corrective' training, Nick-H?

Nick-H

My wife has a couple of good experiences with police here, where they have been truly helpful, protective, and not on the make. There are plenty of contrary experiences, though.