Rejection of Passport Application in india

When anyone wishes to travel outside India, the first and the most essential piece of document is the passport. This document establishes one's identity as a citizen of India and contains all the visas stamped or pasted on its pages. The passport is not only a travel document but also a substantial proof of identity and address. A passport has to be obtained through a lengthy and tedious procedure. One has to first apply for a passport. Surprisingly enough, a handful of passport applications are rejected by the issuing authorities. The main reason for the rejection of passport application is generally some common errors and certain special situations. Read on to know about the most common reasons why Indian passport applications could be rejected.

Popular Reasons for Rejection of Passport Applications

Most of the reasons behind the rejection of Indian passport applications are so elementary that they really shouldn't occur. These are the things that applicants need to look out for.

• Mistakes on the application form: Applicants must make sure that they read through the instructions very carefully before they start filling out the passport application form. Wrong information entered in the wrong place can lead to the application being rejected and deemed invalid.

• Incorrect information: If the information provided by the applicant cannot be verified or differs from the information on the supporting documents or is found to be inaccurate, it can lead to the rejection of the application.

• Incorrect documents: A passport application requires the submission of certain documents to prove the applicant's identity, date of birth and to determine the ECR/ECNR (Emigration Check Required/Not Required) status. The Ministry of External Affairs accepts a specific list of documents and if the applicant deviates from that list then the application may get rejected.

• Unclear documents: While applying for a passport, the applicant has to submit copies of supporting documents. If the submitted copies are not legible or obscure the information or are difficult to discern, the chances of the passport being rejected is high.

• Fee not paid: Passport applications have an obligatory processing fee. If the applicant is unable to pay the fee within the given time, the application can be rejected.

• Failure to complete police verification: Many passports are issued before the police verification is over but the application procedure is not complete until the verification is done. Applications often get rejected for inconclusive police verification. Such instances may occur if applicants fail to provide their current address correctly or are not available at the address provided in the application. If applicants apply for a passport and then shift before the police verification without informing the passport department or the police, the application might get rejected.

• Criminal history: Applicants with a criminal history or with cases pending against them may face a rejection of passport. This is mainly to ensure that the person is available in the country during the duration of the trial. If the applicant was involved in a criminal investigation but the charges were dropped, then a certificate affirming the same has to be submitted along with the application. This also includes cases where warrants are issued in the applicant's name.

• Security reasons: Applications from people who are on the most wanted list by law enforcement in the country stand a high chance of rejection as well.

• Dues not paid: If the applicant is buried in debt, has taken some heavy loans or borrowed a lot on credit cards and has not been regular with repayments, then also there’s a high chance for the application to get rejected.

What if the Application is Rejected?

If a passport application is rejected, then the first action would be to check the reason behind the rejection. If it was rejected due to the failure of police verification or discrepancy in the documentation, then the mistake can be corrected and an application can be made again in 3 days. If an applicant is unable to understand the reason for a rejection or feel that the reasons are not valid, then they can either write to the RPO or register a grievance. The passport office will investigate the matter and resolve it.

It is better to treat these mistakes as a checklist. It increases the chances of the application getting accepted. Applicants must make sure that they are not at odds with any of the above-mentioned points and must also ensure that they are extremely careful with the application as well as the documents that are submitted.