Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Applying for your kid's passport

My experience at Bangalore Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)
  1. Visit http://www.passportindia.gov.in Register and fill in the application and submit. There are two options – 1. Fill online form and submit 2. Fill the downloaded form and upload the completed document.
  2. Submit the form and complete payment online to schedule appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra.
  3. There is a walk in option for kids below 3 years old from morning 9.30am-11am. T&C as follows :- Applicable for infants below 3 years of age whose parents hold valid passports, with one of the parent’s passport containing Spouse name.
  4. Take all the required documents including the payment receipt and submitted application form.
  5. Reach the PSK 15 mins before the scheduled appointment. The reporting time will be mentioned in the payment receipt. The security personnel will let you in only after checking the appointment letter.
  6. Then stand in the queue to collect the token number after document verification. There is a separate queue for minors and senior citizens.
From here your counter to counter trip starts.
  1. The first counter verifies your photocopies and originals.
  2. Then proceed to the next counter to get the photo clicked and finger prints taken and documents uploaded. Note that photographs of kids below 4 years need to be brought by parents and not clicked at the venue.
  3. The next counter is again a Verification Counter where all the photocopies and originals are re-verified.
  4. The final counter is the granting officer who signs off the file as approved after a random check.
  5. Collect the acknowledgement letter from exit counter.
  6. Wait for the passport to arrive by post. 
Facilities at PSK Bellandur ORR
- Cafeteria
- Baby Feeding room
- Washrooms
- Photocopying machine
- Paid Parking
Documents Tips
 
  •  For minors, the following documents are required
    • Proof of present address in the name of parent(s)
    • Proof Of Date Of Birth
    • A Declaration affirming the particulars furnished in the application about the minor as per: Annexure 'H'
    • Attested photocopy of Passport of both or either parent
    • Photograph if the kid is below 4 years old. Recent coloured passport size (4.5 x 3.5 cm) photograph with a white background. It is better to click a few pictures of your baby In plain background and get the background changed and photo cropped to the required size from a photo studio. Though smiling pics are cute, try to get photos of your baby with mouth shut, ears seen, eyes open and natural expression. Difficult but manageable when clicked full size and later cropped.
  • Documents can be attested by either of the parents.
  • Aadhar can be submitted as address proof only if Aadhar card issue date is more than a year from passport application date. If not, it should be accompanied by another address proof.
  • If submitting income tax assessment form as address proof, you may be asked for pan card copy too. It happened to me. So carry your pan card original and photocopy just in case.
  • It is much easier to apply when both parents passports mention spouse name. That avoids the police verification step too.
  • It is also easy when you have stayed in your residence for more than a year when it comes to the matter of address proof. Be it telephone bill, water bill, aadhar card, bank statement, etc, they request for one year proof. So in case you are planning to shift your home and also have plans to apply for passport for your kid, I recommend you do the latter first, get the passport and then shift. Otherwise you need to fill a supplementary form and get the application done.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Adai Dosa

Dosas are my favorite mode of breakfast. This is mainly because, for the working mum I am, it gives me the freedom to enjoy that extra wink of sleep in the mad mornings! :)
So this was the day when I  could use some variety for the normal Dosa recipe. The result.. Here goes....
What you'll need:
* raw rice - 1.5 cups
* urad dal - 1 cup
* Toor dal - .5 cup
* Channa dal - .5 cup
* cooked rice - 1.5 cup
*
Soak separately raw rice, urad dal , and the mix of toor and channa deal for about 6-8 hours
Grind urad dal to smooth paste.
Then add in raw rice and other dals and grind along with the cooked rice
Mix all together.
Add small onion and curry leaves chopped finely.
Salt as needed
And you're ready to try your skills at spreading a perfect dosa!
 
 
- Chalked by Megha Kuruvilla
 

The Best Chocolate Custard Biscuit Pudding I Ever Made and Had!!!

Chocolate is my favorite part of every cuisine. And this particular combination of custard chocolate and pudding instantly caught my eye.
 
Should tell you that this is the best ever version of biscuit pudding I've ever had. The first set i made got over before i could even catch a click of it. This is the second set i made in two consecutive days and I'm lucky that my camera could catch a glimpse of it before it vanished :)
 
Thanks to my friend Ria's blog, the source of this recipe.
 
So here goes... get ready to be dazzled :)
 
 
What you'll Need :
** Chocolate -150gms  (Dark chocolate as per original recipe, but i substituted it with normal Amul chocolate bars the first time i made this.. .and it is more yummier !!)
** Biscuits - 10 to 15 or as needed
** Condensed milk - 1 tin of
** Milk -1 condensed milk tin
** Egg - 4 yolks
** Custard Powder -2 tblsp ( My addition to the original recipe)
** Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
** Coffee powder -  enough to make a cup of strong black coffee
 
Let's do the Magic !!!
** Melt the chocolate
** To little of the milk mix custard powder and dissolve well.
**To the melted chocolate add 4 egg yolks ,condensed milk, custard powder mix and the milk
** Mix well
** Put it on the stove and stir continuously. NOTE: Dont forget to Stir continuously. As chances of it getting burnt is very high.
** This step does take some time, as we have to cook it till the mixture starts thickening to a custard consistency. Add vanilla essence.
** Once its thickened and boiled, remove from fire and set aside.
 
For the setting
** Make black coffee, maybe about a cup.
** Dip the biscuits in the coffee and line the pudding dish. I stopped with two layers, but we can surely have about 3 as you'd like.
** Pour the custard over the biscuit layers and put it into the fridge to set for sometime.
Relish the finger licking goodness :)

- Chalked by Megha Kuruvilla

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