* new timings for frro bangalore
Posted on January 12th, 2010 by Alex. Filed under FRO.
Every year the same procedure: The extension of my registration and residential permit. Since Monday (11th January 2010) there are some changes which prolong any procedure at the foreign registration office (FRO) in Bangalore significantly. Now they got computers there, but the chaos the change causes, is matchless.
I reached there at 10:30AM and was able to leave the office at 3:02PM (on the same day). So what did I do in the 4.5h in between? Well, first of all, you have to wait in a queue. It’s length is around 30m, but it varies throughout the day. It is getting longer and longer. The estimated moving speed is around 10m per hour. So you can do the math, you will stand there for several hours. If there is one document missing, you have to return the next day and again wait in the queue.
They close the office for applications at 1:00PM. So sometimes you are not even able to reach the office since you wait so long in the queue in front of it. Again here: Better luck next time.
Since the waiting time is so long, it is good to follow some tricks:
- Have a bottle of water with you, but do not drink to much. Toilets are not there (as far as I could figure out).
- Have some snacks to eat.
- Take some blank pages with you where you can note down some things. Sometimes only one letter is missing, so you can write it there without waiting in the queue again.
- Take some music, games, newspaper or whatever with you to kill the time.
- Do not waste energy in discussing any issue with the officials. Even their nerves are on the edge and it just makes it worse. They will not move from their point of view.
- If there is any problem, e.g. an information is missing in a letter or so and they tell you to come back tomorrow, try out somebody else first. E.g. in my bonafide certificate a date was missing and the first clerk saw that at the help desk. So he rejected my request which would have meant to come back tomorrow. Another guy at the help desk accepted the application without a problem.
- Have some friends who can wait with you. You can rotate in sitting and standing without loosing the position in the queue. 3h of continuous standing could be quite painful. Not to mention: reallllyyyyy booooring.
Despite the fact that the office is open till 5:30PM (or even 6PM) only till 4:00PM tokens will be issued. So no need to come in the afternoon. For each application or request, a form is needed. That can be picked up at the inquiry desk. If you do not have that form and you manage to proceed till the help desk inside, you have to come back tomorrow. Fortunately I found a blank form inside the office and literally flicked it from under their noses.
January 12th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
[...] The following documents are required to apply for a residential permit extension. Maybe this post will save you some hours in the waiting queue. [...]
January 19th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
[...] Take also scissors, a pen and a glue stick with you, since the photos need to be glued to the registration certificate and its copies. And do not forget a good book or your MP3 player, since it takes some hours till everything is processed. Also be prepared that each time when you want to turn in all documents, something different is wrong and you need to fill out something more or need to change some things (which were fine, when you tried to turn in them previously). So it can be very frustrating. A single summary, what is wrong at once, is not possible. The FRO of Bangalore is located in Infantry Road near Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road (see map below), ZIP Code: 560051 (The office has been shifted). Office hours are noted down in another post. [...]
January 21st, 2011 at 6:52 am
Hi,
I was there today and I do have a OCI ( overseas citizen of india ) card, along with my US passport.
The officers at the desk told that I dont need to register – as long as
1. the US passport is valid
2. the OCI card is present and I have to carry it with me whenever I travel.
II. Did not have any long lines as I went there are 9:30
III. There was a toilet in the back – the entrance looked clean, assume that the inside is good too.
There are small stores in that area for coffee, tea etc.
[REPLY]
jitu Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 9:24 am
That is true. Now OCI applicants have a dedicated counter and almost all the time, nobody is sitting in front of it. So there will not be any queue. However this does not apply to the registration process normal foreigners have to go through. See, I went there 2 days and I reached FRO at 8:30AM. I was not able to leave that office before 11AM to 12AM. Maybe an registration extension is more complicated than a new registration.
Anyhow this post referred to the old situation that was there at the Commissioner of Police in Infantry Road who acted as FRO until they shifted to Double Road. In Infantry Road there was no token system and having a snack at one of the local stores automatically meant to give up the rank in the queue. With the token system, it is possible to go even shopping without giving up the position.
Toilets etc. are also new. However the Gent’s toilet is spilling water everywhere, so be careful.
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October 5th, 2011 at 10:41 am
I had applied for OCI on 20th Sept. 2011 and send to FRRO office in Bangalore office by registered post on the same day. I still have not received any confirmation or acknowledgement. The status of my application is also not available in the OCI website. I am a Singapore Citizen of Indian origin.
How can I get an update. I send email to FRRO office in Delhi but did not get any response. What is the email address of FRRO office in Bangalore.
[REPLY]
Alex Reply:
October 5th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Hey,
I do not think that sending an email will give you the desired response. Emails in administrative departments and governments are never answered. Better is to call them. The number is probably +91 80 2520 2053
Let me know, if it worked.
[REPLY]
Rajesh Darwin Reply:
October 7th, 2011 at 8:02 am
Thank you for the your prompt response. I was finally able call FRRO Office in Bangalore and get the status update. Thank you for your help.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 10:10 am
I have an OCI and got a new Canadian passport. I am told that I have to get the OCI certificate again. Is this true?
[REPLY]
Alex Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 am
See, I do not work at the bureau of immigration, so in your case, I cannot give any further information. I would suggest to call them up and ask them. They are the professionals.
Sorry
Here is the phone number: +91 80 2520 2053
and maybe you can find some help here:
http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/
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January 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hi
We both having canadian pp and OCI also and new baby born in Inida (May 11) we have recd passport from new delhi on Oct11.. when we went to airport immigration officials asked for exit document for my son.. They have told me to contact FRRO office banglore with all the required documents can anybody guide how long it will takes to get the exit document from FRRO.. we have all the documents including RP (Dubai)…
Thanks
Ram
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