15 Jan From Passport Woes to Success: How Arjun Fixed His Name in Just 10 Days | Passport Name Change
A Real Journey from 3 Months of Struggle to 10 Days of Success:
PART 1: THE DECISION – WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
It was June 2024. It was thundering outside, and it was nearly midnight. People call me Arjun Iyer now and it gives me a strange feeling. It is natural, because every new thing takes some time in our life to get settled down. But in my case things were slightly different. For a long time I was trying to make the necessary corrections to my misspelt name but was getting hindered. Not only that, my passport was also carrying a misspelt name. I did not have any knowledge on how to make the necessary corrections but one day I thought it was enough, and finally decided to change my name in order to update my correct name on my passport..You must be thinking that what kind of an error was it, right? It was not a simple mistake and it was something that was much more complex than correcting my misspelled name. My full name was listed inaccurately in my passport.and this mistake caused several issues in my life. Like many of you, I also thought that it was a nothing matter ,and I always thought that correcting it would be straightforward. Some of my friends and colleagues misguided me and I believed their words. I thought that it was a matter of filling out some forms,a few simple paperworks and everything will be all right within a couple of weeks. So I always took the matter lightly, and to be very honest I did not have enough idea on the process, but I thought it would be simple and easy. But it was not easy at all my friends, it was much more complicated than I initially thought.
THE RESEARCH – WHERE CONFUSION BEGINS
The problems and confusions began when I started researching the matter. Like most of you, I also started by searching the process on Google. I typed “How to change my name on my passport?”, but the result was unexpected. The results were all over the place, and believe me I became puzzled by seeing all these.There was no one to guide me through the process and I felt much more helpless when some pages suggested that I should file an application through a district court, while the others pointed to an affidavit and newspaper publication. Some websites mentioned about the gazette, but there were no clear instructions about the process.Some fake sites also claimed that the process would be done in just two weeks,I thought it right but when I looked at the other sites I became confused. They were saying it may take up to three months or even more. I was puzzled and took out my notebook. I composed myself and took out the jist from those contradictory statemates. Everywhere I looked I found three different things which were almost common in almost all of the reliable sites.
I was asking myself and writing my answers in the notebook.
- Affidavit? Yes, maybe needed.
- Newspaper ad? Definitely.(as I thought after browsing the sites).
- gazette notification for name change? Yes. (but how?) I wrote in the bracket.
But when I looked at the page, I felt that I made a big mistake. Because I wrote those steps and those were accurate but I made the list depending upon predictions. The next day I took it to one of my friend's guardians, who was an employee of the Gazette office. I thought it was the best way to know what exactly needed to be done. The uncle said to me “who told you all these things?” I replied “I browsed the internet but didn't get any specific guidance, but these steps I found common in the most reliable sites, so made a rough but I am not sure that am I right or wrong”.
“You are an intelligent boy, these are the right steps but you will have to complete the entire process step by step. So be careful.” Now I know what needs to be done but what I always thought was a simple task, now looks like an impossible puzzle. Believe me each step was very confusing and I was thinking that I would not be able to finish the process. My confidence level began to deepen. Ultimately a simple fix became a nightmare for me.
THE FIRST ROADBLOCK – DOCUMENTS
I didn't give up. I carried on with my research and I started gathering information from different sources. After a few days, I realized the first step was to gather the necessary supporting documents. But I had to be disappointed, as I was not carrying the documents with me. One of my friends gave me an idea “call your mother and request her to scan all the documents and mail them to you”. It was a great idea and I gave a call to my mother, when she received the call I told her “I need my birth certificate”. But she replied- “It’s in Madurai, at your uncle’s place,”
These words were like an electric shock for me, I asked “where mom? Madurai? She said yes. I told her “Mom, I have been living in Chennai for the last five years, and my birth certificate is in another city?” She just said yes. I needed all the documents very urgently so I asked her to tell my uncle to mail them to me. My mother said that's not safe because there is a chance of getting lost, so it is not a safe option. But I thought visiting Madurai in person would be expensive and time consuming.
I searched several different online sources, but each of them were telling conflicting and puzzling things:
- One website said the birth certificate was necessary. While the other said an Aadhaar card or voter card was enough. Anotherwebsiteclearlymentioned that a character certificate will be needed. Later I understood that all these are fake websites, and they were in hunt of people like me who didn't have any idea about the process.
After a week my uncle sent me the scanned copy of my birth certificate. I thought that I could proceed now but there were still many things to be done. I was thinking that now I will have to prepare the affidavit next. I never drafted an affidavit, and I didn't have the idea of how to draft an affidavit in a proper format. So I thought about hiring a lawyer, I thought it would be the best decision as they know it very well. But the lawyers were asking for ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 for just drafting the affidavit which was absurd. I said “no” to them and I decided to draft the affidavit myself. I opened Google and took an online template and started typing the affidavit. After three hours of typing the affidavit was ready. The next step was simple, I took the document and went to a notary the next day. After making a few adjustments, the notary ultimately notarized my affidavit for ₹500.
That night I realized that I have already spent two weeks and ₹500 just to prepare the name change affidavit but I was no way near completing the entire process.
THE SECOND ROADBLOCK – THE PASSPORT OFFICE MYSTERY
I was getting my confidence back and the next day I went out for the Passport office with my notarized affidavit in hand. I was getting restless in order to submit my documents to the passport office. When I reached the passport office I found myself in a chaotic situation. There were people standing in long lines for hours. I also stood in the line and after waiting for two hours or more I got the chance to enter the passport office. It was a ridiculous experience. There were ill-behaved clerks and they were simply ignoring me. In fact they were ignoring all of us. I asked one officer “Sir, want to change my name, that is wrongly printed on my passport, and I have the noterized affidavit and my birth certificate with me”. That man looked at me waited for a few seconds and pointed his hand to the opposite desk! I was surprised but I went to the opposite desk and that man told me “where is your character cirtificate?” This question made me angery but I composed myself and then I went to the next desk. A sharp young man finally told me that I will have to submit proof of my name change through name change advertisemets in two newspapers. It was a another thing that made me disappointed. At that point of time I understood that what I was assuming was entirely wrong. I thought that I will be able to update my name directly with the help of passport office.
I became puzzled and I was really seraching for a reliable guide in this kind of a scenario, but was unable to find. I took a taxi and headed to the first newspaper office.
THE THIRD ROADBLOCK – THE NEWSPAPER NIGHTMARE
When I went to the first newspaper office I had to pay ₹2,500 for a single ad. It was an office of a English newspaper. I had no option in hand so I filled out the form, paid the applicable fees, and started waiting. After four days, the ad was published and I received the first clipping of my name change ad.
Then I had to deal with the second newspaper. I had already published an ad in an English language newspaper, and this one was needed to be published in Tamil. When I asked for a form and received one, I could not understand anything as the form was printed entirely in Tamil language. I was trying to tell the stuff about my disability of reading or understanding Tamil in English, but the staff there didn’t speak much English. I was caught in a situation where there were no one to help but we are human beings and we can do anything if we think logically. I was was thinking about AI, but I used Google Translate for filling out the form. Then I had to pay another ₹2,000. The second name change ad got published within three days and finally I got the second newspaper clipping of my name change.
That night I was thinking that I had already spent ₹4,500 and almost a month, but I was able to receive the crucial clippings of name change ads published in two newspapers, and these documents will help me to move forward. I felt that I was moving forward to resolving this issue, slowly but surely.
THE FOURTH ROADBLOCK – BACK TO THE PASSPORT OFFICE
Now I had enough confidence as I had all the documents ready and went to the passport office for submitting my documents. I entered the office like a king but very soon my kingdom was lost when one of the officer said me: “This address proof is incorrect. You need to submit a utility bill or your bank statement,” This thim I lost my cool and told him “this is my third visit to the office and now you are telling me that my address proof is wrong? Are you guys joking with me? Wait on coming back soon.” This outburst motivated the other people who were also suffering like me, and they also lost lost their cool!
I rushed back to my residence and took all the utility bills and the rental agreement and returned to the passport office. It was my 3rd visit and on my third visit, the clerks finally accepted my application and the necessary supporting documents. But the job was not done, the officer said me: “The fee for name change is ₹1,000. Your application will be processed within 15 to 45 days”. I said “What! fifteen to forty-five days?” I asked in a loud and clear voice. The officer casually replied “It depends on the workload, of the department”.
THE WAITING GAME – FRUSTRATION PEAKS
Almost 10 weeks went by. But no updates on the new passport came. Days were going by and everyday I was hoping an update will come. But nothing came. Months were passing by and when September came I lost my patience. I checked my cellphone every day with hope, but there was nothing. I was thinking what would I say when my wife would ask me “When will you get the updated passport?” I spent so many days, I toiled so hard, I spent pleanty of money for the purpose. I thought I will say her “I don't have any idea”. In fact I was waiting for the updated document for over 4 months now. I lost my focus and I became irragular at my work.
The name change was always on my mind, and even small problems felt bigger than they were. One evening, after a long and tiring day, I knew I couldn’t wait anymore. I had to take action and get things started.
How changeofname.in Solved My Passport Name Change Problem
Nothing came. I was thinking that what went wrong. My mother, my wife will never believe this. Neither my boss. I became desparate and opened my laptop, and typed “passport name change service in Chennai,” in the searchbar. I was thinking that God will surely show me the correct way, and at that point of time I found changeofname.in.
When I was reading the site, I could not believe my eyes. changeofname.in guaranteed that everything would be completed to the end no more endless steps, no more confusion, no more time wastage. They gave a one-stop, one-size-fits-all solution including the affidavit, newspaper advertisements, and even the gazette notification for name change. What actually attracted my attention was the promise; they do the whole passport name change process within 10-14 business days and the most astonishing thing was that all this would cost me only a nominal fee of 3,500.
It was the first time in months, when I got a sense of relief. I had now nothing to lose, and it felt as though it were a last opportunity of getting this right. I didn’t hesitate. I then resolved to jump. changeofname.in was the only reliable thing that I could think of and I was ready to hand them over this long awaited change. It seemed that my solution had come at last.
THE TURNING POINT – FIRST CONSULTATION
Next morning I was reading the Times of India with a cup of coffee, suddenly my cellphone rang at 10A.M sharp. I lifted the call and said “Hello who is it.” It was a call from Guru. He is a consultant who works for changeofname.in.
He told me “Good morning Sir, I have reviewed your case thoroughly” I stood up in excitement, Guru, confirmed me that my application was still in the passport office queue. I was surprised to hear that! How irresponsible these guys are, “now what to be done” I asked. Guru told me that their team has a priority channel, so the name change process can move faster—it will definitely be completed quickly. He also said that they can process my case in 10 to 14 days! I was truly surprised, “so fast but how?”, he replied “Our connections at the passport office will ensure faster processing.”
I thought for a while, and finally told Guru “Let’s do it.”
THE SOLUTION – SMOOTH EXECUTION
changeofname.in started to work on the matter. They are highly professional people who are fully dedicated to their promises. Guru was a senior consultant and he was handling my case. In no time Guru and his team started to work on my case. They were so much professional and accurate that at last I got a chance to recompose myself. It was only the fifth day and Guru and his team had expedited my name change request. I was thinking what is happening! The changeofname.in was rushing through the process very fast and truly they played a role of the gamechanger in my life. I rejoined my office, and on the 7th day I got my updated passport with my new name! The passport name change mission was accomplished within 7 days by changeofname.in.
I spent pleanty of time effort and money to get it done, but nothing worked. The entite process was dragged on for months, I became restless, I lost my focus and I almost lost my job. I lost my mental peace. But changeofname.in. resolved the issue just in 10 days! I felt relieved and thanked them. The process seemed like a never-ending nightmare was finally over.
Conclusion
It was a real story of my name change journey. It tested my patience and persistence. But I have seen many people suffering like me and waiting in long lines at the passport office day after day. I fought a never-ending battle to get it done, but nothing changed. But I am grateful to Guru and his team. They made the entire process easy and smooth; it was for them. That's why I am able to officially hold my updated passport with my accurate name. If you are reading my story or know someone who is struggling like me to update his or her name in the passport, contact changeofname.in now to get it done smoothly and to maintain your peace of mind.