I felt great when I opted for electronic bills instead of paper for my post paid. This was my tiny contribution to save trees , prevent global warming and protect our environment.
I didn't realize my mistake until I applied to renew my passport. When I reached there for document verification , executive simply discarded my e-bills printout , my bank statement printout. He asked me to get the confirmation from telephone bill company and bank on their letter head that I am their customer and those printout are genuine.
He didn't accepted rental agreement and electricity bill either.
My CL got wasted which I took for passport renewal work. So instead of wasting it fully I am writing this post. It may save your CL . And please do let me know if it helped you.
Here is the list of Some Do's and Don't Do. to proof your identity and address.
1. Never opt for electronic bill or bank statement .
2. Never throw ANY of your paper bills and bank statements.
3. Get the Ration card or update the address on Ration card as soon as you shift to a new address.
4. Don't throw electricity bills and Water bills, their payment receipts. Ration card offices accept rental agreement (at least 6 months old ) with Electricity bills and water bills with their receipt.
With above combination you can get Ration card and this ration card is accepted as address proof in passport office. Strange but true.
Passport office directly doesn't accept Bills + rental agreement as address proof. :)
5. Also preserve ALL of your gas delivery bill . In case you need to get new Ration card , They also accept gas delivery bills.
6. Driving license is another important document , keep it safe and photo must be clearly visible. If you have old license which is hand written and messy , get it renewed .Your RTO must be now supporting card version with every thing printed on it.
7. If you have passport in which details are hand written , get it renewed Immediately many countries specially USA doesn't accept hand written passport.
8.If you may plan to visit some country in future with your wife. Get Marriage certificate and include your spouse name in your passport and vice-versa .
Another advantage of this arrangement is if your wife doesn't have any address proof simply give marriage certificate or passport copy with your address proof.
9. Get Birth certificate immediately .
10. Give death certificate immediately.
11. Update your will regularly.
12. Make a list of accounts and documents where you need to update your address and phone number immediately .
13. Whenever you change phone number , first update your phone number in bank ,demat and credit card accounts . Generally they send verification code on phone number they have in account (SBI bank does this) and then terminate your previous number.
IF you don't do like this then you have to submit application in SBI branch .
Better terminate your phone number after updating address and phone number in all places. Mostly they will call you on your current number to confirm.
14. Have scanned copy of all your important documents in your multiple mail IDs as well as in your hard drive and on a CD. Send a copy to your spouse or close friend to whom you look at in emergency.
15. Keep at least one ID card 's photo copy with you , ALL time . Police may catch you anywhere in India and beat you if you not show proper ID proof.
List of passport office documents
(a) Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC);
(b) Service Photo Identity Card issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or Public Limited Companies;
(c) SC/ST/ OBC Certificates;
(d) Freedom Fighter Identity Cards;
(e) Arms Licenses;
(f) Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds etc.;
(g) Rations Cards;
(h) Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen’s Pension Book/Pension Payment order, ex-servicemen’s Widow/Dependent Certificates, Old Age Pension Order, Widow Pension Order;
(i) Railway Identity Cards;
(j) Income Tax Identity (PAN) Cards;
(k) Bank/ Kisan/Post Office Passbooks;
(l) Student Photo Identity Cards issued by Recognized Educational Institutions;
(m) Driving Licenses; and
(n) Birth Certificates issued under the RBD Act
(o) Gas Connection Bill
P.S : Best thing in India is above all is only for common man of India , all terrorist and Bangladeshi can make this proofs at home or they easily get Ration card. And Ration card is Mother/ Father of all proofs. Get some collector or politicians reference letter you will get Ration card in few days , after that you can proof any thing in India.
No Ration Card , you are not Indian. :)