I keep the digital version available to me electronically in case I ever need a new copy during a travel emergency. That's the big savings for me, although 15¢ vs $8 is nice too. You can submit your images to a store electronically and pick up on your schedule. Perhaps in the future you can just submit your photos electronically instead of digital -> hard copy -> digital.īest part of taking your own photos is you keep an electronic copy, you do it on your own time, and you don't have to wait or hope for the right person with the right equipment is at some office or store when you are. It's really simple to ensure your photos are compliant before you print them. The most important things are ensure the head/photo size is correct, ensure you aren't smiling, and ensure the background is white or near white. Just follow the state department specifications and there is nothing to worry about. This holds 6 2x2 photos, and you only need 2 for a passport, so you have 4 spares for visas, replacements, passport cards, etc. I take my own photos and use a drug store/Target/wherever to print them out on photo paper for 10-20 cents a 4圆 sheet. I think the "no eyeglasses" rule is tied to increasing reliance upon biometric facial recognition at, or even prior to entering, Customs & Immigration. There must not be shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).ĮDIT: I copied and pasted from the visa section but the passport section has the same "no glasses" stipulation.There must not be glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover the eye(s).If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons: A medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases. This is a weird one from State Department website, :Įffective November 1, 2016, eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons e.g., the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant's eyes. Have had an application for a family member rejected for that. I submitted it and got my passport with no problem. I went to the Walgreens a quarter-mile from my house, paid a nominal fee, and got a great photo in less than 10 minutes. Like the sign in the Pentagon photo shop said: “If you want a better picture, bring a better face.”) I just accepted the photo, said thank you, walked out, and threw it in the trash. It was literally the ugliest picture of me I had ever seen. When she showed it to me, I couldn’t believe it. So, she took several more photos of me (without glasses this time) before she got one that she thought was good. When it was my turn, I explained the earlier photo and rejection, got an uncooperative reaction from the “photographer” but I had the proof of the rejection with me, of course. So much for the PO photographer - who does this routinely - knowing how to do it and what's acceptable.Ĭheapskate that I am, I went back to the PO to get it re-done for free. I had had my glasses on, and while that may be permitted, apparently there was glare on the lens or the frame was shielding part of my eyes, or something else was a problem. A couple of weeks later it came back rejected. Not a great picture, but I submitted it with the application. So, it took a long time, but I got the photo taken there. Every time a new counter customer came in, the photo progress stopped. That might sound reasonable, but customers at the counter had priority over passport photos. There was only one person there who was authorized to take the photos, and she also had to work the counter for stamps, certified mail, etc. Your local post office may or may not be a good option.Ī few years ago I tried to get mine at the PO.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |