Your US Passport Photo: How Close to Reality is It? - Expedited Passports

A US passport issued to an adult is valid for ten years. A lot can happen in that period of time, especially where your personal appearance is concerned. Weight can be gained or lost, haircuts can change and if you’re surgically-inclined, you might even get a new nose or lips.

A new photojournalism project by Suren Manvelyan and Biayna Mahari on the Behance Network showcases just how much of a difference a few years can make. The project compares old-but-still-valid passport photos with current photos of the same person. Here’s how the creators describe the goal of the project, which they’ve named “Passport and Reality:”

“This is a project about how different can look a person in real life and his own passport photo. People change every minute and the only thing that stays still is their passport photo. All the same person but such different looks.”

Looking at the pictures is like looking back through time: gangly young boys grow into sturdy men, shy girls grow into hip, stylish, adults. I wonder whether the subjects preferred their old passport photos or the new shots?

Despite these changes, most if not all of the people featured for this project are still recognizable in the old passport photos, which is obviously a good thing. However, the Department of State’s requirements for passport photos do state that “Your passport may not be accepted at the border if your appearance has changed significantly or if you cannot be identified from the photo in your current passport.”

So, if you don’t recognize yourself in the photo, you might want to go ahead and apply for a US passport renewal a little bit early. Sure, it’s a hassle and you’ll have to pay for it, but that sure beats having problems trying to get in and out of the country.

For detailed instructions on replacing your current US passport, see Can I Renew My Passport By Mail ?

If you need to replace your US passport, RushMyPassport can make the process quick and easy. We’ll go over the process for you to make sure you understand the paperwork and passport photo requirements. Then, we’ll take your paperwork and passport photos directly to the Department of State for processing is as little as 24 hours.

Let us help you replace your US passport today!

Getting a passport photo is one of those tasks that never seems to go as planned. It’s like school picture day all over again: Blemishes pop up unexpectedly in all the wrong places, carefully styled hair gets blown every which way by the wind on the way into the store, the fluorescent lighting wreaks havoc with your complexion, and the picture that will represent you to foreign immigration officials for the next 10 years ends up looking more like a mug shot.

For example, when I renewed my passport for a trip this summer, I actually ended up trying two different stores. I stopped in my local Walgreens first. When I saw that the nice gentleman behind the photography counter squinting at me like Mr. Magoo, that should have been my cue to leave. Even after two retakes, the resulting picture wasn’t exactly a mug shot, but it was so out-of-focus that I wasn’t even sure the State Department would accept it. I’m not the argumentative type, so I paid and left, deciding to take my chances on a redo elsewhere. Fortunately, Wal-Mart also takes passport photos, and their photo department was staffed by a young guy who could actually, you know, see. That helped immensely!

Joan Rusek of the Sun News had an even worse experience at a different drugstore when she went to get her passport photo taken. Apparently, the employee who helped her was not in the mood for an additional work responsibility that day. After the employee caught by surprise with the first shot, she asked for a retake and tried on a pleasant smile. Here’s how well that worked out, in her own words: (more…)

For most Americans, one of the first steps in the process of submitting a passport application is to stand in front of a white background and have the photo clerk at the nearest drugstore take your picture. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, according to the Oxford University Press blog, passports did not have to include a photo of the bearer until 1914.  Before that time, the Department of State relied on detailed written physical descriptions to ensure that passports were not used fraudulently.

If you think the picture on your passport looks like a mug shot, you’re not alone.  Nor is this a new problem-people have been complaining about how much they hate their passport photos ever since passport photos became mandatory. The Oxford University press blog notes:

This “distortion” was the product of the clashing of two particular traditions of photographing people: the portrait and the “scientific” image (generally used in criminal identification photographs).  Most passport applicants associated representational truth with the specific articulation of realism in photographic portraits.  This association gave rise to complaints that a standardized passport photograph was unflattering, and in fact did not look like the bearer.  From the inception of passport photographs, people experienced “a pang of horrid surprise, almost disbelief, upon first looking at the photograph which [was] to identify them in a foreign country;” at least according to a New York Times editorial from 1930…

It already takes at least 6 weeks to get your passport if you apply with normal processing. Even if you apply with expedited processing, it could still take up to 3 weeks.  However, if your passport photo isn’t up to snuff, you could be looking at an even longer processing time.  To keep your application from being delayed, see Passport Photos: How to Get Them Right the First Time.

If 3 weeks is too long to wait for your passport, RushMyPassport can help. We’ll walk you through  the application process and deliver your application directly to the Department of State for lightning-fast processing.

Submit your passport application today!

A UK woman got a bit of a surprise when she opened the envelope containing her new passport. According to the Manchester Evening News, the document she received had her name…but her husband’s face!

Terence and Marilyn Walker apparently sent off their passport renewal applications at the same time. His was processed correctly, but hers came back with the wrong passport photo.  Instead of her passport photo, the passport agency had placed a photo of her husband.

Mrs. Walker told the Manchester Evening News,  “I was flabbergasted. I thought I had picked up my husband’s passport by accident and then I saw it. I couldn’t believe they would make such a simple mistake.”

She has been asked to redo her passport application and provide new passport pictures.

Although this happened across the pond, the US Department of State occasionally makes mistakes and printing errors as well.

To fix a printing error on a US passport, complete passport form DS-5504. Send it in with evidence of the mistake (a copy of your birth certificate, marriage certificate or perhaps a court order, depending on what needs to be corrected.)

The US Department of State corrects printing errors free of charge. You can use this form to correct an error at any time while the passport is valid, although if it is due to expire in the next year you may wish to go ahead and apply for a passport renewal.

The US Department of State does not charge for correcting printing errors, and passports that need to be corrected are given priority, so processing times are about the same for correcting errors as they are for the government’s expedited service. You can expect to wait about 3 weeks to get your new passport back in the mail.

If you need your passport corrected more quickly, you have two options: Make an appointment at a US passport agency office, or use  a private passport expediting company. For many people, the extra fee paid to the expediting company is worth it because it they don’t have to take time off work or travel to a Regional Passport Agency office, which could easily be quite expensive if you don’t have one nearby.

RushMyPassport will hand-deliver your paperwork to the Department of State, cutting processing times to as little as 24 hours.

Apply for your new passport today!

One common reason that passport applications get delayed is for an unacceptable passport photo.  You can’t just submit a random headshot of yourself- the US Department of State is very particular about the type of photos it will accept.  Here are some guidelines to make sure your glamour shot gets accepted the first time:

• Face forward-this is not a modeling shoot.  The Department of State doesn’t care if you look better with your head tilted at a specific angle.-they just a want a picture of you facing forward, looking at the camera.
• No hats or headgear allowed, unless you wear them everyday for religious reasons. If this is the case, you will need to submit a signed statement verifying that the headgear is religious in nature.
• No funny faces-the government will reject your photo if it shows you making an “unusual expression” or squinting.
• Ditch the shades-Unless you need them for medical reasons,  you are not allowed to wear sunglasses in your passport photo. Regular, un-tinted glasses are okay, but make sure there isn’t any glare on them in the picture.
• No uniforms: If you’re wearing a uniform for work, school or an organization like Scouts, make sure you change before you go to get your passport photo taken.  Passport photos taken in a uniform, anything that looks like a uniform, or camouflage attire will be rejected.
• Make sure the photos are in focus, not overexposed and the right size. They should be 2 inches by 2 inches, and your face should be approximately 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall.

Once you submit your photos and your application, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks if you apply with regular processing and at least 3 weeks if you apply for the government’s expedited processing.  For faster service, a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport is the most convenient option.

When you submit your application through RushMyPassport.com, it will be hand-delivered to the Department of State, for processing times as fast as 24 hours. This not only gets your passport to you more quickly, it also gives you more time in case your application is held up by the Department of State for any reason.

Apply for your passport with us today!

If you need to apply for a passport and you live in Union County, New Jersey, here’s how to score free passport photos: Go submit your application at the Union  County Clerk’s office before the end of February.

According to this article on NJ.com, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has decided that her office will waive the normal $10 fee for having passport photos taken at the office for applicants who submit their applications before the end of next month:

“My offices will waive the normal $10 fee for having your photograph taken when you apply by Feb. 27 for a passport book or passport card at our offices in Elizabeth and Westfield. The free passport photo is our way of trying to reduce your travel expenses a bit and encourage you to get your passport ready for spring and summer vacations.”

The Union County Clerk’s office is a passport acceptance facility, which means they accept applications from people who need to apply f0r their passports in person. They do not issue passports on site, so be prepared to wait 6 weeks for your passport to arrive in the mail if you apply with normal processing.

Although passport acceptance offices can expedite your passport application with the payment of an additional $60 fee, you could still wait up to three weeks for your passport to arrive.  If you have a trip scheduled and you need a passport sooner than that, you have two options:

• Apply at a Regional Passport Agency office (if you’re in New Jersey, this will most likely mean a trip to New York City).
• Use a private passport expediting company.

Using a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com is usually the most convenient of the two options. With an expediting company, you can apply at the County Clerk’s office and get your free passport photos, but you will have them seal your documents and send them overnight to the expediting company.

Then, the expediting company delivers them by hand to the Department of State. No need to make an appointment or drive to a passport office-we handle all of that for you, and then send your passport back as soon as its ready. This process cuts processing times to as little as 24 hours!

Apply for your passport today!

US passports issued to Americans over 16 years of age are valid for 10 years. During that time, your appearance could change greatly. You could gain weight, lose weight, change your hairstyle, etc-leaving you looking like a completely different person!

Should you renew a valid passport if your appearance has changed since you last had your photo taken? In most cases, it’s not necessary-but it might not be a bad idea, either, especially if you’re traveling to Kenya. According to this article on TheStar.com, a Canadian woman was detained in Kenya because she no longer looked exactly like her passport photo, even though she had other forms of identification. She was kept in a jail in Kenya for 8 days, and had to pay $2,500 in bail.

If your passport is valid, you shouldn’t have to renew it until 9 months before it expires.  In most cases, you’ll be able to travel without any problems as long as your passport is valid and you have enough visa pages.  However, when traveling overseas, you’re at the mercy of the officials in the country that you’re traveling in. The US Embassy will do everything in its power to help you if you have problems, but it’s always better to avoid issues like this whenever possible. So, if you look like a completely different person than you did 5 years ago, renewing your passport early may help your trip go more smoothly.

If you need to renew your passport before your next trip, remember to allow enough time for the new passport to arrive in the mail. Currently, it’s taking at least 6 weeks to process a passport application with normal processing. If you apply for the government’s expedited service, you can still expect to wait at least 3 weeks for your passport. If you need to renew your passport in a hurry, the easiest way to do it is to use a private passport expediting company.  An expediting company can help you get your passport application processed more quickly, often as fast as 24 hours!

Why stress about getting your new passport? Renew your passport with us today!

When you go to get your passport photo taken,  you might be surprised when your photographer neglects to tell you to “smile and say cheese.”  That’s because the government has certain rules about what types of facial expressions are acceptable, and if you break these rules, your passport application could be rejected.  Because there are so many rules, many people are unsure whether or not it’s okay to smile for  a passport photo.

In some countries, such as Great Britain and Canada, smiling for a passport photo is strictly forbidden.  Looking serious, even downright gloomy, is encouraged. This is because these countries use facial recognition software to cut down on passport fraud.  Unfortunately, smiling can make it hard for this software to “read” your face.  For the same reason, Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada and Virginia have forbidden motorists to smile for driver’s license pictures.

However, in America, it might be okay to smile for your passport photo. Just don’t go overboard. According to the US Department of State,, “unusual expressions” are forbidden. No crossing your eyes or sticking your tongue out.  Also, squinting is forbidden and you don’t want to show your teeth.  So, if you naturally have a big, toothy grin that changes the way your entire face looks, tone it down for the camera.

Before you go out for your big photo shoot, make sure to review the government’s rules for passport photos. Also, to make the passport application process go faster, consider submitting your application through a private passport expediting company. You’ll get personalized customer service from passport professionals, and since your application is delivered by hand to the US Department of State, you’ll get much quicker processing times, too. An expediting company can get your passport application processed in as little as 24 hours!

Order your passport today!

No matter how camera-shy you are, if you want a US passport, you’ll need to smile and say cheese first. There are several different places you can go to get passport photos made, or you can do it yourself.  Here are some of the different options available, as well as the pros and cons of each:

Drug Stores

Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite-Aid and most other drug store chains offer passport photo services.  The cost is usually around $7-8 for either one or two photos. Retakes are extra.

The Pro’s: Ideally, the photographer has been trained and is aware of all the special requirements for passport photos.  Plus, drug stores provide instant gratification, since your photos are ready in just a few minutes.

The Cons: This option is more expensive than doing it yourself, retakes cost extra and the quality of the pictures can vary.  Babies and toddlers can require multiple retakes to get pictures that comply with US Passport Agency regulations, and the charges can add up.

Post Office

Many post offices across the country are also US Passport Acceptance facilities and some of them offer passport photo services.  You can look up the location nearest you here.

Pros: Post office employees should be familiar with acceptance requirements for passport photos. Also, you can get your photo taken and turn in your application at the same time, so you’ll save a trip.

Cons: At $15.00, the fee is more expensive than going to a drugstore. Also, you may be required to make an appointment.

Professional Photographers

Some professional photography studios offer passport photo services.

Pros: You’ll probably get better, more attractive passport photos, since the person on the other end of the camera is a professional, full-time photographer. For infants and small children, professional photographers might get better results because they have extensive practice coaxing good pictures out of little kids. Some photographers offer “Executive passport photo services,” which means they’ll come to you for a hefty fee.

Cons: Fees vary by studio, but expect it to cost a good deal more than the post office. (more…)

If you’re traveling abroad with your infant, you’ll need to apply for a child passport before you go.  So, you’ll need to get acceptable passport photos. Many parents soon discover that getting a passport photo of a baby is more challenging than it sounds.  Here are the US Passport office’s requirements for infant passport photos:

• The photos must be 2 inches by 2 inches.
• The photos must have been taken within the past 6 months.
• Baby must be facing forward, looking at the camera and set against a white or off-white background.
• The size of the head in the picture must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches.
• No hats, headgear or cute little baby bonnets, please.
• The baby should have a “natural” expression-i.e. mouth closed, not laughing, screaming or crying.
• The photo itself must be good quality, clear and in-focus.
• The baby must be the only thing in the picture-nothing used to support the baby can appear in the picture’s frame. That includes you, your hands, your arm or your baby’s car seat.
• Pacifier’s are a no-no. (more…)