Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Top Tips to Ensure Your US Passport Photos Are Accepted First Time

By David Hawkin


Nobody likes having their passport photos taken. However you needn't worry the following tips will guide you through the minefield of special requirements. Passport dimensions can vary from country to country, here are the measurements of US style Passport pictures.

You will require two identical pictures that will need to be submitted with your passport application form.

Your Passport photos must be printed on photo-quality media.

The Passport Photos you have printed must be in colour.

Your pictures must be current and up to date within the last six months.

You are required to provide passport pictures that are 50mm x 50mm in dimension.

You should be able to see an unobstructed view of your face. It is best if you wear day to day clothing without baseball cap, hat or sunglasses. The picture must be taken against a solid white or grey background. Your pose should be neutral making sure your mouth is closed looking forward with eyes wide open. The resulting picture should be in focus or it will not be allowed.

Your head must be in the middle of the photograph and make up at least fifty percent of the picture. The measurements of your head should be within 1" and 1 3/8" from the top of your crown to the bottom of your chin.

A headscarf of covering can be worn for reasons of religion but your full face must be visible.

Glasses may be worn but you should be able to see your eyes in the photograph it is not acceptable to have any flash or flare from your spectacles.

You may only wear tinted glasses in you passport picture on medical grounds. You may need to provide written documentation from your Dr on request.

Wearing a uniform in your passport picture is actively discouraged however you can for religious reasons.

It can be difficult to get passport photos of children in which case it is advisable to have them taken professionally. Parents and Grandparents shouldn't be visible in the pictures and any props or posing aids should be totally absent from the final photo.

You may not copy or scan pictures from driving licenses or official ID they will be rejected. Furthermore your pictures should not be photo-shopped, retouched or airbrushed to modify or improve your appearance in any way.

Photographs copied from newspapers and magazines will not comply with the strict regulations. It is also likely that pictures from most vending booths will be rejected. Photos that are a full length body shot of the subject will also be disallowed.

You may take your own pictures with a digital camera providing it has sufficient resolution. The photographic equipment must have the ability to capture and store images with 1 megapixel or greater. It is however recommended that a professional photography lab prints the digital images as home equipment is very often unable to meet the specific criteria.




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