Job Discussion Forums

[SandyG20]

Okay I am applying for passport.

I go to a nice place and get some good photos done for the passport at an authorized passport place a couple weeks ago. I made sure I had on a nice outfit, hair all in place, no shiny face (thinking alot of times they want this thing scanned to use as part of application process and I want to look my best - even though I have other pics on the CV).

So I get some extra copies to have since it is a good photo and that place does tons of passport photos.

So I live rural here in the states - so I decide to take it to post office today - since I had some time and money for gas - a longish drive for me. Then I find out tons of roads are closed so I have to take an extra detour.

I get to Post office and stand in a long line.

Finally my turn - I have gone on line and have all documents and money and everything I need.

She rejects my photos - says they aren't the right size.

I say - in shock - why?

Not enough background around your head.

Huh?

So other people in line look and say they look just like mine - where did you have them done? They had them done at same place.

She refuses to accept them - gets some guy in the back who comes up and kind of threatens me to just stop arguing. For the record I wasn't arguing - just trying to find out why they didn' accept it.


So by this time everyone is involved.

Other patrons stop me outside and say what the heck - looks like my pic too - same background and size.

So I drive around the detour - keep going and go back to the photo place - they find my pic in their database - measure it - tweak it to make background different size - say they can't find anything wrong.

I drive back - long drive - detour.

Get there - long line again - I get up there - they look at it and say they can't accept it - why? Its the same pic - I say but you said the background needed to show more around my head - and I then showed the 2 different pictures - they said that isn't the problem - huh? You are smiling in the picture - I said all passport photos have smiles. Patrons all behind me say - mine has me smiling. I say - I was just at the photo place - I saw all the pics of the other people in the database and they were smiling too.
She said it is a new rule.

Where is the policy I ask - cause I looked online and this picture follows regulation.

We aren't accepting it she said.

Outside patrons stopped me and said - what the heck - looks just like the smile in mine.

So I just looked online and it says smiles are acceptable and people are just not to have exaggerated smiles.

Mine was just like the ones in the example on the online site.

I was told to smile in my passport photo.

I am considering just sending the application to one of those sites that hand carries or something for an extra fee.

Or I could drive again to a Post office even further away.

I have friends who just got their passports and they have smiles - same post office.

And I asked to see the policy from the post office and they some how couldn't find it.

I called the photo place and they said everyone smiles in their passport photos and nothing has been rejected - and no complaints about the background.

So has anyone else heard these new rules?

[Justin Trullinger]

This is going to come across massively politically incorrect.

May I ask what you look like?

It sounds to me like for some reason the post office people had it in for you. While I wouldn't like to accuse, it sort of sounds like they wanted to give you a hard time for some reason, and were looking for a reason. Any ideas what it might be?

Best,
Justin

[SandyG20]

It was a nice photo of an average person. Followed all regulations as far as I can see. I am average looking. Had on nice clothes. Have no tattoos or piercings (not even ears). CVS said it followed the rules they had. In fact I got to see some other pictures in database and it was the same. I know people who just got their passports with similar pic regulations.

I did notice the post office kept suggesting I get pics taken with them - I am now wondering if this is to make them more money.

Hey it is always easier to blame the victim.

[SandyG20]

Sorry if I sounded grumpy - but well I am at this point.

I used CVS cause they cost 7.99 for 6 - while at the PO it is 14.00 for 2.

It is expensive to get all this stuff done IMO.

Some job applications will want extra pics - so I figured having a few extra would help.

I wonder if the passport agency rejects photos from their own photographers?

I made sure I got all the documents and had them with me - never ever occured to me that they would reject the photos.

I have my old passport - had to get a new birth certificate with a raised special seal (that cost money). Made copies of everything they asked for. Found out you have to put on new application the birthdate and place of parents (I don't remember having to do that before) - then you have to tell them former spouses names too ( I know they do this to check if someone owes child support). I had everything with me and all ready to go.

Quess I better get used to it - from reading Daves - seems like the paper work never ends.

[denise]

Wow, that sucks! What a massive waste of time for you...

Really, I am amazed at how many different photo shops there are out there that do "passport photos" that don't seem to do the photos according to the regulations. I haven't had nearly the headaches that you have, but I've had photos rejected, redone, etc.

I have heard of those regulations: there needs to be so much blank space around your face--so even if the photo is the right size and will fit neatly on the page, they can reject it. And I've heard of the no-smiling rule--seems smiling makes it harder to recognize you.

When I got my passport renewed (got it done in the embassy in Peru), I wasn't sure if the no-smiling rule had gone into effect, so I did this sort of wussy, shy little half-smile. It looks kinda dorky. But thankfully the photo was accepted.

Good luck!

d

[Mike_2007]

I had mine rejected once. The newer UK passports are biometrically scanned, or some such new-fangledness, which means your eyes, nose and mouth must be in the right place when the post office tries to scan it into their computer to check it's acceptable. If you're looking up or down even slightly the PC will reject the photo. Could this have been the case? Perhaps the post office worker didn't really understand, or misunderstood, why the photo was rejected. Did they try to scan it or something, or just reject it after a quick look?

[naturegirl321]

Some people are like that. I went to Triple A to get an intl license and it was like 1 cm too small, they wanted me to retake the photos there and charge me 20USd. I couldn't believe it. Luckily they accepted them, after I told them that I highly doubted police in Peru would care about the 1cm. They were old ladies, who just had nothing better to do with their time.

[Justin Trullinger]

I certainly didn't mean to blame the victim, SandyG20.

More to the point, I guess I was wondering if there was something about you that set off the prejudices of the post office people. (Which would be their fault, not yours, in case I didn't make this clear.)

It's unfortunate, but it happens. I'm also from a rural part of the US, and while there's a lot to recommend the mid-west, where I'm from, I can't help having noticed that certain people (depending, frankly, on race, linguistic background, appearance, etc) have more trouble dealing with officialdom than others.

It's a terrible shame, but it's my experience, and I was just trying to help make sense of yours.

You're right- the paperwork never ends. But it does (sometimes) get easier when you get used to it.

Best,
Justin

[SandyG20]

Okay - had a friend call to find out what I need.

I then called to find out if they had the "new document" with new rules.

They can't find it - they seem quite disorganized.

They are constantly laughing too.

They said I would have to have a new passport application since they have already looked at the old one too - huh?

They said they have the right to decide what documents to accept or reject.

Now since I have an expired passport - they told me previously and they told my friend that is all I need.

Then online it says to make a copy of the front and back of drivers license - did that and had that - as well as having drivers license with me.

I also got a new birth certificate - just in case they need it.

They said when I come in that it will be up to them whether they sign off on the application or not.

And they can reject photos as well if they choose.

Now I asked about doing the extra 60 dollar expediated one - with the 14 dollar or something envelope - they said I can't do it unless I bring an airplane ticket or itinerary - now I know rush companies do this but not the PO.

Also do you have to go to the PO nearest your home? They said I do.

I have lived in this state my whole life and in this town the most of it and at my current address for 20 plus years.

I can't figure out if this post office is just lazy - or stupid or rude.

I have seen the info online and my pic and application and documents seem fine to me.

If there is anything else I need I would just prefer to send it all at once and not have any delays.

Unless they sign or some other agency does in person - I can't mail the documents in at all.

I could go to the PO in the next town over - if that is an okay thing to do - but don't want to waste my time if it isn't.

Like I said I live rural and I don't have alot of choices of where to go.

Also = are work visas just as strict about photos? or will I be able to use the ones the PO is rejecting for those? and will it matter if the passport photo and work visa photos are different?

[SandyG20]

I learned alot about the picture regulations online - the problem is that some people have larger heads or have more hair and it takes up too much space. In addition apparently even little babies need pics and passports - the problem is a young baby can't sit up or stand up and no hands, shoulders, fingers of an adult can be in the picture and the face of the baby somehow has to be in the same proportions of an adult - and eyes wide open, neutal expression and so on. Really it makes no sense at all cause there are still alot of older passports out there. Not to mention they want exspouses or deceased spouses info. They also want parents information - their birthplace, city, state, day, month and year of birth - this is even for adults. I have a friend who got her passport in 2 weeks with a smiling face - no hassles at all - not expediated - however they still have not returned her birth certificate!

[jdl]

So, SandyG20, did you get your passport application completed and submitted?

[Ariadne]

You do not need to go to the PO closest to your home. Take a drive to the next town and see if they are more obliging. And please, write a letter to the agency stating the difficulties you have encountered. It won't help you but it just might help the next guy or gal.

.

[Splenda]

You're not supposed to smile in your passport photo. I got my first passport over ten years ago and was told not to smile back then.

By the way, many people around the world think the American tendency to smile for no reason makes them look stupid.

[johnslat]

Dear Splenda,

" . . . many people around the world think the American tendency to smile for no reason makes them look stupid."

That made me smile


Regards,
John

[Justin Trullinger]