Do ladies have to pull long hair behind ears for the passport photo?

[caliliving 606]

19 minutes ago, marcusa said:

why there are so many comments talking about Canadian passport photo when we are applying for US  citizens?

are they two different countries yet ?

exactly, bc someone mentioned something about a canadian passport and assumed ALL countries were the same, which they arent.  im just saying rules for american are very null. take a picture on your selfie cam, print it in the right size and hand it in.  

[Scandi 4,166]

That's one thing I like about America, you're actually allowed to smile in your passport/ID/drivers license photos. My husband smiles so big in everyone of his photos - in my country it's strictly forbidden. Only "neutral facial expression" is allowed. I smiled like a crazy person when I took the photo for my state ID, just because I could! 

 

I should add that you're no longer allowed to wear glasses on US passport photos from what I understand.

Edited August 23, 2017 by Scandi

[Cathi 5,746]

31 minutes ago, Scandi said:

That's one thing I like about America, you're actually allowed to smile in your passport/ID/drivers license photos. My husband smiles so big in everyone of his photos - in my country it's strictly forbidden. Only "neutral facial expression" is allowed. I smiled like a crazy person when I took the photo for my state ID, just because I could! 

 

I should add that you're no longer allowed to wear glasses on US passport photos from what I understand.

Every time myself, my husband and my kids had passport photos we've all been told not to smile and we've always been told to smile in drivers license pictures.

[Mandaricky 3]

Hello! I'm American. When I got my passport photo taken at the at post office, I had my hair down covering ears and I smiled. I have been to two different countries, Dominican republic and Mexico. Never had an issue. But when I submitted my photo for the k1 visa they recommend not to smile and pull hair back. Also like others have stated, for my driver license photo, they let me take more than once with a smile. 🤣

[kimfrombabylon 17]

I have long hair and they made me not only pull it behind my ears, but also it couldn't be hanging in front. 

[Going through 5,671]

I guess it's better to just pull your hair behind your ears whether the photo place tells you to or not...

 

Put it this way:  You can't ever have your photo rejected for showing your ears...but you could have it rejected for not showing your ears.

 

Just play it safe, is what I'm saying.

[Going through 5,671]

10 hours ago, mimolicious said:

I smiled like a crazy person when I took the photo for my state ID, just because I could! 

Interesting.  I was expressly told "no smiling" when I had the photo done for my State ID.

[csk2b1 44]

18 hours ago, Going through said:

I'm kinda surprised they let you use it too---especially since the bangs cover a portion of your other eye.

Doesn't matter how good the photo is; that chip inserted behind your ear at the time of first entry to the US is more than enough for their needs 👀

[Scandi 4,166]

14 minutes ago, Going through said:

Interesting.  I was expressly told "no smiling" when I had the photo done for my State ID.

Seems like everyone has different experience regarding this. My husband always has a huge smile on all his IDs, including the passport. Never an issue. I do too on the American IDs I have, I don't have an American passport.

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

Here is the USA guideline.. It doesn't say anything about ears:

• In color
• Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
• Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
• Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
• Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
• Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
• Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
• Effective 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. A medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons:
  • The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover the eye(s).
  • There must not be glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
  • There must not be shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s). 
• If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

19 hours ago, Meg&Andrew said:

This was my passport photo. When my husband saw it, he was so shocked they allowed me to use it! 

 

This probably would not be accepted anymore. Bangs are denied a lot ! GREAT PHOTO though  

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

Also don't wear white in the photo as it blends into the background.. the photographer said that they do not like this as you can look like your head Is hovering

[Going through 5,671]

10 minutes ago, Marzena & Stephen said:

Also don't wear white in the photo as it blends into the background.. the photographer said that they do not like this as you can look like your head Is hovering

Yeah they made my daughter put back on her jacket for her US passport because her shirt was white, and I had to tie back her hair to show both ears.

 

So basically...passport photographers are a lot like USCIS adjudicators---everything's up to who you get.  

Edited August 23, 2017 by Going through

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

1 minute ago, Going through said:

Yeah they made my daughter put back on her jacket for her US passport because her shirt was white, and I had to tie back her hair to show both ears.

 

So basically...passport photographers are a lot like USCIS adjudicators---everything's up to who you get.  

Except faster

[Going through 5,671]

10 minutes ago, Marzena & Stephen said:

Except faster

And a heck of a lot cheaper...

[Taki 8]

I took my passport photos at Walgreens, and they told me to tuck my hair behind my ears and do not smile.  I had to take my glasses off, too.