Skip to Content
As of November 1, 2016, the United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs does not allow individuals to wear eyeglasses in visa or passport photographs. This policy change comes after more than 200,000 individuals submitted unacceptable photographs in 2015, primarily caused by people wearing eyeglasses. With the requirement that U.S passport and visa applicants remove their eyeglasses, except for individuals with medical reasons to retain their glasses based on a signed statement from a medical professional, the accuracy of facial recognition software will be increased.
Photograph Requirements
If you are applying for a United States visa, green card (permanent resident card) or U.S. passport, the photo requirements are the same including:
- Applies to all adult and child applicants.
- Color photographs only.
- Photographs must be 2 inches by 2 inches in size.
- Clear, front facial view.
- White or off-white background. Dark backgrounds are not accepted.
- No silly faces or exaggerated smiles.
- The individual’s head must be centered in the photographs and not tilted to one side, the front or the back.
- No hats or headgear are allowed unless of a religious nature and worn daily.
- No uniforms or camouflage clothing unless of a religious nature and worn daily.
- Only original photos are accepted, printed on photo-quality matte or glossy paper.
It is possible to obtain a passport or visa photograph at many different commercial locations. If you want to use your own photograph, however, the State Department has a free online tool that can be used with an appropriate digital photo on your computer. If you have questions regarding the exact specifications that are required for your photograph, a deportation lawyer can review the government’s requirements with you and even review your photograph before you submit it with your application.
Passport Requirements
If you are in the United States and need to file for a U.S. passport, it may be necessary to file a Form DS-11 in person if:
- It is your first U.S. passport or your first U.S. passport was issued when you were 16 years of age or younger.
- The applicant is under the age of 16.
- Your passport was lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- The applicant’s last passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
When you apply for a U.S. passport it is necessary to bring several original documents including:
- Valid U.S. passport
- U.S. birth certificate
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Payment for the filing fee
Because it is necessary to bring original and certified copies of the required documents, it is important to confirm that you have appropriate paperwork before heading to an office to file your application in person. At Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., our attorneys can review the requirements for filing a U.S. passport or visa application and confirm that your paperwork is in order.
Let a New Jersey Deportation Attorney Help
There are several different types of visa applications that can be filed and each has a different set of filing requirements including the need for an acceptable photograph. The attorneys at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. can review your family’s situation and determine the appropriate immigration, visa, and passport solutions.
