Tag: baby passport photo

Passports for intercountry adoptees

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

In the past, acquiring citizenship — a pre-requisite for a passport — for a child adopted abroad was both time consuming and expensive. However, acquiring U.S. citizenship for you child became much easier following the The Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Any child adopted overseas acquires U.S. citizenship automatically if the circumstances of the adoption fulfill one of three requirements:

1) If the child is in the “legal and physical custody” of a U.S. citizen, the child is eligible for citizenship.

2) If the child is admitted to the United States as an “immigrant for lawful permanent residence”.

3) If the child’s adoption is finalized.

It is important to be aware, before a child’s U.S. parent(s) can apply for citizenship and a passport, the child’s adoption must be recognized by the United States Department of State. The U.S. does not necessarily recognize the legality of an adoption that occurs in another country. Hence, just because another country recognizes the adoption does not mean the child is automatically eligible for a U.S. passport to travel of his or her country of birth.

Unrecognized adoption

If the United States Department does not recognize the adoption of a child, the U.S. parents can still apply for citizenship by filing either a IH-4 or IR-4 visa application. These applications require a fee as well as passport photos. The child passport photos must meet U.S. Department of State standards.

Adult children of U.S. citizens who have never applied for citizenship themselves can do so by applying for citizenship through naturalization. This requires the filing of an N-400 form. Particularly if a child’s parents were married at the time the child was born, the adult child of a U.S. Citizen(s) has a very good chance of being recognized as a naturalized citizen and may be eligible for a U.S. Passport.

Upon being recognized as a naturalized U.S. Citizen, both a child or an adult are eligible for a U.S. Passport. All that is required is the completion of a DS-11 Form accompanied by the child’s adoption papers or U.S. Child Born Abroad Birth Certificate, a fee, and two passport photos that meet Department of State Standards.

How to obtain a passport for a child born abroad

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Traveling is easier than ever before and it is not uncommon for US citizens to be born abroad. Fortunately, US embassies and consulates make obtaining a birth certificate and passport for a child born abroad very easy. There are only three steps for obtaining your child’s passport and birth certificate if the baby was born abroad.

1) Parents must obtain form FS-240 from the embassy or US consulate. The FS-240 form is called a “Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA)” and if accepted, it documents that the child born abroad is a US citizen. To obtain a CRBA, the US citizen parent or parents of the child must simply present their passport at the embassy and request the CRBA.

2) At the same time parents complete the CRBA, the parents can apply for the child’s passport. The application requires the parents fill out Form DS-1350, “Certification of Report of Birth”. In addition to filling out the application and paying a fee, two baby passport photos are required. The child passport photos must meet passport photo specifications.

For adults — people 18 years of age or older — born abroad to US citizens, applying for a birth certificate and a passport requires a “Certificate of Citizenship to document acquisition pursuant to 8 USC 1452.”

When applying for a birth certificate for a child born abroad, there are a few things to remember:

• The US embassy or consulate will only provide one certified birth certificate. If the birth certificate is lost or stolen, the parents of the child must apply for a replacement. However, parents may request several copies of the birth certificate, though the birth certificates will not be certified.

• There are several US territories that do not require a CRBA: Swains Island; Puerto Rico; American Samoa; the US Virgin Islands; Guam; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after January 8, 1978 (8PM EST); The Panama Canal Zone before October 1, 1979; and the Philippines before July 4, 1946. People born in these territories are considered US citizens.

3 circumstances where you will need to renew your passport

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Many people don’t often think about renewing their passports. After all, your passport is valid for a period of 10 years if you were aged 16 or older when it was issued. However, there are reasons you may need to renew your passport sooner rather than later.

1. If your passport is expired or expiring soon

The issue date of your passport is located on the data page at the front of the booklet. The U.S. Department of State recommends renewing your passport at least six months before it expires. Some countries will not permit you to enter if your passport will expire within six months and especially if it will expire while you are present in the country. If your passport has already expired, you can still renew it instead of applying for a new one if you meet certain requirements. Simply apply with form DS-82 through the mail.

2. If your passport is badly damaged

It’s expected that passports will experience some wear and tear over several years of use, and bended corners or frayed pages are not considered sufficient enough damage to require a new passport. However, if your passport is damaged to the point where it is difficult or impossible to decipher identifying information, you will need a new one. Significant damage may include water damage, large tears, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages, holes, or other obstructions. To replace a damaged passport, you will need to apply in person and present the damaged passport, a statement explaining the damage, and form DS-11.

3. If your name has changed

Whether you changed your name through marriage, divorce, or court proceedings, you will need to update your passport accordingly. If your passport was issued within the last year, you’re in luck. You simply need to submit form DS-5504 through the mail with your passport, your original or certified name change document, and a valid passport photo. If your passport was issued over a year ago, you must submit form DS-82 through the mail with all required documents, as well as pay all applicable fees.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Keep your passport up to date!

Congrats on getting married, now go update your passport!

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

The color scheme was perfect, everyone loved the food, and even the bridesmaids liked their dresses! All in all, your wedding was pretty much everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Now all you have to do is grab your luggage, head to the airport and get to your tropical hideaway for the best week of your life – the honeymoon. Now since your driver’s license and other forms of ID are still in your maiden name, your passport that still identifies you under your maiden name will be just fine for the honeymoon, but every international foray you embark on after that, you’ve got some work to do.

First of all, any time you have legally gone through a name change for reasons like marriage, divorce, or a court ordered name change, you have to go through the process of getting a new passport. Depending on how long it has been since your existing passport was issued, the cost to do so will vary. If your existing passport is less than a year old, you’re in luck: no passport processing fees are required. If it’s been more than a year, you might be eligible to use Form DS-82.

What is Form DS-82?

The ‘DS’ in Form DS-82 stands for Department of State, the government department that oversees United States citizen international travel and overall diplomacy. Not everyone is eligible to use Form DS-82, the form can only be used if the following criteria can be met:

• You are able to produce your most recent passport
• You were 16 years of age or older when you were issued your most recent passport
• Your most recent passport is less than 15 years old
• Your most recent passport was not physically damaged
• You use the same name as the name on your most recent passport, OR you have changed your legal name by marriage or court order, AND can produce proper original documentation to support the name change

If you are not eligible to use Form DS-82, the process of obtaining a new passport is much more tedious. The first step is to submit Form DS-11 in person at an applicable U.S. Passport facility. In addition to Form DS-11, you must provide:

• Evidence of United States citizenship
• An certified or original name change document
• Valid identification document
• A color passport photo

Who ever knew that getting married was so much work?!

How to replace a lost or stolen passport when abroad

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Losing or having your passport stolen when abroad is a disaster. Almost all money transactions require identification. Almost all travel requires identification. Any interaction with law enforcement requires identification. And, the only legitimate identification for an American citizen traveling abroad is a U.S. Passport.

Luckily, replacing a passport abroad is not as difficult as one might think. U.S. Embassies are extremely helpful and very efficient with respect to assisting United States citizens.

First 3 things to do when you lose your passport

Once you have retraced your steps in an effort to find a lost passport, and you are certain it is gone:

1) Get online

Before doing anything else, find the location and address of the U.S. Embassy in the country you are visiting. In addition to the address, write down the phone number of the embassy as well. If you do not have access to a computer, find the closest police station and tell them you need to contact the U.S. Embassy.

2) Get two passport photos

Make absolutely certain that the size of the photos are 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm); that distance from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head takes up 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm); that the photo paper is matte or glossy quality; that you are looking directly at the camera; that the background is plain or off-white; and that the photo is in color. Do not have anything on your head (unless you use head wear for religious purposes); have anything in your ears with the exception of an aid, or over your eyes except non-glare prescription glasses.

3) Go to the embassy immediately

Even if you have no money, the embassy can help you. Simply explain your situation to the guard outside and the embassy staff will take care of everything else.

Do not waste too much time looking for a lost or stolen passport. Even an emergency passport can take up to five days to arrive. Every hour you spend looking for a lost or stolen passport delays the arrival of a replacement passport.

If you request an emergency passport and then find your original, call the embassy and notify the staff immediately. Under no circumstances should you dispose of or destroy a passport.

Top 5 reasons passport photos are rejected

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Do you know the primary reason why passport applications get held up? It’s because of unacceptable passport photos. In 2015 alone, the U.S. State Department received over 200,000 unacceptable passport photos. Make sure your passport application is processed smoothly and your trip goes ahead as planned by submitting an acceptable passport picture. Just be sure to avoid the top reasons passport photos are rejected:

Lighting

Bad lighting can instantly ruin a photo. Whether the image is too bright, too dark, or affected by shadows, a photo with unacceptable lighting will be unacceptable to the State Department. Remember, the goal is to reflect your true skin tone and facial features without any shadows.

Recency

You may have taken the perfect headshot one year ago, but it won’t be eligible for your passport application now. Recency matters, as physical features can change over time. Your passport photo needs to have been taken within six months of submission.

Image size

Your passport photo must measure 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51mm) in size. Any photos submitted that are too big or too small will not be accepted and will delay your passport application process.

Distance

The distance between you and the camera is an important factor for your passport picture. A selfie simply won’t cut it. Passport photos require the size of your head to be between 1 and 1-3/8 inches (25 – 35mm) within a 2 X 2 inch frame. use the State Department’s smart photo tool to crop your photo to meet distance guidelines.

Image and paper quality

Blurry, grainy, and pixilated photos will not be accepted. The photo must be clear in order to properly identify you. Make sure you use a high-quality camera and size the image appropriately. Also, you cannot print your passport photo on regular printer paper. You must use matte or glossy photo-quality paper.

If you are able to avoid the common reasons passport photos are rejected, and all of your other application materials are in line, your passport application should be processed quickly and smoothly. Soon you should have no problem obtaining a picture perfect passport.

The 5 things you need to take good passport photos at home

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It’s not difficult to take your own passport photos, but you do need a few key items to make it happen. These items will help you ensure a painless passport application process.

1) A good camera. The vast majority of camera phones aren’t going to be good enough for passport photos. A real digital camera, even a cheap one, should be – so long as you take the time to configure it properly. Do your homework on the specific requirements for passports from your home nation, and make sure the camera you have can manage.

2) Good lighting. Shadows or poor contrast can ruin your passport photos as easily as anything else, so make sure you have decent lighting where you’re taking pictures. A good camera can make up for a lot of the problem, but there are limitations.

3) An outfit that doesn’t break the rules. Anything that obscures your face or head is against the rules, barring a few exceptions for religious or medical needs. Most uniforms also violate the rules for passports–so do your homework and make sure you’re set.

4) A neutral expression. Easy enough if you’re taking your own photos, not too bad for older children, but potentially a major headache for young children or baby passport photos. Figure out a good way to get a neutral expression – or watch carefully for one and seize the moment before it passes.

5) An online passport photo service. While there are other ways you can use your own photos to put together a passport application, you’ll find it easiest to use a passport service online. With the help of such a service you can push your odds of being accepted on the first try to their maximum. Issues of size, quality, etc. will be addressed before your photos move on to the final application process. It makes things a lot easier.

Get these five items together, and your photos should pass through the applications process without a hitch. When you pay attention to the details, there’s not much risk of rejection – especially with an online passport service on your side.

Tips for dressing for a passport photo

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It can be tempting to look your best for your passport photo – after all, these photos will likely follow you for years to come, so it makes sense that you’d want to look as stylish as possible! However, it’s important to ensure that your pursuit of style does not get in the way of the photo itself.

Here are some tips to make the most out of your passport pictures while still keeping things easy and practical. Follow these and you will be on your way in no time, passport in hand.

1. If possible, leave the glasses off

The lenses of your glasses can cover your eyes, cast shadows over your face, or catch a glare from the camera lens. To make sure that your face is not obscured when your passport photos are taken, leave the glasses off.

2. Don’t wear distracting prints

You’ll want to wear clothing that you wear on a daily basis – something that looks like “you”. However, try to keep the prints and colors of your clothing as low key as possible, so they do not distract from the most important part of the picture – your face!

3. On the other hand, avoid wearing white

If you’re getting your passport photo professionally done, chances are that you will be standing in front of a white or off-white background. You don’t want to blend into the background, so make sure you wear something colorful (but not TOO colorful, as you can see above!).

4. Avoid hats and other head coverings

Hats, scarves, helmets, earmuffs, and other head coverings should not be worn when taking your passport photo. Not only can they be bulky and distracting, but they can also cast a shadow over your face and make your features difficult to see.

5. Don’t wear jewelry

Jewelry – particularly necklaces and earrings – can catch the glare of a camera lens and ruin your passport photo. As pretty as they may be, leave your accessories at home – or save them to wear on your trip after your passport has been approved!

Photo: Glasses by jeffbr13 licensed under Creative commons 2

Passport safety tips when traveling

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Most people only remember to check their passport when they have an upcoming trip. If it is close to the expiry date, you ought to take current passport pictures and make an application for renewal. While your passport is safe at home, what steps should you take to secure your passport when traveling?

Passport safety tips when traveling

Make some copies

Although you will use the original passport, there is no harm in making copies and carrying one or two with you. In the unfortunate event that you lose your passport in transit, you can use the copy to prove that you have a valid passport. The copy may not have an original passport photo, but it is enough to provide identification before you can consult the nearest US embassy.

Keep it with you or locked up

Many travelers assume that, since they are staying in an expensive hotel, there are minimal chances of losing their valuables. You should not make such an assumption. It is better to have the passport on you or securely locked when you have to leave your hotel room.

Protect it

Taking good care of your passport does not just entail keeping it safe. You ought to take great care to ensure that you protect it from the elements. The best way of protecting your passport is by keeping it in a weather-proof pocket to prevent water damage. Moisture is likely to destroy your passport photo, making it harder to identify you.

Learn about your rights

While visiting a foreign country, you need to know where you are required to provide your passport and where you do not have to present it. If you know your rights, you will avoid falling for the tricks of scammers that want your details to rob you. Apart from the airport and when booking into the hotel, few other places will insist on the production of your passport.

If you are unfortunate enough to lose your passport in a foreign country, the first step is to report the loss at the local police station. You should then ask for directions to the nearest embassy or consulate to seek further assistance.

Photo: My Passport by bryansblog licensed under Creative commons 2

Major problems to avoid with baby passport photos

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Baby passport photos, and to a lesser extend all child passport photos, tend towards certain major headaches which inevitably lead to frustrated days at the photo booth, delays on receiving your passport, and outright rejections of your application. To avert these problems, it’s crucial to know about them in advance so you can take appropriate measures.

Other people in the picture

Perhaps the most common mistake made when taking baby passport photos: no other person is allowed in the picture. This can make photos somewhat difficult to take under photo booth conditions, but it’s non-negotiable – you cannot be in the picture with your baby.

Unapproved headgear

The vast majority of headgear, from hats to sunglasses, will result inevitably in your passport photos being rejected. There are very clear exceptions outlined for religious or medical needs – if you’re going to be taking advantage of these exceptions, make sure you’re 100% clear on the requirements.

Other obstructions of the face

Along the same lines as the hats and sunglasses problem, anything else that might get in between the camera and your baby’s face is a no-go as well. That includes pacifiers, scarves, and any number of other potential obstructions. You want a clear shot without anything to possibly complicate the approval process.

Non-neutral expressions.

A very common problem with baby passport photos, and one of the most difficult to overcome in many circumstances. If your baby is crying, laughing hard, or making any other major facial expression which might distort and obscure his or her features, you run the risk of having your passport photos rejected. Getting a tranquil expression can be quite a chore, but it’s a necessity.

To avoid most of these problems, or at least make them easier to deal with, using your own camera at home in combination with a passport photo service, such as Paspic, is often the easiest solution. You can take the picture on your own terms, on your own schedule – and you only need one perfect moment to grab the perfect picture. Compare that with trying to get the same results in a booth in a potentially crowded area, and you can see the advantage.