Tag: guide to take passport pictures

7 tips for the first-time international traveler

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

First time leaving the country? Make sure you prepare appropriately with these seven tips for your trip.

1. Make sure you understand your money situation

What does the conversion rate look like, will you need cash, if plastic is preferred, will your cards work? It’s quite the headache to only realize AFTER your plane lands that you’re not equipped to pay comfortably.

2. Handle your passport early

Passport delays aren’t uncommon, especially for trickier applications with difficult passport photos, like child and baby passports. Get the paperwork submitted early and make sure you have all necessary passports in hand well before your scheduled trip, to avoid nasty surprises. And once you have them, secure some copies—just in case.

3. Look into extra fees

Some countries charge fees to enter or exit the country and some countries have hidden expenses you won’t know about at first, etc. Other expenses may not be mandatory but could be expected, like tipping in America.

4. Check in with your embassy

By registering with your embassy in the destination country, you add an extra level of protection to your travel—if something goes wrong, it’ll be far easier for your country to help you.

5. Confirm services will work overseas

Credit cards, phone service, health insurance, any or all of these may or may not work when you cross the border into a new country. You may need to sign up for supplementary overseas options.

6. Investigate the area in advance

Whether it’s social taboos to avoid, events to experience, foods to try, or sights to see, you’ll want to know about them in advance. Guidebooks, tourism sites and other sources will give you plenty of information.

7. Make sure your devices will work

Electricity isn’t configured the same around the world, from outlet shapes to voltage, so make sure you’re properly equipped to use your blow dryer or recharge your cell phone during your travels.

These aren’t the only things you should know for overseas travel, but they should give you a good leg up on your travels. Be patient, do your homework, and make sure your trip is one you’ll be glad to remember.

The best travel snacks for avoiding an upset stomach

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Each country possesses food and cuisines that are vastly different to our own in the United States, especially with the food regulations we have in place, the amount of processed foods we eat and so on and so forth. It’s easy to underestimate how the food will affect you, so it’s best to not start piling up your plate as soon as you land in the airport. Instead, take it slow and feast your eyes upon these handy dietary tips for your next vacation:

1. Bland food

Not exactly what you had in mind for your next trip to Morocco, is it? A bland diet is recommended for travelers with sensitive stomachs who may need to start slowly upon arrival. Examples of bland food include low-fat dairy products, cooked vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices, and refined grains (white bread, crackers and pasta). These foods are not weighed down with fat nor are they highly acidic. You should eat them besides one meal out on your vacation and build up to eating food that is more local. That’s what you came for, isn’t it?

2. Bars

Bars are great because they could even fit in the same purse as your passport! They don’t expire, endure cold and hot climates and they’re good for you! They are usually packed with vitamins, protein, and fiber, so they’re great if you’re planning on making a trek up around the city or up a mountain with a beautiful view. You can buy these at your destination or have them with you on the plane. They’re a great alternative to peanuts, aren’t they?

Don’t let what food poisoning or an upset stomach happen to you on the first day of that well-earned vacation you’ve been saving up for. Study up on the local cuisine, common problems for tourists, and come prepared with your own dry storage. Your stomach will thank you for it!

Whether you’re planning a culinary adventure abroad, or just a trip to get away from it all, we can sort out your passport photos for you. Get in touch today.

Style tips for your passport photo

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

When Mary went to her local post office, she was still dressed in her work clothes: an itchy navy polo with blaring white stripes, a blaring logo on the chest, and hair un-styled in an “It’s Monday” fashion. She figured when she told the worker she needed to get a passport to go to Mexico, he would hand her a couple of papers to take home with her, so that when she returned the next day, she could return straight from the Glamazon with hair freshly blow-dried, a nice blouse, and full make-up. Hey, passports are expensive, and you want your passport picture to be one you like! To her horror, the worker instead nonchalantly waved her in front of an enormous black camera, didn’t wait for her to blink first, and snapped the picture. Yikes.

Our first piece of advice for taking a good passport photo? Be prepared and feel comfortable. Whether you use a post office or a photo booth to get your picture taken, they’ll both be using a strong flash to avoid shadows, so don’t wear a bright color. That goes for makeup and clothing, although likely only your shoulders will appear in the shot. Wear something slightly muted, but a color that complements your skin tone.

If you tend to have oily skin or sweat a lot (and yes, this is for you too, guys!), think about powdering your face just ever so slightly in nude tones. You can’t wear heavy makeup, change the color of your skin or cover up defining features, but you can take some of the sheen off. Just make sure that you apply evenly over your face and neck (you don’t want them to mismatch!). Remember, you also can’t smile or show any emotion, but you can at least have good skin!

Bring a brush or comb. When you’re in line, feel free to preen away because the postal worker won’t want to wait and watch you as you untangle knots in your hair. As you wait, fix your hair the way you want to. Be wary of ponytails and up-dos: you need to look like you, so if your hair is a little non-compliant that day, run some serum through it – hair down is the best idea. You also can’t wear hats, sunglasses or other accessories, unless for religious reasons.

And last but not least, don’t blink – you need your eyes wide open! Want to ensure your passport photos don’t get rejected? Don’t make these top passport photo mistakes. Or use Paspic to check your photos are valid for use before you send them off.

Photo: 184 by Why Not Linh Vu licensed under Creative commons 2

4 places to keep your passport safe

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

How is it that the most important documents of our lives are the same size as a candy bar? Shouldn’t they be the size of a wall to match the weight of their importance? If you’re suffering from a scattered brain before an international flight, you might be even more anxious about bringing your passport because you’re aware of the very real possibility of losing it. That means you’ll want to keep your passport and other important documents in a place you’ll never forget about – such documents include spare passport photos which you should have with you while traveling in the event of an emergency. Here are our top four places to keep your passport.

1. An ankle wallet

Long gone are the days of fanny packs (and good riddance). Now there are ankle wallets you can wear under your clothes, not only assuring that your passport will be safe and sound, but that it’s physically attached to you. So instead of looking like your nanny at an amusement park, you can travel on the sly like Sean Connery as James Bond.

2. A workout band

Not only is this a handy way to store your phone, but you can go even more incognito by slipping your passport behind it in a flexible arm band. The best part about this method is its breathability. Where an ankle wallet may weigh you down and cause you to perspire, which is probably no good if you’re planning a hike up to Machu Picchu, an arm band is usually designed with breathable material.

3. Sew a special patch in your wallet or purse

If you’ve traveled a lot, you know that you should only own one wallet or purse that you use expressly for your adventures. Especially if you’re the “designated mule” who’s in charge of everyone’s stuff! If you’re opposed to carrying your passport or other important items as physical extensions, we recommend you sew a brightly colored patch into your purse or wallet (depending on its size). The action of creating this will definitely leave an impression, and if you chose a nice bright neon or deep red, then you will surely never forget it!

4. Shelling out a book

Ever seen those cute, wooden chests that look exactly like a book? Bring a spare book or Bible and hide the one in your hotel. Arm yourself with an X-Acto knife and cut out a small chunk of the pages, as large as you want, that can fit all of your important items: keys, cellphone, tickets, spare passport photos and, of course, your passport itself. If your hotel room is ever broken in to while you’re on vacation, this cool trick helps conceal your passport and important documents.

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.

The most common reasons why passports are denied

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Especially if you are on a tight schedule, getting your passport application denied can put a major dampener on your travel plans. In reality, there is no reason why most people should get their application denied, as long as they pay close attention to detail, do everything on time, and get help where they need it. Just in case you are worried about your upcoming passport application, take a look at some of the most common reasons why passport applications are denied. You can save yourself the time and hassle by being thorough and getting accepted the first time through.

Photo

Passport photos are one of the most common reasons for an application denial, but also one of the easiest to avoid. All you have to do to make sure your passport photo is up to par is get in touch with Paspic.com, which boast a 99.5% acceptance rate.

Missing documents

Make sure to check and recheck all of the necessary documents: driver’s license, birth certificate, voter ID more are ways to prove your national identity and get your application approved. While you may not need all of these forms of identification, having backups is never a bad thing.

Photocopy issues

Copies that are hard to read can easily get rejected, so make sure you use a quality copier or scanner so all your documents come through crystal clear. And before sending in your application, check and double check all of your documentation to make sure it is perfectly legible. When in doubt, make a new copy.

Criminal history

While rare, it is possible for your passport application to be denied on the grounds of your criminal history. Outstanding warrants, past felony convictions, or outstanding child support could all affect the approval process.

Failure to pay

While it might seem like common sense, passport applications come with fees that need to be paid. If you don’t pay the fee on time then you will definitely get rejected. Since fees can vary depending on how quickly you want to get the document, make sure to check ahead of time how much you will need.

Photo: Passport by RichardBowen licensed under Creative commons 2