Newsstand - Smiling Frowned Upon in Visa Photographs

Imagine being denied a passport for, of all things, your teeth. It could happen, but not because they're crooked. Under new rules for visa photographs that began this summer, the State Department doesn't want to see them at all, according to a story published in Sunday's Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.

The new guidelines permit people to smile for passport and visa pictures but frown on toothy smiles, which apparently are classified as unusual or unnatural expressions.

"The subject's expression should be neutral (non-smiling) with both eyes open, and mouth closed. A smile with a closed jaw is allowed but is not preferred," according to the guidelines.

http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/ap/4/visas_no_smiles

:D :mad: :p

That's ok; the one-finger salute looks better without a smile anyway.

Here's a fine example (http://bextruthfinder.blogs.com/mental_equilibrium/finger-thumb.jpg).

Here's the standards for Canadian passport pictures:


Standards for acceptable photos
Either black and white or colour photos are acceptable.

Photos must be originals, not taken from any existing photo.

Photo must be taken against a plain, uniform white or light coloured background.

The face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression and with the mouth closed.

A full front view of the subject's head and shoulders is required.

Tinted prescription glasses may be worn as long as the eyes are clearly visible.

Sunglasses are not acceptable.

False hairpieces or other cosmetic devices are acceptable if they do not disguise the natural appearance of the bearer and are worn habitually.

A photo in which the applicant is wearing a hat or head covering or anything that interferes with the photo's value in providing a means of identifying the issuee for the benefit of border control is not acceptable for a Canadian passport or travel document. While allowances may be made for practitioners of religious faiths that prohibit the removal of the head covering, photos in which the full facial features of the subject are not visible are not acceptable.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/passports/get_photo_specs_e.asp

The weird thing was my last passport picture, the teenager at the local photoshop demanded I remove my presciption glasses as they aren't allowed under the new rules, supposedly so biometrics can identify me should I do something suspicious. But I'll be hung if I remove my glasses every time I look a customs official in the eye, so really what's the point? :rolleyes: