Why are we now asked to remove our glasses ??
 

The past two times I’ve entered the U.S. (SFO Feb & MIA Jun) I have been asked to remove my glasses by the Homeland Security Officer to have my photo taken.

This is new to me & for the past few years, or at least as long as the Fingerprinting & Photo taking procedures have been in place, I’ve never been asked to do so.

Given that in my passport photo I’m wearing my glasses, it strikes me as somewhat of a strange request. I could certainly understand if my passport photo showed me not wearing glasses. But I can’t understand why they would want a photo which is different to that in my passport.

So I was wondering if anyone, could shed light on this new aspect to the entry procedure.

they secretly scan your iris and then they will.... :confused:

Have you never seen James Bond? :)

Aren't most made of metal? If not at least the screws. Of course, screws are pretty small to set anything off ?

This is guessing, but it is possible that glasses wreak havoc on facial recognition software. By consistently taking photos without the glasses, automatic recognition becomes a bit easier.

Also, at least here in Finland the photo stored on the biometric chip in the passport has to be taken without glasses.

Cheers,
T.

Although that could be a reason, I doubt it.

Security cameras in casinos also check using facial recognition. However, they don't have signs on the doors saying "please remove your glasses and sunglasses upon entering"! If this were so, all cheaters would have to do is wear glasses!

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I've never heard of this gorundbreaking technology before. How does it work?
:D

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Since when? I have a passport that was issued in April that has my photopgraph with glasses on.

Since eyeglasses are an "assistance device" I'm rather surprised they can get away with that? What if they asked to you remove your hearing aid, artificial limb? I used to wear glasses (had lasik years ago) and I can tell you I was almost bind without them, and would be very nervous if I had to remove my eyeglasses in a large public terminal, even for a few seconds.

But casinos don't have to buy their software from the company that submits the lowest bid.

My guess is that it's because glasses can help disguise identity - just think of Clark Kent and Superman (or Christopher Reeve's appearance in each role).

Hmmm... I was told this at a passport picture place a little over a year ago. I questioned it, but they were absolutely emphatic that it was a new regulation. I also thought I had seen some reference to it elsewhere, BUT in response to your post I checked the Guide for Professional Photographers on the State Dept. website and it says that corrective lenses can be worn as long as they are not too dark or otherwise obstructing the view of the face. Sorry. My best guess in view of this info is that it was a local policy that would protect them from the cost of do-overs caused by rejected photos due to darkened transition lenses or similar issues. So, that's the official story from the govt & I'll delete my earlier posts. Sorry for any confusion.

Neither do the Feds, if they d@mn well don't feel like it.

Cheers for the replies guys ^

I must admit that this new policy unsettles me just a little, as I’ve always worn glasses since I was a kid, so to be asked to take them off, makes me a bit uncomfortable. They are a part of who I am & as I’ve said previously are in my passport photo. So I think it strange that “they” would want to take a photo of me that’s different than that in my passport :confused:

I do take the suggestion that it could be something to do with photo recognition software, but then why was the remove glasses policy not in place all along, rather than just a recent development ?

Oh well I guess it’s just another one of those silly things we have to put up with when travelling these days. It’s only for a couple of seconds, so it’s no big deal really.

I was just wondering where the logic lies in the request.

But then where does the logic lie in many of the “procedures” these days, eh ? :rolleyes:

Removal of Glasses
 

Most people I know remove them if they're an especially strong prescription or they have very thick frames.