Passport Picture Question- Calling All Travelers Abroad Please

[former_vbg 198]

UPDATE 2/14/12:

Got my Intl DL today, so I have a photo taken today and then the photo from my passport taken the Spring 2010.

Would like to hear if you think if the pictures are similar enough or if they look like 2 different people. I tried to insert them up above, but that didn't happen. Look at the pictures below.

Ok, so I renewed my passport in the Spring of 2010. I actually gained the last 50 or 60# in 2011, but was still probably around 220 or so at the time of my passport renewal.

I'm leaving for Europe March 23rd. I just learned in the past couple of days that the Passport Agency suggests getting your passport updated if there is significant weight loss/ gain from your picture or you may be denied access into that country if they think its not you. This freaks me out. I don't think I look all that different than my picture except that my face is much thinner. My hair color / style is the same (they say that isn't supposed to matter).

What got me started thinking about this is that I renewed my D.L. last October and a clerk requested to see my ID for a transaction. She looked at the photo on my D.L. and then me and said "this doesn't even look like you". Initially I was flattered, but the I started wondering if I would have problems with my passport.

I asked my friend that lives in Germany what she thought and she thinks I'm worrying about nothing, that with passports being good for 10 years that nobody ever looks exactly like their photos as they age, etc... and not to worry about this. I think she might be right, but I would be devestated if I was refused entry over this. I would think with all their high tech scanning for terrorists that they could tell on facial scanning that my bone structure would be the same as the photo.

I will also have an International D.L. that I'm going to pick up this week and will have a picture like I look like now. I realize they can't use that in lieu of my passport, but it would be an additional piece of documentation that I am who I say I am.

Anybody have any opinions on this? I will post a picture from my passport and my new photo for the Int'l D.L. to this thread and maybe get some people's opinions. I really don't want to do a new passport because I will have to pay close to $200 as it will be treated like a regular renewal, plus the expedited costs. Not something I can really afford, but I also I can't afford being denied entry either. Sigh...

[circa 333]

ID pictures always suck and you never really look like them. If your face shape/general look is the same, then I wouldn't worry about it.

[Amanda 3.0 140]

Well you know the old joke, if you look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel. (lol - had to throw that out there).

I don't know - you are probably okay, but as you are ~70 pounds less now, it would depend on how you look and your features, I would think. Maybe post the photos and see what people think.

I have heard that the passport office is much quicker these days, especially if you have a main passport office in your area where you can walk in and deal with them direct, rather than the post office locations. That might save the expedite fees, anyway.

I'm a better safe than sorry kind of person.

[Viola 15]

If you're really stressing about this check on line with the gov. or call and ask. Always better to be safe than sorry.

[clk 3,519]

Yes, check if you're really concerned but it should be fine. I don't look a bit like my passport photos or my military ID photo but I didn't have any problems traveling. One of the photos was taken back when I was about 250 pounds and the other two were taken about two months post op, so I've lost more than 80 pounds since then. I look enough like my photo to pass. I did get my drivers license updated when I was back home before traveling, just in case I needed to show an additional ID but it was never required. Doing the license was simple and only took 30 minutes of my time, not six weeks!

I have no intention of updating any of my passports until someone brings it up as an issue or until they expire.

I currently live overseas and regularly travel using my passport and haven't had a single person bring it up as a concern.

~Cheri

[former_vbg 198]

There is no office in my area, and I would have to go through the post office. It's also approximately $200 for the expedited service. Going to take my passport to work and get some other peoples opinions today.

Well you know the old joke, if you look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel. (lol - had to throw that out there).

I don't know - you are probably okay, but as you are ~70 pounds less now, it would depend on how you look and your features, I would think. Maybe post the photos and see what people think.

I have heard that the passport office is much quicker these days, especially if you have a main passport office in your area where you can walk in and deal with them direct, rather than the post office locations. That might save the expedite fees, anyway.

I'm a better safe than sorry kind of person.

[former_vbg 198]

Yes, updating my D.L. will be an easy cheaper thing and I will do that. I will get my photos taken this week for my Int'l driver license this week and post them back to this thread with my passport photo to get more feedback. Thanks for your input.

Yes, check if you're really concerned but it should be fine. I don't look a bit like my passport photos or my military ID photo but I didn't have any problems traveling. One of the photos was taken back when I was about 250 pounds and the other two were taken about two months post op, so I've lost more than 80 pounds since then. I look enough like my photo to pass. I did get my drivers license updated when I was back home before traveling, just in case I needed to show an additional ID but it was never required. Doing the license was simple and only took 30 minutes of my time, not six weeks!

I have no intention of updating any of my passports until someone brings it up as an issue or until they expire.

I currently live overseas and regularly travel using my passport and haven't had a single person bring it up as a concern.

~Cheri

[Rootman 1,101]

I can't help but to think that the passport agency is motivated by $$$ instead of your ease of passage. So what if you cut your long hair and show up wqith a buzz cut? It just seems like a large expense for such little return, obviously they have to deal with people who gain / lose weight all the time. What if you have cancer and lose a ton of wieght and want to take a trip on your "bucket list" , do they really want you to haul your sick body somewhere and update your passport? I think that I PERSONALLY would pass. Just blow your cheeks out if the look at your picture in a puzzled way :smile1:

[Caradina 65]

I don't know the answer but I have the same concern. I have a trip to Cambodia planned for November, and am being sleeved in about a month. If I bust my butt, I'll be at goal by then, and I will look wayyyy different.

[former_vbg 198]

Thanks, but that ain't happening. I work in a professional environment, but either way I wouldn't do that anyways. A girl and her hair is something you don't mess with... :nonod:

But, I do agree with you about your point of people who have illnesses and such.

I can't help but to think that the passport agency is motivated by $$$ instead of your ease of passage. So what if you cut your long hair and show up wqith a buzz cut? It just seems like a large expense for such little return, obviously they have to deal with people who gain / lose weight all the time. What if you have cancer and lose a ton of wieght and want to take a trip on your "bucket list" , do they really want you to haul your sick body somewhere and update your passport? I think that I PERSONALLY would pass. Just blow your cheels out if the look at your picture in a puzzled way :smile1:

[former_vbg 198]

That's what I did yesterday, but they don't make the call. It's the customs people in those countries that I will be in that will.

If you're really stressing about this check on line with the gov. or call and ask. Always better to be safe than sorry.

[former_vbg 198]

Well, if I decide to risk it, I will report back and let you know. I'm leaning that way right now.

I don't know the answer but I have the same concern. I have a trip to Cambodia planned for November, and am being sleeved in about a month. If I bust my butt, I'll be at goal by then, and I will look wayyyy different.

[Caradina 65]

Well, if I decide to risk it, I will report back and let you know. I'm leaning that way right now.

Please do! I'm really worried about it, but I just got my passport renewed, and I'd hate to repay it all again. It doesn't look like me now. LOL Baaaad picture...

[circa 333]

Please also remember, that the people in customs are trained to look at certain facial features to determine who is in the picture -they don't care about the color, length, etc of hair. If you have plastic surgery on your face and change your chin, cheekbones, nose, etc - then its something to worry about.

[Yorkie Fan 16]

First, way to go!

I travel internationally all the time. This past fall I went to several countries in Europe and was only asked once about my significant weight loss (nearly 80 pounds). They let me in every time. I usually get compliments more than anything. Have fun on your trip!

Nichole