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Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court |
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(Excerpt
from Chapter 5 of Passport Handbook - Revised 07/01/97) Passport Agents are responsible for ensuring that the photographs submitted are an accurate likeness of the applicant. When examining the photographs and establishing the customer’s identity, you should be certain that the person pictured in the photographs is the person applying for the passport Never accept a passport application without accompanying photographs. Photograph
Requirements Submission of Photographs. Photographs must be accepted only at the time the application is executed. Number and Recency. The customer should present two identical photographs sufficiently recent (taken within the past six months) to be a clear likeness of the bearer. Size and Image Specifications. Photographs must be 2 x 2 inches in size. The image size measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair) should not be less than 1 inch nor more than 1 3/8 inches. (Note: Infants pose a particular challenge for photographers. Image size and clarity of focus work against each other, eyes are not always wide open, and often the subject’s head must be discreetly supported. The goal is the best likeness of the child that can be reasonably obtained. Questions should be addressed to the Passport Agency. An explanatory note regarding substandard image size, background, etc., indicating that this is the best image achievable is often helpful.) Color or Black and White. Passport photographs may be in color or black and white. Black-and-white photographs that have been tinted or otherwise colored are not acceptable; neither are prints that have been retouched to alter the subject’s appearance; minor retouching to eliminate background shadows is acceptable. Digitized photographs are often unacceptable; their use for passport purposes should be discouraged. Pose. Photographs must be clear, front view, full face, with a plain, light (white or off-white) background. Appearance. A passport photograph serves to identify the bearer. If glasses, a hearing device, a wig, or similar articles are normally worn, they should be worn when the photograph is taken. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable, unless required for medical reasons. Passport Services may require a written statement or medical certificate to support the wearing of such glasses in passport photographs. Attire. Photographs should be taken in normal street attire without a hat or other headgear unless the headgear is part of religious attire that is worn daily (an exception can also be made for documented medical reasons). A person who wears such headgear daily should include a signed statement to that effect with the application. People in the active service of the Armed Forces who are proceeding abroad in the discharge of their duties may submit photographs in the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces with their non-tourist passport application. Other uniforms, or clothing that looks like a uniform, should not be worn in passport photographs. Mounting Temperatures. Photographs should be able to withstand temperatures of up to 225 degrees Fahrenheit (107 degrees Celsius). Thin Paper. Photographs must be printed on thin paper in order for the lamination of the photograph to be effective. Do not accept photographs that are printed on thick paper, or on layered paper (the top layer of the photograph may separate from the bottom layer). Acceptability of Prints. Automatic and self-developing (instant) prints are acceptable if they meet all passport specifications and can withstand mounting temperatures. Most vending machine photographs cannot withstand these temperatures and/or will not adhere properly to the passport page. Therefore, they are not acceptable for use in passports. Newspaper and magazine prints are not acceptable, nor are certain self-developing prints (typically of the plastic-laminate type characterized by paper borders and a black backing) which separate, blister and damage Passport Services equipment. Finish. Matte or other sprays designed to produce a dull or non-glossy finish should not be used, as these sprays tend to crack and chip off. Photographs with waxed backs or other coatings lessen adhesiveness to the passport book and should not be accepted. Background. Photographs should have a plain white or light-colored background. Prints retouched to remove background shadows and lines are acceptable and even helpful as very light backgrounds enhance the contrast with facial features and make identification easier. Signatures. Passport Services does not require applicants to sign the backs of photographs submitted with applications (There is an important exception regarding hand-carried applications, see page 43 of the handbook). Photographs which are already signed on the back, however, are acceptable. Attaching Photograph to Application. Attach one photograph of the customer to the application within the space provided, with four staples, one in each corner, taking care to secure the photo without damaging the image area. Align the upper right corner of the photograph with the upper right corner of the photo block. The photograph should not cover any information entered on the application. Attach the other photograph to the application with other documents, as explained in Chapter 10. Be careful not to impress the seal on either photograph, or to damage the image area with staples or clips. Aid to Passport Photographers. Please assist and encourage passport photographers in their endeavors to print acceptable passport photographs. You may inform photographers of the contents of this section, or refer photographers’ questions to the nearest Passport Agency. Upon request, Passport Services will provide copies of the brochure M-305, "Passport Photographs," to Agents or photographers. You may use the accompanying composite exhibit as a guide for acceptance of passport photographs. Please advise customers of the size, image, and quality standards applicable to passport photographs. If they insist, you may accept photographs that do not meet all passport requirements, but they should be informed that the photos may be rejected by the Passport Agency when the application is reviewed. In an emergency, the Passport Agency may decide to use photographs that would otherwise be unacceptable. We hope that this composite will help you better advise your customers.
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