Passport-Style Photograph Regulations
To process your application, you are required to provide identical passport-style photographs. Government Agencies have specific regulations regarding the passport photographs. We recommend the following retailers for passport photographs:
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OR consult your local Yellow Pages under "Photographers - Passport"
Your photographs must be:
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2x2 inches in size
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Identical
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Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
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Color or black and white
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Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
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Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
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Taken in normal street attire
- Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily.
- Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
- If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
- Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required.
Digitized Photos Information
If you choose to submit digitized photos, they must be clear and provide proper contrast and white background. There are two major issues:
Graininess - Digitized photographs are always produced on digital printers. Some printers will produce a photograph in which the dots are seen. Visible dots distort the image by making it look grainy. Acceptable photos have a continuous tone image that looks very photo-like.
Dye Colors - Some digitized photos are not compatible with the adhesive that we use on our laminate. Testing has shown that these photos deteriorate after a short time. The dyes bleed or run, and the photo eventually disappears. Also, some digitized photos may fade due to exposure to sunlight.
At present, the following digitized photo types are usually acceptable:
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Mitsubishe Electronics: LLHX media - The reverse side will include the notation "LLHX."
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Sony Corporation: 5UPC 1040A media - The reverse side will include the notation "Sony 5UPC 1040A."
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Sony Corporation: 5 UPC 2040A media - The reverse side will include the notation "Sony STAMP ID-photo."
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ICI ImageData: Olmec Secure media - The reverse wide will include the notation "OLMEC SECURE."
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Cannon HyperPhoto - The reverse will include all or some portion of "HYPERPHOTO BJ DIGITAL IMAGING PAPER." The word "CANNON" is also prominently printed.
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FujiFilm Pictography - The reverse side will include the notation "FUJIFILM PICTRO PAPER."
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Kodak Corporation: Kodak Image Magic - The reverse side will include one of two logos, or portions of both, depending upon how the photo paper is cut: One logo shows a hand holding a wand with the words "Kodak Image Magic paper." The second logo shows the five Olympic rings with the words "Kodak Official Sponsor of the Olympic Games."
NOTE: Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable
