Food for thought

Last year, more than 200,000 passport customers submitted poor quality photos which we couldn’t accept. The #1 problem was eye-glasses and/or eye-gear. We had to put their passport applications on hold because we couldn’t clearly identify them from their photo.

If the photo of you in your unexpired passport has eye-glasses or eye-gear, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to get a new passport now. Next time you renew your passport, though, you’ll have to take your eye-glasses or eye-gear off.

This policy change helps us and it helps you. We can see you more clearly now and you will experience fewer passport application delays and can move faster through U.S. ports of entry. Don’t get us wrong, we love your eye-glasses or eye-gear, but take them off for your passport photo.*

For more information on passport photos, check out our photo requirements.

*If you must wear eye-glasses or eye-gear for medical reasons, you’ll need to obtain and submit a signed statement with your passport application from a medical professional or health practitioner.

To mitigate the impact on frequent travelers, the Department began issuing 52-page passports to all applicants outside the United States starting October 1, 2014 for no additional cost.  Applicants within the United States may choose a 28-page or 52-page book.

Requests for additional 24-page visa inserts will only be accepted until December 31, 2015.  Beginning January 1, 2016, applicants in need of additional pages in their valid passports must obtain a new passport.

For more information on how or where to apply, please visit Travel.State.Gov/ApplyEarly or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778/1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD).