Tag: affordable online passport photos

7 tips for the first-time international traveler

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

First time leaving the country? Make sure you prepare appropriately with these seven tips for your trip.

1. Make sure you understand your money situation

What does the conversion rate look like, will you need cash, if plastic is preferred, will your cards work? It’s quite the headache to only realize AFTER your plane lands that you’re not equipped to pay comfortably.

2. Handle your passport early

Passport delays aren’t uncommon, especially for trickier applications with difficult passport photos, like child and baby passports. Get the paperwork submitted early and make sure you have all necessary passports in hand well before your scheduled trip, to avoid nasty surprises. And once you have them, secure some copies—just in case.

3. Look into extra fees

Some countries charge fees to enter or exit the country and some countries have hidden expenses you won’t know about at first, etc. Other expenses may not be mandatory but could be expected, like tipping in America.

4. Check in with your embassy

By registering with your embassy in the destination country, you add an extra level of protection to your travel—if something goes wrong, it’ll be far easier for your country to help you.

5. Confirm services will work overseas

Credit cards, phone service, health insurance, any or all of these may or may not work when you cross the border into a new country. You may need to sign up for supplementary overseas options.

6. Investigate the area in advance

Whether it’s social taboos to avoid, events to experience, foods to try, or sights to see, you’ll want to know about them in advance. Guidebooks, tourism sites and other sources will give you plenty of information.

7. Make sure your devices will work

Electricity isn’t configured the same around the world, from outlet shapes to voltage, so make sure you’re properly equipped to use your blow dryer or recharge your cell phone during your travels.

These aren’t the only things you should know for overseas travel, but they should give you a good leg up on your travels. Be patient, do your homework, and make sure your trip is one you’ll be glad to remember.

3 common sources of holiday travel headaches

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Thinking about traveling for the holidays? Make sure everything goes smoothly by eliminating your holiday travel headaches BEFORE they arise. These three common sources of woe aren’t the only things that can go wrong while traveling, but they’re very common sources of trouble and are very easily dealt with if you plan in advance.

Poor packing

Whether it’s a suitcase full of flight contraband, inadequate laundry for the trip, forgotten toiletries, or broken electronics, poor packing can turn holiday cheer sour in a hurry. Take the time to read up on both general packing tips for safe and effective packing and tips specific to your travel route, to avoid various headaches with airport security, customs, and gatekeepers. You might be surprised by what can’t travel in a cargo hold or cross national borders legally.

Passport woes

One that takes many people traveling across national borders by surprise, passport headaches can become holiday-ruining nightmares if you don’t plan ahead. Perhaps the most important tip for dealing with passports in general would be to read up on all the finicky details. Whether it’s the long list of minor imperfections that can render your passport photos unacceptable or the strict rules governing paperwork, it’s easy to mess up at any stage if you don’t do your homework, but trivial to keep up with it all if you do. Read up, use a reliable passport photo service, and you’ll be fine.

Failure to keep tabs on travel changes

Make sure you have a reliable source of notifications for your travel route. If your plane, train, or bus is going to be delayed, you need to know immediately. If your driving route is closed due to an accident, dangerous due to a storm, or frozen solid – you need to know immediately. The better you can stay informed of conditions along your route, the faster you’ll be able to make adjustments and get back on track.

The holidays are supposed to be fun, so don’t let holiday travel become an annual nightmare you dread. Take your time, plan right, and make the whole thing move along smoothly.

I lost my passport traveling! What do I do?

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

There is no worse feeling while traveling abroad than discovering your passport isn’t where you left it. If you don’t find it after digging through all your portable belongings, there is a good chance it is either lost or stolen. Now, this is a good time to remind you to always have a photocopy of your passport stuffed safely away in another area of your luggage. With that said, here are the steps you need to follow should you no longer have your passport.

Contact the Embassy

First, you need to contact the U.S. embassy in the country you are in. You may need to put some travel on hold as exiting the country you’re in is likely not a possibility. When you contact the embassy, you need to tell them your passport is lost or stolen. While talking with the consular, you need to inform them if you were directly involved in a crime (is there a police report?) or if the passport is simply misplaced. You’ll also need to tell them when you’re planning on exiting the country. This is important as the embassy can issue either a full passport or an emergency passport.

Take a new passport photo

You’ll need to head out to the embassy. Thankfully, this is easier to do in most countries as there is a U.S. embassy in most large cities. Take passport photos before going. You’ll be able to find passport photo locations at most photo or travel centers. Again, it is a good idea to have backup passport photos with you while traveling internationally.

Complete the documentation

When you visit the embassy, you’ll need to fill out a statement regarding what happened to your previous passport. You’ll also need to fill out an application for a new passport. During this application, you need the passport photos, a form of ID (your driver’s license works), travel itinerary (your return plane ticket works) and evidence you are a U.S. citizen. This is where having the photocopy of the passport or birth certificate helps. In a pinch, your driver’s license may suffice.

Pay and wait

You’ll need to the $140 fee for a new passport. You’ll also need to wait a few days for the new passport to be issued. The emergency passport will be issued in 24 hours, but that only lets you get into the U.S. If you can, wait the few days for the new passport.

How to apply for your first passport: a guide for first-time adult applicants

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Applying for your first passport is often an exciting process, as it almost always preludes a big trip! However, the process can also be very arduous and off-putting, even to the point of dissuading some individuals from traveling to places, simply because of the hassle involved in preparation. In order to make the application process as straightforward as possible, we have outlined the process in three easy steps:

1. Assemble all documents that you will need for your application process. They are:

– New Passport Application Form (DS-11), which can be found at https://travel.state.gov

– Proof of US Citizenship (for example, a birth certificate)

– An application fee, which varies depending upon the circumstances of your application process and can be calculated at https://travel.state.gov

– A passport photo, which must follow certain requirements. See our 5 tips for getting the perfect passport photo. You can use Paspic to ensure your passport photo is acceptable, saving you lengthy delays.

– A photocopy of state-issued identification (for example, a driver’s license or state identification card)

2. Visit your local Passport Acceptance Facility:

Post offices, public libraries, and clerks of court throughout the country are authorized to accept passport applications. At https://iafdb.travel.state.gov, you can find the facility nearest to you. Be sure to bring the following documents with you to the Passport Acceptance Facility: application form, proof of citizenship, photo ID, passport fees, and your passport photo.

3. Process your application:

First-time applicants will process their application in person. The routine service will take about a month to process. Expedited service is able to process your application in two to three weeks. Expedited service is not available for US citizens who are applying while abroad.

Although these are the basic steps that you will need to know and take for the application process, there are other rules which vary from circumstance to circumstance. For example, if you had a passport as an infant; if you are applying from outside of the United States; or if you are unable to provide one of the forms of identification required. Check out our blog archive for the answers to many of these questions and more!

Photo: Passport by Tony Webster licensed under Creative commons 2

Help! How do I get expedited passport photos?

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

A spontaneous trip abroad can become a headache when you aren’t prepared with an up-to-date passport. If it is your first time applying for a passport, the transaction might seem overwhelming. Relax. We are here to help. Obtaining a passport can be a simple process. The United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs sets forth the passport application criteria. Requirements include evidence of citizenship, a government-issued photograph identification, the application document, and a passport photo.

The United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that you apply for your passport six weeks in advance of your trip. There are a few options that will determine the processing time for your passport. Expedited processing and delivering can take anywhere from eight days to several months. The standard processing is four to five weeks.

Unapproved passport photos can add a significant delay to receiving your passport. The most challenging element for most passport applications tends to be the passport photo. The passport agency has specific criteria regarding acceptable passport pictures. To avoid a delay in processing your passport application, be confident that your passport pictures meet the United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs standards.

Acceptable passport photos meet these requirements:

– Passport photos must be 2 inches by 2 inches
– The size between the top of the head and chin must be 25mm to 35mm (pictures taken too far away or too close up will not meet the requirements)
– Passport photos must be taken within the past six months. The photograph should reflect your current appearance.
– Do not wear accessories on your head or face. No glasses, hats, or headgear is acceptable in a passport photo.
– If glasses are a requirement for medical reasons, your application must include a signed medical note from your doctor
– Headgear is not acceptable, this includes hats, head coverings, headphones and wireless hands-free devices. The only exception to head coverings in passport photos is in the event that they are normally worn for religious purposes and you wear them on a daily basis.
– Your face should show a neutral expression. Do not exaggerate a smile. Be sure that both eyes are open.
– The passport photo must not show shadows on your face
– Wear clothes that you would wear on a normal basis
– The passport picture must be in color

To avoid delays in your passport application, trust Paspic to ensure your passport photos meet the government’s regulations.

Photo: Passport by seantoyer licensed under Creative commons 2

How to prop your baby up for a passport photo

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Your baby’s passport photo has the same kinds of requirements as a regular adult passport photo. One of those requirements is that only your baby is permitted to be in the photo. You can’t be in the passport photo holding your baby in your arms or even have your hands in the photo. This becomes a tricky requirement for babies who are not yet able to hold themselves in a sitting position, especially when the passport photo place only has a high stool for them to sit on. Here are some tips for propping your baby up for their passport photo.

1. Use cushioning

Lay cushions or pillows on the floor around the chair or stool to make the environment safer for your baby. If you lose balance there will be a soft place. The cushioning will also help you as you have to sit or kneel as you hold your baby.

2. Understand the photo perimeters

Ask the passport photographer to show or tell you exactly where the bottom photo border will be. This will let you know precisely where you can hold your baby without having your hands show up in the passport photo.

3. Bring a support ring

If your baby will be seated on a wide enough stool, you may be able to use a baby support ring, commonly known as a Bobby pillow. This will help position your baby on the stool.

4. Kneel down to hold your baby

For the actual photograph, kneel down behind your baby and tuck your head down when the photographer states he’s ready to take the photo. Ask him to make sure the top of your head is not seen behind your baby.

5. Position your hands

Place one hand firmly on your baby’s back to support their upright position. Keep one or two fingers behind your baby’s head to help with support there. Place the other hand around the lower part of your baby’s waist to prevent your baby from leaning forward.

Propping your baby up for the passport photo is a little awkward, but it only lasts for a few minutes. The important thing is now your baby will be free to travel with you and your spouse.

Tips for keeping your passport in good condition

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

It’s more-or-less common sense to keep your passport photos in good condition. A damaged passport photo can cause almost as much, if not as much, strife as a lost or stolen one – after all, your passport is considered to be government property. If it becomes damaged in any way, the passport could become invalidated and wreck your travel plans, as well as lose its status as proof of your citizenship. It could cost you entry into other countries – which creates an obvious hiccup in your plans – or cause any other number of inconvenient and just plain undesirable situations.

To keep your passport safe from damage:

1) Keep it in a designated passport holder

The few dollars you will spend upfront on a passport holder will pay off in dividends. Don’t just cram your passport into your pocket, briefcase, suitcase, or purse; this practically guarantees that the passport will crease, fray, and/or tear. Better yet, get a waterproof holder so that you aren’t worrying about your passport while enjoying the salty sea breezes on a cruise, or splashing about in the waves at the beach!

2) Keep your passport in a secure, dry place

When you aren’t carrying your passport with you, make sure that you’re storing it somewhere safe, such as a dark, cool closet shelf. Keep it out of bathrooms, locker rooms, and other places where moisture and bacteria gather, as these places are just begging for water, and eventually mold, to collect on your passport and destroy it.

3) Keep your passport pictures tucked out of sight

If you must carry your passport with you (optimally it will spend much of its time abroad locked securely in a safe), make sure that it is secured in your backpack, luggage or purse. Don’t carry it sticking out from your back pocket or crammed into the side pocket of a backpack, as that almost guarantees it will fall out or get stolen.

These are just a few precautions to take in order to ensure your passport is kept safe, secure, and in great condition.

Passport safety tips when traveling

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Most people only remember to check their passport when they have an upcoming trip. If it is close to the expiry date, you ought to take current passport pictures and make an application for renewal. While your passport is safe at home, what steps should you take to secure your passport when traveling?

Passport safety tips when traveling

Make some copies

Although you will use the original passport, there is no harm in making copies and carrying one or two with you. In the unfortunate event that you lose your passport in transit, you can use the copy to prove that you have a valid passport. The copy may not have an original passport photo, but it is enough to provide identification before you can consult the nearest US embassy.

Keep it with you or locked up

Many travelers assume that, since they are staying in an expensive hotel, there are minimal chances of losing their valuables. You should not make such an assumption. It is better to have the passport on you or securely locked when you have to leave your hotel room.

Protect it

Taking good care of your passport does not just entail keeping it safe. You ought to take great care to ensure that you protect it from the elements. The best way of protecting your passport is by keeping it in a weather-proof pocket to prevent water damage. Moisture is likely to destroy your passport photo, making it harder to identify you.

Learn about your rights

While visiting a foreign country, you need to know where you are required to provide your passport and where you do not have to present it. If you know your rights, you will avoid falling for the tricks of scammers that want your details to rob you. Apart from the airport and when booking into the hotel, few other places will insist on the production of your passport.

If you are unfortunate enough to lose your passport in a foreign country, the first step is to report the loss at the local police station. You should then ask for directions to the nearest embassy or consulate to seek further assistance.

Photo: My Passport by bryansblog licensed under Creative commons 2

5 tips for a stress-free passport application process

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Having that first passport in your hand opens up new worlds for you, or at least new countries to explore. Getting it, however, can be a stressful experience if you aren’t prepared for it.

Armed with these tips, you can enjoy a quicker, less expensive and relatively stress-free application process.

Apply early

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for your passport. Normal passport processing takes at least four to six weeks, and sometimes longer. If you wait, you can order expedited processing, but this will cost an additional $60, and it still takes three weeks to get your passport.

Get your own passport photo

Save time and money by having your passport photo already taken and ready to go. Programs like Paspic can help you create the perfect passport picture that meets the standards for your specific country. This free service saves you time and money, and you can pick up your photo or have it shipped directly to you overnight. If you’re creating a child or baby passport photo, using this site also helps you avoid the meltdowns that often occur when having their picture taken at your local store. You can take their picture in the comfort of your own home with your smartphone or webcam.

Know if online is an option

In the US, you cannot apply for a passport online if you’ve never had one. First-time applicants must fill out Form DS-11 and bring it to an Application Acceptance location in person.

Have what you need ready

Read up on what’s required for the application process in your particular country. In the United States, applicants must present their passport photos, photo identification and a document that proves their citizenship. You should also have the fees required for the passport available.

Apply for the right passport

Planning on traveling a lot? Think about this beforehand and ask for a passport with enough pages to support your travel. If you wait until later to add extra pages, it will cost more.

Once you have your passport in hand, make sure you keep up with it and renew it before it expires. If you wait too long, you may not be able to enter certain countries.

Photo: Couple! by mynameisharsha licensed under Creative commons 2

Did you know about these passport rules?

Published on in photography, travel by Paspic

Since they are the main form of identification governing international travel, it shouldn’t be surprising that passports come with all sorts of rules that may seem complicated at first. Whether you’re a first time traveler or a seasoned veteran who has been to many different countries, it may be a good idea to review this list of little-known passport facts.

• Your passport is actually the property of the government that issued it (just read the fine print inside the document to see for yourself). This means that it must be surrendered upon request of an authorized member of the US government.

• Your passport photo needs to be taken within six months of your passport application. This is to make sure your general appearance is the same as what is on the document itself.

• Some countries require traveler’s passports to fall outside a certain range of its expiration date, usually three or six months. This is to help prevent unsuspecting tourists get stranded in a foreign country with an expired passport.

• Passport photos should be taken in plain clothes, rather than a uniform, and many countries will not accept passports that are taken while in uniform.

• Don’t let your passport get too damaged, since this can render it invalid. Your photo and all information needs to be clearly visible or you will need to get a new passport issued. This may be especially important for those travelers who love adventure.

• In some cases, you will need a certain number of remaining pages left in your passport to enter a country. Or, if you are planning on travelling to several countries in succession, it might be a good idea to renew your passport just to get some extra space. If your passport can’t be stamped anymore, it can no longer be used.

• In some countries, you may present a valid visa in an expired passport, as long as you’re able to show a current passport alongside of it. Make sure to do your research first and find out if this applies in your case.

Photo: Passport by seantoyer licensed under Creative commons 2