I don't look like my passport! HELP!

[DisneyBuffinDE]

I just booked a Oct 2012 Fantasy cruise. Before I was just about to go to bed I decided to look at my passport. I had a Oh NO moment. I don't look like my passport picture anymore. I had my hair up, glasses and weighted about 20-30 lb heavier. I don't think I look like it at all. I showed DH and he agreed. Problem is it does not expire till 2014. So what do I do????? Can I renew it early? Does it matter? HELP!

 

[acourtwdw]

Yes you can get a new passport. You just need to fill out the paperwork, get new pictures and mail it out (of course following the directions on the site) with your payment. The govt doesn't know why you need a new one. What if you had lost your old one? Think of it that way....

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

I have used a passport with a picture with similar differences (20 pounds or so weight difference, completely different hair style, etc.) and had no problems. Admittedly this was about 15 years ago, so I don't know whether they are stricter now. But I would imagine that the changes you describe are not uncommon, and I would hope the agents have some training in matching photos to faces even when time, diets, and fashion have made changes.

 

[kcashner]

It doesn't matter! It just has to be legal. DD as a senior in high school (with dyed hair, etc) looked NOTHING like her 8th grade passport picture. We would just hand it to the agent, they'd look at it funny, and we'd say "yeah, we know." Doesn't matter as long as it was a real likeness of you at the time it was issued.

 

[sayhello]

If you have a current driver's license with a more matching picture, I might have that on hand just in case there's a question. But as kcashner says, it's still legal even if it doesn't look like you any more.

My kid brother's first passport made him look like a terrorist. Seriously. I wouldn't have let him in my country based on that thing! Fortunately, he doesn't look like that in real life!

Sayhello

 

[mellers]

I just booked a Oct 2012 Fantasy cruise. Before I was just about to go to bed I decided to look at my passport. I had a Oh NO moment. I don't look like my passport picture anymore. I had my hair up, glasses and weighted about 20-30 lb heavier. I don't think I look like it at all. I showed DH and he agreed. Problem is it does not expire till 2014. So what do I do????? Can I renew it early? Does it matter? HELP!

Admittedly, this was awhile back, but I took my daughter to Britain for an experimental medical procedure ($3,000 in Britain, $26,000 here). My passport photo was taken when I was young, healthy, newly married and fresh as a daisy. When I went to Britain, I was older, dealing with a child's disability, and unknown to me at the time, had massive spinal damage and probably cancer. Needless to say, I didn't look much like picture. When I was questioned, they asked me to show a second form of ID--in my case, a California State ID at that time. Once I did, and the birthdates, name and general physical description (eye color and hair color) matched up with the ID, I was given no further trouble. I don't think you need a new passport, but if it would give you peace of mind, by all means, get one.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

You have plenty of time to get a new one. FYI, you can take your own pic. I got one done at Walmart and HATED it, so I set up my tripod at home and took pics till I had one I liked. It has to be a white background, no shadows, Etc. After I got one I liked, I printed it off at Walmat (I believe they had a passport size choice on prints) and submitted it with my application.

 

[peachygreen]

Honestly I wouldn't worry about it. Passports are good for 5-10 years and people's appearances change. If they were so concerned that the likeness remainded exacty like you for the duration of the passport they wouldn't issue them for such durations. My daughter has a passport that was issued when she was 6 months old. I can guarentee you that when she is 4-1/2 it won't look much like her.

The most I've ever had is someone comment that I changed my hair color and that was on my drivers license.

 

[Anal Annie]

I wouldn't worry about it. They can't expect people to not change over the course of 10 years. People turn gray, lose their hair, grow their hair, weight fluctuates etc. It's unrealistic to think people wouldn't age in 10 years. Like others have said, just have a current drivers license with you too as an additional ID.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Kind of OT....my DH shaves his head, because he is ALL grey. He went to get a new driver's license, and the lady asked my DH his hair color. Really? When he didn't answer immediately, she looked up and said..."oh, you can choose bald". I wonder what would happen if he let it all grow out and dyed it.

 

[luvndizny]

I just had my passport done in January and then had my hair cut afterwards, dyed a different color and I would *like to think* I look 10 pounds heavier than in real life in that pic. It didn't matter. (Oh and my daughter had her pic taken too and wanted to cut her hair later on- she had about 9 inches cut off too!) Anyhow, it didn't matter.

Oh and congrats on the weight loss!

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I just had my passport done in January and then had my hair cut afterwards, dyed a different color and I would *like to think* I look 10 pounds heavier than in real life in that pic. It didn't matter. (Oh and my daughter had her pic taken too and wanted to cut her hair later on- she had about 9 inches cut off too!) Anyhow, it didn't matter.

Oh and congrats on the weight loss!

When I got my new driver's license last year, when we moved here, they asked my hair color and I asked "this month?". I'm just glad they don't ask weight...I mean I always subtract at least 10 pounds, that's probably why they don't bother any more. Could you imagine if they had a scale at the DMV? That's one way to get women drivers off the road!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I wondered about this since my son is 8 months old in his passport photo - his appearance will change pretty dramatically before his passport expires. But, apparently changes in appearance due to the "natural aging process of minors" is fine. For all other changes in appearance:

If you can still be identified from the photo in your current passport or visa application, you do not need to apply for a new passport or submit a new photo for your visa application. However, you may have to apply for a new passport or submit a new photo for your visa application if you have:

* Undergone significant facial surgery or trauma
* Added or removed numerous/large facial piercings or tattoos
* Undergone a significant amount of weight loss or gain
* Obtained a new gender identity

But like the PP said, you can renew and get a new photo anyway.

 

[disneydreamer82]

I wouldn't worry about it. When I got my passport in 2009 I weighed about 70 lbs more than I do now. And when I used it this past December the only funny look I got was from security at the airport and I said" yeah I know I used to be much bigger", and he laughed and said "well I wasn't gonna say anything" , it was no big deal!

 

[helenk]

I wouldn't worry about it. When I got my passport in 2009 I weighed about 70 lbs more than I do now. And when I used it this past December the only funny look I got was from security at the airport and I said" yeah I know I used to be much bigger", and he laughed and said "well I wasn't gonna say anything" , it was no big deal!

Good one to which I can relate, when we went on our cruise last year I was down 75 pounds and I got a few looks too, but had no problems. I am down 15 more pounds and I am not worried about having any problems when we cruise in May. I am sure they run into these issues all the time.

 

[dawne98]

I soso soso hate my photo also and when I fly they always look at me "what?" lol then I have to saw my DL and then I am good to go.... I just don't have the $$$ for a new one

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

You can always just get a passport card, as they are cheaper than regular passports.....that's what me and DH have, they are pretty cool looking.

 

[mickeyfan1]

I got my current passport a few years ago. I do not look like my awful picture. I use my passport all the time to fly. No one has ever looked at it that closely.

Passport cards are only good for closed loop cruises and driving into and out of Canada and Mexico. If you are thinking about doing a cruise like a Repo, or the Med, get the regular passport. It lasts 10 years, and you can go everywhere with it. You can fly to Aruba, or the Bahamas or Europe. Using a passport while flying with n the country is also a lot faster for TSA. They know exactly what to look for and where it is, as opposed to DLs from every state.

JMO, don't bother to get a new one until yours is expiring.

 

[Ajojo]

I use my passport all the time and don't look anything like my photo.

The last time I flew, the TSA agent was studying it for a bit. My other traveling companions started to get worried. He looked at me and laughed and said that he was looking at my birthdate. That he couldn't believe that I was slightly older than him but looked half my age!

Yah, that made my day!

 

[shelbell77]

Mom weighs nearly 200 lbs less than she did in her passport pic. People definitely give her a double look - but then they usually say good for you!

That said, officially, somewhere on the passport site it does say if you no longer resemble your passport photo to get a new passport. Good news is you have plenty of time to do that before an Oct 2012 cruise.