passport stuff

[jd-science.livejournal.com]

i wanted to renew my passport before they started chipping them, but i'm afraid i'm too late. guess there's nothing i can do about that. oh well.

where can i get cheap but official passport photos taken? it's 15 bucks at the post office, ridiculous.

Comments

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

That $15 is actually on the cheap side of standard, in my experience. It does seem ridiculous, but maybe it needs a special camera with special film? If anyone knows of a place to do them significantly cheaper, I'd love to know about it.

You used to need a special camera...

[mattdm [typekey.com] (from livejournal.com)]

You used to need a special camera, but not anymore. You can use any 2"x2" (exactly) image that fits the guidelines, which you can find at http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/faq/faq_881.html .

[eeyorecol.livejournal.com]

I just saw a sign for passport photos costing $7.99 at the CVS in Central Square.

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

I had mind done at CVS in Harvard Square, and it was about that much. It's also really fast.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I don't recommend the CVS in Davis Square. It was only $7.99, but they just use a crappy digital camera and snap your headshot. My photos weren't framed correctly and were so out of focus that I couldn't use them for my passport.

For the same price, Errico Studio in the square was faster and much, much higher quality.

[inthatoneway.livejournal.com]

I got mine taken at the camera shop that's about half a block from the Diesel. I don't remember how much it was, but I think it was less than $15. And they use a digital camera, so if you don't like the first pic they'll take another. No more closed eyes for your passport. Yay!

[toonhead-npl.livejournal.com]

Are you sure we're chipping them now? Some places are taking longer than others to get around to it, and I was wondering if anyone has actually seen a Mass. one that's been chipped.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

It needs special film, IIRC, I used to do them for a company I used to work for. It cost us $6 a shot just for the camera, IF you got it right the first time.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

Please don't post things like this. Read the passport application for the requirements. The following http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/faq/faq_881.html is a pretty good summary of the requirements and recommendations. Most places producing cheap passport photos barely meet the requirements and come nowhere close to the suggested quality of lighting (everything in a photo really) that the state department suggests (http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/setup/setup_873.html). The printing or film is the easy part.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Please don't post things that I know to be true from my previous experience? I'm saying it COST US IN MATERIALS $6 per shot, and you need TWO OF THEM. We charged $15 due to having the equipment, and for the time. What about what I said was offending your delicate sensibilities?

[mattdm [typekey.com] (from livejournal.com)]

yeah, but now it costs $0.15 in materials for both shots.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Conceded. Ah, the miracles of digital photography. anyone still using Polaroid-style film though is going to charge more, cause those materials are still going up, not down.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I thought you were suggesting that the state department required a specific type of film.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

First off I've read (but can't find it now) that only one of the several service centers for creating passports are using the RFID chips currently but soon the rest will
Second, if you follow the not too difficult instructions, it's fairly easy to produce your own if you have access to a digital camera (anything semi-modern that's better than a web cam can work). If you are comfortable using any basic image editting program it's even easier. Then take it to a photo place that will print digital images or upload it somewhere where you can get them printed and mailed to you. You do have to take into account that it will be printed as a 4x6 print though. Or you can just pay the $8-15 and go somewhere to have it done.

[turil.livejournal.com]

What about photo booth pictures? They often say "use for passport photos" on the booths.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

If it meets all of the explicit requirements for a passport, sure. Most of it is that it now has to be in color, with even lighting and your face has to be a specific size and position in the image. If you do it correctly you're good (despite the fact that photo booth pictures are specificly mentioned in the directions as how you shouldn't do it).

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

i wonder if the old passport-in-the-microwave trick would work. they say it's still a valid travel document even if the chip fails. but i bet our faces all go into a database somewhere during the application process, not only on the chip. though really, it's the things they're not telling us about the chip that are more worrisome.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

The problem is that the cover is a wire mesh which would be unhappy in a microwave. You will need a much better focused plan for the chip destruction.

[ron_newman]

Would exposure to a sufficiently strong magnetic field work?

[xuth.livejournal.com]

I would expect that the answer is no as I've never heard of magnets being able to do any permanent damage to a chip.

[rxrfrx.livejournal.com]

Nope, but if you find the thing, you might be able to crush it or otherwise mechanically break it with a needle.


I got passport photos at CVS in Coolidge Corner for like $3.

[autumnsshadow.livejournal.com]

They were relatively inexpensive at Camera's Inc in Davis, but I can't remember now exactly how much...