Border security

Remove The Specs: Glasses Banned from US Passport and Visa Photos

All US passport and visa applicants are now banned from wearing glasses on their document photos, according to a new decision by the US State Department.  According to the official notice posted on US Department of State website, this measure will allow to significantly reduce procedural delays.

The delays happen because of "glares and shadow" cast by the glasses, according to the website. Some 20 million photos are expected for processing in upcoming year and glasses seem to be problem number one, according to the US Passport Services. Nearly 200,000 photos submitted in 2015 were of "poor quality" and therefore caused applications to be put on hold. The exception can be made only in rare circumstances, if applicants have "documented medical necessity during urgent travel", the website says.