Smiling in passport photo?

2shy

Registered Users (C)
I've heard that smiling isn't acceptable in passport photos. Is this true? I've googled this and haven't found anything conclusive.
 
I've heard that smiling isn't acceptable in passport photos. Is this true? I've googled this and haven't found anything conclusive.

I am in agreement with other responses that a "natural" smile will be fine for your US passport photo.

Actually I did came across this problem, but not for the US passport. When I submitted my Australian passport renewal at the Australian Consulate here, I submitted the same pictures I had used for my US passport (slight smile) and they were rejected, because the requirements for an Australian passport are mouth closed.
 
The department of state guidelines clearly state that the passport photograph should have your "natural expression" which can be open to interpretation.

Unfortunately the photo lady at Costco had interpreted this in her own way and asked my wife not to smile in the photograph. So now she has a serious frown on her naturalization certificate and is quite upset looking at it. I ignored the photographers comment and at least had a faint smile (not a big grin though) and did not have any problems at the interview. This has upset my wife even more :D as she is the one who usually has a smile on her face but on the certificate it appears the other way around.:)

Bottom line is that a little sly smile should be OK but do not show all your 32 teeth because if the IO also happens to be a dentist and your teeth are yellow then you could be in deep trouble. :D :D
 
As long as the facial recognition software will correctly read your facial features, it should be fine, I guess. However, when I was at the DMV office that processes enhanced DL, I overheard an employee telling all applicants not to smile before taking their picture. To be on the safe side, I would recommend not to smile for passport photos.

Coming from a country that did not allow smiling on passport pictures long before the era of facial recognition software, I do not find it hard to be serious once in a while on official photos :)
 
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If I had a choice, I would laugh so hard while sticking my tongue out in my Citizenship Cert photo since that would be the last time I would be dealing with USCIS but unfortunately that might not go so well with the folks at USCIS :)
 
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