Smiling Frowned Upon in Visa Photographs

[NoPasaran]

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Imagine being denied a passport for, of all things, your teeth. It could happen, but not because they're crooked. Under new rules for visa photographs that began this summer, the State Department doesn't want to see them at all, according to a story published in Sunday's Pittsburgh-Post Gazette.

The new guidelines permit people to smile for passport and visa pictures but frown on toothy smiles, which apparently are classified as unusual or unnatural expressions.

"The subject's expression should be neutral (non-smiling) with both eyes open, and mouth closed. A smile with a closed jaw is allowed but is not preferred," according to the guidelines.

So why does the State Department frown on smiles?

Smiling "distorts other facial features, for example your eyes, so you're supposed to have a neutral expression. ... The most neutral face is the most desirable standard for any type of identification," said Angela Aggeler, spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, which handles travel-document guidelines.

-more-

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VISAS_NO_SMILES?SITE=1010WINS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[eleonora]

1. lol!! At the airport: "Look, that guy's SMILING! He must be a terrorist!"

.....:eyes: paranoid, a bit?

[illflem]

2. My understanding was it it's because it

because smiling isn't compatible with the facial recognition technology.
Rightly so, by the time this method of IDing is widespread no one will have a reason to smile.

[cosmicaug]

3. My thoughts exactly.

[DS1]

5. It's why I try to look pissed off in my IDs

Chances are, if someone had to ask for my ID, I'm in a position to be pissed off :shrug:

[NoPasaran]

4. When smiling is outlawed only outlaws will smile n/t

[Ima]

6. They want them to look like mug shots.

That can save them time later.