killamarsh

Has anyone got a aus passport recently? They now have this little card which shows the measurements of the face and size of picture and it's a nightmare. It is different to other passport/photo requirements and I have already had two sets of passport photos done and they don't match the requirements. The picture of your head has to be within a certain measurement, the measurement between your chin and crown of your head has to be within a measurement along with all the usual no dark background, etc etc etc. And to add insult to injury they told me today that I would have to pay a fee as my passport got stolen in 2000. I THINK NOT. I emailed the Australian office today to clarify as it was stolen before the new rules came in and expired before the new rules came in. Oh the things to come..... And then there is the bloody signature from the other parent - unless they are dead they want a signature - don't care if you have a court order - we want the signature - more money to the solicitor to send a ruddy photocopy of the page from the application as he can't know where we live.

one two ---- deep breath ---- chill

sloane46

Know how you feel about the passport photos I had mine taken in Max spielmans with my four kids having theirs done at same time took a printoff of the requirements to the shop and me and the woman there spent ages getting them right with a tape measure. much to the annoyance of one particular woman who started saying its only a passport! after trying to explain to her how aus passports are stricter and getting a snotty reply I gave up trying to explain. The woman in the shop was lovely as I had explained to her how I had to travel from Bolton to Edinburgh to get the passports and if one was wrong(especially if it was the kids who werent travelling with me) then it would be a very expensive mistake. Anyway rant over good luck with your third attempt it will all be worth it in the end

moneypenny20

When hubby and girls needed Aus passport photos in the UK we went to a Kodak shop with the rules and they sorted it no problem. They are used to different rules for different countries. It's all digital so they can all be manipulated.

gedge

we did ours photography at home
white wall, tripod and digi camera
get the lighting right so there are no shadows and then snap half a dozen shots per person
picked the best couple and off to the photo lab
told them what we wanted and they did the rest

unless you've got an odd shaped head, the dimensions aren't that difficult to get right

moneypenny20

Possibly therein lies the problem

louie

It's just the same for UK passports now. If you use the Post Office checking service they get templates out and check your photo complies and I've seen people getting their applications rejected. I think it's something to do with face recognition/scanning software requirements.

Jaycee1

My friend used this service and had photos at Max Spielmans and she had to return to Max Spielmans TWICE because the passport office said the photos were wrong when the post office had checked them!
Let's hope it was a one off...
although the passport office are offering her compensation....
J x

I recently used the checking service and received my passport back in 6 days!!

killamarsh

I'm going back tomorrow. I thought I would give them a break from me and will have the measure thing with me that I got with the passport application.

Iv'e been looking at the rules on stolen passports after I was told I would need to pay a fee for a passport stolen in 2000 and I realised it expired months before the law came in and isn't in the last 5 years - the info all states in the last 5 years. I wonder if I won't have to pay the fee? mmmm

@boy

Snap for the Iris Passport Office too.
I had to renew mine recently and my first set of pics were rejected due to being 1mm out !

These new face recognition systems are purdy fussy indeedy :-)

homewardbound

So what if you don't know who the father of your child is - how do you get a signature then?

moneypenny20

Presumably there would be no father's name on the birth certificate so you wouldn't need a signature

sasbear

chill out Killamarsh - I know what you mean - I went and had my pic done and bothered with my hair and makeup only to be told the pic wasn't right - I was told this when i turned up feeling (and looking ) grotty - had a sh*T picture taken and that is now on my ozzie passport...

Aussie_Pom

Just go to your nearest Kmart, they normally have a white board organized, they will take your photos as the Passport office want them and develop them for you.

cresta57

If you get the pics taken at the post office when you go to apply for your passport you only pay once for the pics no matter how many times they have to snap you. For the small fee [$20 odd bucks] it's not worth the hassle going anywhere else

killamarsh

Went back to the photo shop and they winced as I walked in. The tutting woman from the other day rolled her eyes. He ended up doing two sets as the first one still didn't match the measurements of the 'photo card' that came with the passport application. They didn't end up charging me again and I gave back the last pics taken. I think they are ok and will get both sets signed and take them to Aus house when we lodge the applications. Just need to sit and wait to see if the 'father' returns the parental signature page to me signed. We shall see.