What is it about passport photos?
Posted on January 23, 2008
Filed Under Life is funny, Australia, Life, Travel, Comedy, Perth, Stupidity, immigration, Canada |
Well Murphy, you’ve done it again.
I pulled out my passport for the first time since my trip to Canada, almost 2 years ago, last week. I knew that I needed to get the sticker proclaiming my permanent resident status in it just in case.
When your passport is scanned at the airport, all your details are available to the staff member doing the scanning, including any visa statuses. However, should they be unable to scan it, the sticker acts as a fail-safe…indicating your status and thus, allowing you back into the country where the visa was issued.
After rushing from work to DIMIA (The Department of Immigration and Multi-Cultural Affairs) and waiting in the queue to get a ticket (Baaaaa) and then waiting for the ticket number to be called. I had finally accomplished what should have been done right after getting PR. The woman at the counter failed to notice that I had been granted PR 11 months ago and offered a flat “Congratulations.” as she passed me ticket number Q432.
Satisfied that I would be allowed to return to Australia after my Japan holiday, I booked the flight. HOORAY!
Only then, did I really LOOK at my passport.
CRAP! I only have 4 months left on it on my return to Oz. They don’t like that, you see. There should be at least 6 months left on it on return. Stupid really. How does my status change 6 months BEFORE it expires? It should be valid right up until the last day.
So now, I am faced with another challenge. Apply for a new Canadian passport 8 weeks before I fly and hope against hope that they don’t find anything wrong with it or the photos. I sent it off today, fingers crossed.
Which brings me to the photo. The last time I had passport photos done, I had just had my hair done, make-up was perfect and I was allowed to smile (the act banning this came into effect one month later) so for the last 5 years I’ve had a pretty decent looking passport photo. This time, it’s been months since I had my hair done so it is long, lifeless and mouse-shit brown. My hair appointment is on Friday but I really didn’t want to risk waiting too long just for vanity’s sake. Also… I look 5 years older!!
The nerve of those photo people. I mean really, can’t they work the photo magic and miraculously shed the extra 20 pounds I’ve put on in 5 years?? (All flatteringly located in my second chin apparently.) Not to mention remove the crows feet and mad look on my face which was a direct result of me laughing immediately before the picture was taken then over correcting so as not to smile?
I’ll be amazed if anybody lets me into their country after looking at that picture! I’d post it here but I’ve already sent it off to Canberra. And by that I mean, I wouldn’t post that god-awful picture if somebody was shoving bamboo under my fingernails.
I might however post a new pic once the hair is done and I’ve carefully applied make-up and taken 50 pictures of me by candle-light and can choose one that doesn’t make me feel like seeing my lunch again.
Watch this space!!
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5 Responses to “What is it about passport photos?”
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isn’t admin of any sort just a pain?! my mum’s passport was recently torn up (even though not yet expired) because she needed to apply for another one. Her father passed away suddenly overseas and she was left without a passport. stupid rules.
Tell me about it! That’s absolutely horrible! I would hate to have some sort of family emergency that I couldn’t attend because of a passport technicality.
This means renewing the Canadian passports at least once until we can get Australian ones.
I dont even have a passport so I can’t complain about my photo! Although I did recently get a pass to go on the RAAF base and I really wanted to say ‘hey, can we do that again??’ cos the pic is terrible!
Hope it all gets done on time..
Cheers, Kelly
Hi, I’m visiting via someone’s (I don’t remember who) blogroll I found you on.
And oh my gosh, I giggled all the way threw your post. The joys of photos, I have never liked one of myself until 10 years down the road and I look back and think, well I looked a whole lot better then. I don’t really know what was funnier, your sheep comment about waiting in line or the part about your second chin (like we all don’t have something we don’t like). I’ll be checking back later when I have a bit more time. Thanks for the smile on my face now though.
Cute blog! Thanks for making me smile! Part of the passport procedure is having your passport application and photos notarized by a Notary Public. Here is a great article about the requirements for getting a passport, and it is also a site for notary services in Toronto, Canada. Toronto Notary Public Discusses Passport Requirements