# Are you required to take a new photo for ID when your appearance changes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323 "2022-01-24T18:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323/21 "2022-01-27T22:43:30Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > I had just been thinking about how drastically one can change their facial appearance in minutes and the supposed point of photo ID. I once had a hotel desk guy try to refuse to cash a travelers cheque because my signatures on my ID and the cheque didn’t match well enough in his opinion. The thing was i was 13 years old, traveling with a group of other kids, and chaperoned by 2 teachers in a province where I couldn’t even speak the language properly. How this guy thought I was some sort of fraud artist infiltrating a group of school children and looking to rob the hotel of $20 was beyond me. Maybe the hotel clerk recently watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New York? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323/22 "2022-01-28T08:29:44Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m curious how they managed to do that. In NJ at least, you are not allowed to smile, make stupid faces, or wear a head covering (with possible exceptions for medical or religious regions). In California they can’t make you take off a religious head covering. I changed over to a Real ID several years ago a made them let me keep my knit cap on. It has to be both for religious reasons and something that you ordinarily wear daily. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323/23 "2022-01-28T21:08:09Z")
When I got my Real ID in NC a few years ago they made me take off my glasses. The fact that I wear them constantly (to avoid things like walking into walls) didn’t make any difference. ISTR I was told it was because wearing glasses interferes with facial recognition systems. However, the TSA has never asked me to take off my glasses when I show it to them. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323/24 "2022-01-29T17:15:42Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > However, the TSA has never asked me to take off my glasses when I show it to them. I wore glasses for every passport (U.S.) photo until 2021. For my 2021 photo I was not allowed to smile, had to show my ears, and could not wear my glasses. When we go through customs and use the Global Entry kiosk, not only do we have to remove our masks, but my husband has to take off his hat and glasses, and I have to take off my glasses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-required-to-take-a-new-photo-for-id-when-your-appearance-changes/958323.md?page=1)