How do they get your biometrics? How do you apply for, and more importantly, pick up, your passport? Are they just mailing them around? That doesn’t sound very secure.
If you’re talking about stuff like a fingerprint, they don’t. Our “biometric” passports don’t have anything on the chip except for, I believe, the photograph and the information on the ID page.
Children’s passports and the first adult passport have to be applied for in person, at a passport agent. The most common passport agents are post offices and local government offices. They check that the papers are in order, make sure the ID you’re sending copies of is legitimate, etc., and bundle the application and supporting documents up to be mailed to the State Department.
And yes, it comes in the mail. And adult passports can be renewed by mail too. Staple your picture onto the form, write a check, pop your old passport in the envelope, and send it off.
I’ve had no end of problems with photos I took myself, or in a booth, for UK passports.
There’s a place inside the local Sainsbury’s that does key cutting, shoe repair, etc - and they have a guaranteed photo service (guaranteed in the sense that they check the compliance measurements etc before handing it to you, and will reshoot for free if the photo is rejected)
It seems like one of the photo requirements for UK passports is 'image must make you look like the husband of the bride of Frankenstein"
I’m not a security expert, but that sounds like a recipe for security nightmares.
I don’t see why, unless your evil twin has the same mailman.
It’s just a tiny photo, a person doesn’t have to be your twin to look enough like you. And they don’t have to be the one who nicks your passport themselves.
Post office.
Best not to stand up against the wall. That way you get hard shadows which are definitely not wanted.
In NZ, an initial application requires a printed photo sent with the application to the Department of Internal Affairs, but renewals are done on line with a photo uploaded to the website. I’ve had a colleague at work take the photo for me and it’s worked fine.
The Costco check guy made some comments at how I should never change my card and that it was party in the back or something. I was 
until I realized that low-res black and white photo had a shadow that he thought was a mullet. :smack:
Great!
I also meant to write to stand about a metre away from the wall. That way, the shadows blur behind you and don’t get seen.
The local county office where they process applications. They’ll take your photo right there. It’s very convenient.
Terrible advice. The passport office may issue you the passport with the bad quality photo, but a passport is something to use, not just own. Somebody may be closely scrutinizing that photo one day, and if they’re not satisfied that your crappy photo is legit, you may end up badly inconvenienced or worse.
Across the street from, or next door to, the U.S. Embassy.
Most of these places also have a place where I can check my bag, since bringing in many things (including a cell phone and a bag) is prohibited.
Last time we did ours at the post office. We made an appointment online so no wait at all.
Within reason, the passport office and anyone looking at your passport is not going to care if the picture was printed on the highest quality paper versus standard photo stock. They aren’t going to care if the flash had a professional diffuser to soften the shadows. As long as you are recognizable in the picture and your head is within the size tolerance, it’s good enough.
I wish we could take our own at home and control the cost, quality, and accuracy! In Canada it must be taken by a commercial photographer. I’ve found Shoppers to be the most consistently reliable.
I’m with Green Bean. Some countries are incredibly strict, actually. I know of at least one person who had no problems with her photo for a couple of years, then suddenly ran into a pretty big hassle because one of her ears was slightly obscured by shadow. “Good enough” has a bigger spectrum than you might think.