3 Questions re: immigration photos

[cali2bc]

1. Has anyone submitted their photos in black and white? I believe that the photo guidelines specify that this is allowed.

2. Was anyone successful in taking US passport photos (2x2) and simply cutting it to the appropriate dimensions? My only concern is that the head will be too large.

3. Can you tell me what the best option is for getting immigration photos completed quickly on the cheap?

 

[SchnookoLoly]

1. Not sure. I would do it in colour, though, that would be standard - it's not worth CIC getting pissy about B&W photos and having to request new ones.

2. No, do not do that. Follow the instructions for the photos to the letter. Everything must be exact or the photos will be rejected. Why risk it?

3. Anywhere that does passport photos should be able to provide photos that meet CIC's requirements. You don't say where you are... WalMart is usually a decent spot, though.

Just take the form with you, show it to the photographer, and say you need photos that meet these exact specifications.

 

[surleplateau]

Follow the Information Guide for your specific country.

The US guide has instructions for the photos that says:

Notes to the applicant:
TAKE THIS WITH YOU TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER
•Immigration photos are not the same as passport photos.
•Make sure that you provide the correct number of photos specified in this guide.

Notes to the photographer
The photos must:
•show a full front view of the person's head and shoulders showing full face centered in the middle of the photograph;
•have a plain white background;
•be identical (black and white or colour) produced from the same untouched negative, or exposed simultaneously by a split-image or multi-lens camera.
The photos must:
•measure between 25 mm and 30 mm (1” and 1 1/5”) from chin to crown;
•have a 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8” x 1 3/4”) finished size.

If you do a search on this website for "online photo" or something you'll find that others have used some websites for uploading their photos and then getting it the right size. Or you can try your local Costco or other pharmacy that does passport photos and see if they have software that does other country's immigration photos (note that immigration photos are not the same as passport photos).

If your DIY-cutting of US passport photos makes your head too big (see the guide for the page that shows exactly how big the face must be), you run the risk of having it rejected/delayed. Do you really want to delay your PR application over a few lousy photos? Get the right ones the first time so you don't have to worry and wonder.

 

[cali2bc]

Thank you, both of you.

I am in California. I have tried Costco, Walmart, Fedex, CVS, Walgreens, Target and every single one of those places refused to do it. I eventually turned my backyard into a DIY photo studio and used a passport photo website, but the photos are still a blue, so I was hoping black and white would work.

I might have to try one of those six places again and ask them to downsize the photo.

 

[surleplateau]

Call around and ask before showing up?

Check the Canadian consulate website, they might have information on where you can find a place that does the appropriate photos for their country. They may even have a photo booth on site... maybe.

You can also find websites online that will size the photos for you. I didn't use any, but I know there are a bunch of them and they have been linked on this forum before.