On September 23, 2016, the State Department announced that U.S. embassies and consulates will no longer accept photographs of visa and passport applicants wearing eyeglasses beginning November 1, 2016. This also applies to photos for U.S. passport applications. Exceptions apply in rare cases where applicants are required to wear eyeglasses for medical necessity.
Under the No Eyeglasses Policy, an applicant may wear eyeglasses in a visa or passport application photograph in rare circumstances of medical necessity, for example, when an applicant has had recent ocular surgery and eyeglasses are necessary to protect his/her eyes during urgent travel. Applicants must provide a medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner in these cases. Posts must issue a limited one-year validity passport (using endorsement code 46 or endorsement code 109 for EPDPs) when the medical condition is temporary and travel is imminent.
Grace Period
The State Department will provide applicants with a 30-day grace period, during which time U.S. embassies and consulates are advised not to refuse visa or passport applications with photographs of applicants wearing eyeglasses.
Beginning December 1, 2016, this new rule will be strictly enforced — applicants must submit photographs without eyeglasses for all new visa and passport applications, or provide a medical statement.
