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A rejected US passport renewal due to a photo error can cause significant logistical issues for citizens living abroad, potentially leading to overstaying visas if not handled proactively.
The host, Alex, shares his stressful experience of having his US passport renewal rejected due to a photo error. The rejection letter indicated the photo was not high-resolution, blurry, grainy, pixelated, or a clear image of his face, and that filters were used. This has caused him concern about potential deportation from the Philippines and being blacklisted.
The core issue stemmed from a photo taken at a local business that was not the correct 2x2 inch size and was an expanded version of an old photo, not a new one. Alex advises viewers to be meticulous about passport photo requirements, ensuring they are fresh, correctly sized, and meet all specifications to avoid similar rejections and the subsequent complications.
This rejection has disrupted Alex's plans to transfer his visa extension information to a new passport, potentially leading to him becoming a slight overstayer. He is now planning to renew his passport in person, either in Manila or Cebu, to avoid further delays and ensure he remains compliant with immigration laws. He reflects on the stress and cost involved but emphasizes the importance of following the rules.
Alex also discusses his preference for living in Dumaguete over the fast-paced, expensive environment of Manila, but acknowledges the necessity of traveling to a major city for this passport issue. He sees the trip as an opportunity to visit friends and experience city life, turning a stressful situation into a mini-vacation, and highlights that overstaying is a common reason for foreigners to face legal issues in the Philippines.
Your US passport renewal might be rejected due to a photo if it doesn't meet strict requirements. Common issues include the photo not being high-resolution, appearing blurry or grainy, using filters, or not being the correct 2x2 inch size.
If your US passport renewal is rejected, you may face significant delays in receiving a new passport. This can be particularly problematic if you are living abroad, as it could lead to issues with visa extensions or even potential overstays.
To fix a rejected US passport photo, ensure your next photo is a new, high-resolution image that meets all specifications. It must be 2x2 inches, clear, and taken without filters, capturing your face accurately.
While a rejected passport renewal itself doesn't directly cause deportation, the resulting complications can. If the rejection leads to a visa overstay or other immigration violations, it can create serious legal trouble, including potential deportation.
If your US passport renewal is rejected and you need to act urgently, consider renewing in person at a US embassy or consulate. This often expedites the process compared to mail-in renewals, though it may require travel to a major city.
US passport photo size requirements abroad are the same as domestically: the photo must be 2x2 inches (51x51 mm). It should be a recent, color photograph of your full face against a plain white or off-white background, with no digital alterations.
Your US passport renewal was rejected because the photo did not meet the required standards. Specifically, the photo was not high-resolution, appeared blurry, grainy, pixelated, or had filters applied, failing to provide a clear image of your face.
To avoid passport photo rejection, ensure your photos are fresh, correctly sized at 2x2 inches, and meet all specifications for resolution and clarity. Avoid using filters or old photos, and be meticulous about the requirements to prevent complications.
If your passport renewal is rejected while abroad, you may face delays and potential issues with your visa status. It is often recommended to renew your passport in person at a major city or embassy to expedite the process and ensure compliance with immigration laws.
While a rejected passport renewal itself doesn't directly lead to deportation, it can cause complications with your visa status if it leads to an overstay. It is crucial to resolve passport issues promptly to maintain legal residency and avoid potential immigration problems.
Overstaying a visa in the Philippines is a common reason for foreigners to face legal issues and can lead to fines and difficulties with future entry. It is important to proactively manage visa extensions and passport renewals to avoid any overstay.
For US passport renewals in the Philippines, it is recommended to go in person to a major city like Manila or Cebu, or to the US Embassy. This can help expedite the process and ensure all requirements are met correctly, avoiding potential delays associated with mail-in services.
0:02 Hey YouTube, Alex here. And in today's video, I've got some bad news for you. My US Passport renewal was rejected. Today's video, I'm going to discuss, am I going to get deported? Am I going to be blacklisted and sent back home to the United States? Stay tuned to find out.
0:22 You'll notice that my face is shaved. I think it's the first time my chin has seen sunlight in years. Anyway, I wish today's video wasn't a little bit stressful, but it is. I tried to renew my US Passport and I got a letter in the mail with my old passport in it.
0:39 I got this letter. I'll read this letter at least until I get bored, and then we'll go from there. So it's got a little sticky note on it. RTS, dear applicant Alexander [Last Name], this refers to your application for a US passport which you mailed to the Embassy. We're returning your application because then they've got all these checkboxes down here where they indicate the reason for the rejection of your renewal application.
1:09 And it is checked at the bottom: your passport photo needs to be, and where it's checked again, a high-resolution photo that is not blurry, grainy, or pixelated. Next, a clear image of your face. Do not use filters commonly used on social media. This is a photo I tried to use. You can see it's blurry.
1:32 So what does this mean? Am I getting deported from the Philippines? Am I getting sent out of the Philippines? Am I no longer welcome here? Will I have to go home to the US? Stay tuned until next time to find out. No, I'm just kidding. I'm not going to do that to you guys.
1:49 So essentially, what happened was I went to get a passport photo. And I'm not going to name the business, I don't want to throw them under the bus, but I went to get it done. And what's required of the photo is that it's 2 inches by 2 inches. Well, they gave me a photo that was 2 inches up and down and 1 inch side to side. And so that photo would not qualify for the renewal.
2:13 So I took it back, and I wasn't paying attention. They took a photograph of the old photo and then expanded it. They didn't take a new photo. I just said, 'Whatever, I'm sure it'll be fine,' and I sent it in. That turned out to be a mistake.
2:30 If you are going to get your passport photo done, make sure that you use a fresh photo that's 2 inches by 2 inches. Don't allow them to say, 'Oh, it's fine.' No, it's not fine. It will get rejected. You will have to do what I'm going to have to do.
2:47 I'll tell you the solution later in the video, but everything else I did was just fine. I filled out the paperwork properly. I used the proper lettering. I gave them all the information. I even sent in my old passport.
3:01 And I was excited on stream this morning thinking that my new passport would arrive. I'd go to my Visa service that I work with here in Dumaguete. They would go to Manila to transfer my old visa extension information to my new passport. Everything would be fine. Well, that's not going to work.
3:21 And so now, because I don't want another delay, because I don't want to lapse further into being an overstayer, I'm not yet overstaying, but technically I will be overstaying very slightly. I'm going to go ahead and do the renewal in person. Have them send it to my apartment in Dagat, and then go back to my Visa service provider to help me do the extension.
3:45 Now, I'm not super worried about it. This is technically a very short-term overstay. Plus, I have a valid reason here, right? It's not because I'm willfully trying to be disobedient, but because I have to renew my passport. And from what I've heard, your authorization will not be granted for extension if you're less than six months up for renewal.
4:06 Now, some people have asked me, 'Why didn't you just go to Manila and do this in person?' There's a few reasons for that. One, I like Dumaguete. I actually really like living here. Two, Manila is very busy. Everybody I hear that lives in Manila tells me, 'Look, it's a major city, it's going to be busy, it's going to be fast-paced, you're going to be on the go.'
4:28 You've got public transportation, you've got lots of people living there for work. It's the most densely populated city in the world. So it's not just a walk in the park. It's actually stressful. Plus, the time. It's time I have to focus on getting things done as opposed to vlogging.
4:43 Plus, the cost. I have to pay for the flight to Manila. I have to pay for accommodation in Manila. Manila ain't cheap. It's definitely one of the more expensive cities in Southeast Asia. And so I thought, I'll save the money, I'll save the time, and I'll just stay here. I'll do it by mail.
4:58 Turns out I made a mistake there. And so I'm going to go in person. I'm trying to sort out now with some of my friends whether it's advisable for me to go to the Cebu consulate, which is fully booked out. All their appointments are booked out, but I am asking for some leeway considering the circumstances. I don't want to be in overstay any longer than I absolutely have to.
5:22 Considering the circumstances of needing to renew my passport. And so I'll figure out, can I do it at the consulate? Anyway, even though I'm not able to get employment, or should I go ahead and make the trip up to Manila? And that would save me some hassle as well by being able to just get the transfer of the visa extension from the old passport to the new passport in person rather than having to go with my friends at the Visa service provider.
5:48 It's a little bit stressful. There will be some stress until I get this passport renewal done and the visa stamp transferred for me. I want to follow the rules. I want to do everything by the book. In retrospect, I should have just gone and done it in person in Manila, but that's a lot of work.
6:02 So I thought I'll save myself some time. Turns out I'm not saving myself some time, and I am going to pay both in time and money now to square this away. So, uh, no, I don't expect to be deported. No, I do not expect to be in trouble for this. I am doing everything I can in good faith to sort this out.
6:25 It's a rare circumstance. We only have to renew every 10 years as Americans. And plus, there's a great relationship between the US and the Philippines. I don't expect this to be a major issue, but it is worth pointing out. You want to be proactive about this. You want to be more proactive than I was when you're encountering this type of situation.
6:42 And try to do it in person if you can. Make a little vacation. That's what I'm going to turn this into. A little vacation up to Manila or to Cebu, based on where I can go. Manila does have open appointments, so I can do it up there. But I know more people in, honestly with you, I have more friends in Cebu. I have a lot more familiarity with Cebu.
7:07 One of the ladies I'm interested in also lives in the Cebu area, so I'd be able to go see her if I pick Cebu over Manila. And I've been around Cebu, I know my way around the city somewhat. I'm looking forward to going to Cebu, but I'll go to Manila if I have to. I'll do whatever it is that I need to do to be in compliance with the rules.
7:25 And I'm looking forward to it. I mean, it's going to be a chance for me to get out of the city for a while, take a little bit of a break. I see it as an opportunity to mix it up. I actually last left Dumaguete in November, so it's been a couple of months since I've gotten out of town.
7:39 And I'll get to meet people I've known online like John Smo and also Wang, and hopefully some other folks as well that I know through the internet and through mutual friends, but people I haven't got to meet yet. I am looking forward to some time in a big city. If you didn't know, I am a big city guy. I am missing the big city life at times here in Dumaguete.
7:59 And the faster pace, the more options. Not looking forward to the big city prices, but you know, it is what it is. I'm not moving up there long-term for right now. Uh, but it should provide some great opportunities to collaborate. Drop a note in the comments if you're in one of those two cities and you want to meet up, or send me an email. I have my email in the description of the video.
8:20 I was last in Cebu about five years ago, and I was last in Manila about five months ago. So this should be interesting. I'll have a chance to get this sorted out and then enjoy some time with friends. And yeah, I apologize for not making this a walk-and-talk style, but I needed to be totally focused on the camera for this one to relay this information to you all.
8:43 I last got my passport about 10 years ago. I was actually getting prepared for a study abroad, and I had to expedite the service. Fortunately, it wasn't as backed up in the US as it is now. I've heard some people were waiting like three and four months to get their passport renewed in the US right now.
9:04 If you've had to do that also, let us know. But yeah, I'm not, like I said, not super worried about it, and I'm just going to be moving forward on this as fast and efficiently as I can. I'll be sure to provide updates whether it be on stream or on a follow-up video.
9:19 I did want to let everybody know, overstay is the most common reason that foreigners end up in jail here in the Philippines. It's not something that people should be doing or trying to do or thinking they're going to get away with. Like I said, for everybody that gets in trouble here, that's the most common reason, and it's easily avoided.
9:39 It's easily avoided. I know they'll be asking me, 'Why did I overstay?' And for good reason, that's a fair question. I'll let them know, 'Hey, I just needed to do my passport renewal,' and should be totally fine. I'm sure I won't be the first foreigner that comes in there that's an overstayer due to that reason.
9:57 Let me know what you think down in the comments. If you've had to do a passport renewal overseas, I know my buddy just did his in Southeast Asia. It worked out without a hitch. It always helps to generate interesting discussions when we share our experiences. Next, subscribe to the channel down below if you want to see more content like this. And finally, give us a thumbs up if you want to see this content shared with more people like yourselves. And we'll talk to you soon. Thanks so much, everybody.
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