politics
State Department Developing Online Passport Photo Upload System
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the department is building a system for Americans to submit passport photos taken on phones or computers. The change forms part of a broader shift toward completing nearly the entire application online and is expected within months.
Jul 7, 7:09 PM·1m read1 source
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department is developing a system that would allow Americans to take and upload passport photos from phones or computers. Rubio spoke last week at a reception marking the launch of a commemorative passport for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
He outlined plans to let applicants complete nearly the entire passport application online and to remove the requirement for printed photos that meet federal standards.
“You’ll be able to take your picture from that device and be able to have it in real time, through our security system, verify the facial ID,” Rubio said. The system will use facial recognition technology to confirm an applicant’s identity, he added. Rubio said applicants will no longer need to visit a photo service before submitting an application.
He stated that the department hopes to roll out the online photo upload feature in a few months once it is ready. Future passports will be shipped in a more distinctive presentation box that includes a certificate of authenticity rather than a standard mailing envelope, Rubio said.
