My US passport has expired. I have filled out the forms and have booked a pickup/delivery with DX Services for Tuesday. I have the required photo, and I am looking at this part of the application. It looks like four (4) staples are required. I haven't used a stapler in years, and I don't even know if there's one in my office. Do I actually have to go find a stapler and staple it 4 times? I don't want to damage the photo and have my application refused on the basis of a damaged photo. Question: do I actually have to staple my photo in the designated places? Or am I reading this wrong and there's a different way to submit one's photo? Secondarily: if the answer above is 'yes', do I have to use some kind of American standard staple? Or will a UK standard staple be OK? The guidance, for example, says that A4 paper is OK (and I am thankful for that). They are so picky and persnickety about everything in a way that questions such as these are relevant.
I don't think 4 staples are required because I went for my first US Passport in Wahington last week and it was stapled in front of me with two staples. plus that picture was later returned to me because allegedly the image didn't fit the size (confirming the picture racket going on at the Washington Passport Center I read about online) so I have that picture back with the staples.
Commented Mar 12, 2017 at 11:09Given that this question is over a year old, I wonder whether anyone has evidence that staples will be rejected or no staples will be rejected. We only have seven weeks and can’t risk having to re-do some unknown time after sending.
Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 0:58State department website demands staples in several places, but it also offers advice from the embassy in Paris saying to not staple: photos.state.gov/libraries/france/5/acs/passportfaqs0412.pdf
Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 1:08As silly and dumb as it can be. Nearly impossible to put four staples on that small photo without damaging something.
