Ask the Consul: What is a photo progression and why do I need one?

Answer: Great question! When a U.S. passport is being renewed, the consular officer must ensure that the person appearing at the Embassy is the same person that is in the photograph in the expired U.S. passport.

As a minor child’s appearance can change drastically in the five years between passport applications, the consular officer may ask that you provide age progression photos.  Age progression photos are pictures of your child between the time of the last passport application and now.

While not every case requires age progression photos, we recommend you bring such photos with you to the initial interview at the Embassy. If the consular officer determines that a photo progression is necessary, it may delay your child's application if you do not have photos on hand.

In the case of infants and children, progression photos should establish a clear likeness between the applicant’s current appearance and the photograph used to obtain the previous passport or proof of citizenship. 

The Embassy recommends bringing any foreign passports, and at least two photographs per year, from the time of the prior U.S. passport issuance.  Acceptable photographs should show a full front view of the applicant’s face with eyes open.

A family from Beit Shemesh submits a creative photo progression to
consular staff at an American Citizen Services outreach event Dec. 15.

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Ask the Consul is a regular feature on the Consular Round Up blog. Every few weeks, one of the Embassy's Consular Officers answers an interesting consular question we've received from one of our readers. Think you can stump us? To submit a question, leave a comment, post one on our Facebook wall or send us an email at NIVTelAviv@state.gov. We look forward to hearing from you!

Vice Consul Highlights Study Opportunities in the United States

A Vice Consul from Embassy Tel Aviv's Consular Section visited Ben Gurion University in Beersheva, on Nov. 23, and Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Nov. 30, to provide information about student visas and exchange opportunities in the United States.

In partnership with EducationUSA, the Consular Officer spoke to dozens of students about the visa application process and how to qualify for student and exchange visas.

Thinking about studying in the United States? Each year, thousands of Israelis travel to the United States to study at American universities—you could be one of them! Find answers to all your student visa questions at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html.

Many Israelis also study and work in the United States with a J1 Exchange Visitor visa, as part of the Camp Counselor program, or the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program. Learn more about exchange opportunities at http://j1visa.state.gov/programs.

Still have more questions? Visit our Facebook page and post your question on our wall. Consular staff are available to answer your questions around the clock!

ACS Team Adjudicates Passports in the House of the Sun

Beit Shemesh families submit consular reports of birth abroad and passport applications
during a U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, American Citizen Services outreach Dec. 15, 2011

As part of U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, American Citizen Services’ ongoing effort to provide services to U.S. citizens in their home towns in Israel, a team of consular officers and locally employed staff sojourned to Beit Shemesh, “House of the Sun,” to adjudicate Consular Report of Birth Abroad and passport applications.

In addition, Federal Benefits representatives from U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem answered questions, such as how a new parent could apply for a child’s Social Security number.

This beautiful town boasts many historical landmarks and a population of 80,000, with a growing contingent of U.S. citizens. Historians believe ancient residents named Beit Shemesh after a Canaanite sun-goddess and sacred Jewish and Christian scriptures mention Beit Shemesh in multiple places. Beit Shemesh’s Muslim past is evidenced by the Abu Mizar mosque. In modern times, the region boasts buildings industries, including many carpentry and metalwork workshops. Beit Shemesh has witnessed a great deal of history and now Americans are having a significant impact due to the large influx of newcomers with large families.

During the Dec. 14, 2011 visit, the busy consular team reviewed 78 passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad requests of many grateful families. “You definitely saved us a lot of time!” said one excited applicant. Would you like the American Citizen Services team to visit your town? Send us an email at telavivacs@state.gov.

Got Questions About New Visa Application Procedures? We Have Answers!

The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has now transitioned to the new appointment service for applicants applying for a visa to come to the United States. Still have questions? Don’t worry—we have answers!

For detailed instructions about our new application procedures, please visit our new appointment website: http://usvisa-info.com/en-IL/selfservice/ss_country_welcome. From the homepage, you can follow the link to the new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at http://usvisa-info.com/en-IL/selfservice/ss_FAQ_GSS.

More questions? Click on the "Contact Us" link on our new appointment website at http://usvisa-info.com/en-IL/selfservice/contact_us. Your question will be responded to within 3-4 business days.

Still want to speak to someone? We now have call centers available to the public at no charge!  Applicants can access this service by calling our local numbers: 03-7621694 or 03-7621565

If you are calling from within the United States, please dial (703) 4392342.  Answers are available to your questions in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Press Release: Important Changes to Visa Application Procedures

On December 12, 2011, the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv will implement new visa application and appointment procedures. The new system will make it quicker and cheaper to apply for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa!

Applicants will no longer need to pay one fee to obtain information and schedule an appointment, another fee to apply for the visa, and a third fee for courier pass back service.

By paying only the current machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee determined by visa classification, the following services will be provided to visa applicants:

• MRV fee collection, either by phone, online, or at any branch of the Israeli Postal Bank. Applicant can pay using cash or credit card.
• Scheduling of visa appointments by telephone or through a new online appointment website http://telaviv.usvisa-info.com. There is no need to purchase a pin number.
• Information on general visa inquiries either by phone or online.
• Courier services to the Embassy for applicants who need to submit additional documents after their interviews.
• Choice of passport delivery options for approved visa applicants, including home delivery, at no additional cost to the visa applicant.

In connection with these changes, please be informed of the following:

• The current MRV application fees remain the same, but they will include these new scheduling, application, and courier services.
• Unused VisaPoint personal identification numbers (PINs) are valid until December 11, 2011, only. If applicants do not book an appointment before this date, the PIN will expire and an interview must be scheduled under the new system.
• MRV fee payments can still be made through the Israeli Postal Bank through December 11, 2011. Applicants who pay before that date but who have not yet booked an appointment must schedule an interview through the new call center.
• MRV fee payments are nontransferable and nonnegotiable and will be linked to the applicant's name and passport number under the new system. As before, MRV fee payments are valid for a single application for one year from the date of payment.
• Applicants with interviews already scheduled will not be affected by this transition, and they should attend their scheduled interviews at the Embassy. They should attend their scheduled interviews at the Embassy and follow existing procedures for postal return of their passports.

For additional information on the new visa application process, please visit the U.S. Embassy website at http://israel.usembassy.gov/consular/niv/nonimmigrant.html or the new online appointment website at http://telaviv.usvisa-info.com.

Please note that the new system does not apply to American Citizen Services.