Hi All,

As I work on my visa applications for the Discovery Collection, I am finding I need photos to got along with the visas. For those countries I need to get visas for, I am told how many photos I need. There are blanket visas issued for five countries that Regent will obtain when we get to those ports. Should I get five extra copies of my photo for those countries? Some years back I remember the ship photographer taking our picture for some country we were entering.

Many thanks.....

Beth, I am sure you can get passport-type photos much cheaper here than aboard ship and they don't take up any space. Carry the extras with you! On our Voyager WC, there was a surprise (to many) need for a pair of photos for the ship to obtain our visas. The ship's photographers were able to do this onboard, but at a pretty high cost and then the inconvenience of hundreds of people trying to get their photos taken in just a few days time period. My advice would be to go on the prepared side and just carry your extras along in case. We did and were very glad we had done so! Debbie

Thanks, Debbie. I'll be a Boy Scout and Be Prepared with those extra photos handy.

You can obtain passport photos at any Walgreens or CVS pharmacy for about $8

Wish I had waited an hour, Neville. Got my photos taken already.

The photographer questioned me wearing earrings. I didn't see any restrictions on the applications or on the travel.gov website. There are even photos of people wearing earrings, so I guess it's ok.

As far as the Dept. of Homeland Security are concerned, small earings are OK. A recent regulation caused some laughs. Applicants are to have a blank expression !!! This is the #2&*!! we have to deal with in 'immigration.'

The last time I had my passport photo taken they told me not to smile, too.

Funny, my photographer yesterday said to give a BIG smile. :D

Karen, I remember you telling us about that when it happened. I don't think any of us can picture you without a smile.

Looks like we'll be booking the last leg of *next* year's Discovery Collection. So when we got to get our visas for Brazil, I'll ask them about the extra photos. I'll also ask them about yellow fever shots, which seems like a contentious issue (whether you need them or not if you're not going to an area with an infestation, and have not been to such an area.)

It's always good to have extra visa photos with you. Regent doesn't always alert you that you may need photos for visas that they get for you. The ship's photographer charges about $20.00 per person for 4 photos.