Is it necessary to update one's passport soon after FFS? Will a surgeon's letter cover you for only the trip back home or is it valid for a few months? I'm travelling internationally again 2 months after FFS, I'm wondering if I will have to update my passport beforehand.
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on April 03, 2018, 08:27:40 PM
Is it necessary to update one's passport soon after FFS? Will a surgeon's letter cover you for only the trip back home or is it valid for a few months? I'm travelling internationally again 2 months after FFS, I'm wondering if I will have to update my passport beforehand.
Ellement_of_Freedom: Unless your FFS resulted in dramatic and significant changes in your facial appearance I would not think it should be a problem.
My suggestion: Perhaps show your passport to several of your friends and especially casual acquaintances that don't often see you and get their opinions. If a stranger could not recognize you after viewing your passport photo then perhaps you want to have it updated. This also goes for your Drivers License and any other photo ID. This just my opinion, I don't have any hard facts relating to this. Perhaps it might be good to visit your local law enforcement office, show them the photo and get their opinion.
BTW, have a great trip.
Danielle
I don't think this will be an issue - passport photos are so small, some details are difficult to see. But if you're concerned you may want to sign up for the US Global Entry program. Or Nexus if you frequently travel to Canada, as that is a superset of Global Entry (lets you use an express lane when driving across the US/Canada border). Global Entry uses biometrics to identify you when arriving from other countries - all 5 fingers on one hand. I think some systems may be moving to an iris-based system as well. At that point, I don't think anyone would question your ID even if your facial structure is visually a bit different than your photo.
My current passport photo is me 3 years ago (boy mode, no HRT). I imagine after FFS, eyebrows done and makeup on I will look quite different...
I think I will try to update it straight after FFS at this point.
As others said the passport people don't seem to notice the photograph but when I returned form Thailand the Sydney immigration passport woman glanced at the passport and handed it back immediately saying. 'I know it is you, you are wearing the same ear rings, and don't forget the Krispy Kreams.'
But there lies another story.
Usually surgeons will provide a letter describing you had surgery and thus look different.
Having a boy photo and then appearing feminine can be a problem and leads to questions no matter if you had FFS or not. It may help then to bring a letter of your psychiatrist or if you already have it, legal documentation of the applications for name change process.
I would not do a photo right after FFS for a passport. It takes a few months for the FFS to settle, swelling to go down, so it makes sense to do that photo at least 3 months after the FFS, better 6-9 months.
I wouldn't imagine it being an issue unless as aforementioned you look like a totally different person. When I flew home from my FFS I think 10 days after my surgery I had 2 lightly blacked eyes, a dressing/wrap around the top of my head swollen cheeks and an upper lip the size of half a snickers bar lol they didn't say anything to me and I know my only similarity with my drivers license was my hair color but I think they likely knew clearly I had just had surgery haha. good luck!!
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on April 03, 2018, 08:27:40 PM
Is it necessary to update one's passport soon after FFS? Will a surgeon's letter cover you for only the trip back home or is it valid for a few months? I'm travelling internationally again 2 months after FFS, I'm wondering if I will have to update my passport beforehand.
Based on my experience (i.e. YMMV):
I had extensive FFS exactly 2 months ago and my facial biometrics were profoundly changed. As I was planning a trip from Amsterdam to Hong Kong 6 weeks afterwards, I decided to get my passport updated with a new photo, even still showing a male name and male gender. I figured this would lessen the risk of being bothered with questions I didn't really wanted to answer... And I don't regret it. Customs agents look especially at the photo and compare it with you, they don't really lose much time with details such as the name and gender. And if you have biometric passport (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometric_passport) you can use the automated customs (the ones with the cameras for facial recognition) without a problem. I passed succesfully both methods and I'm almost sure I'd have a lot to explain if I hadn't updated my photo.
The letter from the surgeon may be useful when you still have signs of a recent surgery (bruises, etc) but if your face looks perfectly healed, then I'd expect to be questionned...
Hope this helps...
Sarah
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Quote from: Sarah.VanDistel on April 14, 2018, 10:49:59 AM
Based on my experience (i.e. YMMV):
I had extensive FFS exactly 2 months ago and my facial biometrics were profoundly changed. As I was planning a trip from Amsterdam to Hong Kong 6 weeks afterwards, I decided to get my passport updated with a new photo, even still showing a male name and male gender. I figured this would lessen the risk of being bothered with questions I didn't really wanted to answer... And I don't regret it. Customs agents look especially at the photo and compare it with you, they don't really lose much time with details such as the name and gender. And if you have biometric passport (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometric_passport) you can use the automated customs (the ones with the cameras for facial recognition) without a problem. I passed succesfully both methods and I'm almost sure I'd have a lot to explain if I hadn't updated my photo.
The letter from the surgeon may be useful when you still have signs of a recent surgery (bruises, etc) but if your face looks perfectly healed, then I'd expect to be questionned...
Hope this helps...
Sarah
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It helps a great deal, thank you for the feedback.