Passports/IDs

[elegancewaves]

So I kind of have two questions for the folks out there who've gotten their passports. I've never actually gotten a passport before, so the one I'm filing for right now is my first one ever. I'm really excited, but of course mother dearest is panicking that someone's going to make my life hell (thats really the only thing she's ever concerned about

Comments

[4evermore]

the government's not going to insist you look like your assigned gender when you travel but sure, you may come up against some transphobic customs staff if you look female and your passport says male. I'm talking harassment, not physical abuse here.

I've never heard of anyone being allowed to wear a wig for their passport photo. the point is to have a picture of the person without any "disguises" or obstructions of their face. so I don't expect you'd be allowed a wig, either, unfortunately...but check with your passport office.

[kathygnome]

You shouldn't have a problem as long as the name on your passport matches the name on your boarding pass. For the rest, your best option to avoid irritation is to simply be honest. "It says here that you are male?" "Yes, I am transgendered." Be businesslike with them and they probably will be with you.

The wig I don't see as an issue, but the people who take passport photos usually know about that sort of thing.

[elegancewaves]

Yeah, I'm usually really open about it. Actually that came up when I went to a tax place yesterday to do my taxes and she pulled up my old file and thought she failed when it said "male" and I'm like "No, thats the right one. I'm transitioning right now" and she was like "Ooooooohhhh."

I'm hoping it won't be. I mean the guy who took my photo didn't notice, and if he did he didn't say anything. So I'm hoping that because its a more accurate representation of how I look because I'm transitioning that it won't be much of an issue.

[danaelaurm]

as long as the name on your passport matches the name on your boarding pass And even then... sometimes ;) (not that I recommend, they're not fun border crossings).

[agent_alpo]

My partner and I went on a cruise last May. (Sidebar: So amazing!) She's pre-op, pre name change MTF, but she passes pretty well. We actually had to point out to the folks at the post office that her ID had an M on it. They had no issues with it other than the guy working with us had to ask someone else what to do because he apparently had never dealt with this situation before. There wasn't really anything special they had to do.

Okay, and I'm just rereading what you wrote and realizing you're coming into the U.S. while we were coming from the U.S. to the Caribbean. So, I'm not entirely sure. However, we didn't have any problem coming back into the U.S. So maybe that can serve as an anecdote that the U.S. will be fine with you.

And I don't think a wig would count as a head-covering, no matter where you are.

[elegancewaves]

Well, I'm sure it'll be the same thing wherever I'm going in to haha. I didn't actually just get it for the New York trip cause I actually really want to travel a lot. My little dream right now is to get a little studio apartment, furnish it with my bed and my laptop haha, and funnel my money in to travelling the world and transitioning, and just decorate the place with things I get on my trips. So I'll take your advice as an all-around sort of thing :D

[danaelaurm]

The picture will be rejected if there's a visible wig. I've had to remove glasses, necklaces, etc.
And crossing the border is rather easy, the least of your worries is your being trans as a reason to be pushed back, but yes, there might be harassment if you're unlucky with the customs people you get.

[elegancewaves]

I'm kind of leaning ont he impression that if they don't notice, then it doesn't matter, and I probably shouldn't mention it haha.

[danaelaurm]

Heh yeah, hence the visible qualifier. What they don't know is usually a-ok.

[elegancewaves]

I actually just went to the passport Canada website and they elaborated a little more on requirements.

"Photos must show a full head without any head covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons. However, both edges of the face must be clearly visible."

I'd call being transgendered a medical reason lol.

[raid_iink]

I live in the US and use my passport as my airport ID. Even though it as an F on it I've gotten consistently sirred going through security and dealing with airlines even after they've seen my passport. I'm FTM and pre-T, pre-op fwiw.