Say cheese: Tips on taking the best biometric passport photo

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Biometric passports rely on information unique to the person. This includes not only fingerprints and iris scans but also facial features. The passport holder’s facial features would be measured against that of the photograph used in the passport to confirm their identity.

Because of the sensitivity of the software used, passport photographs must be accomplished a certain way to ensure that the correct facial features are captured. Any defects in the photographs themselves, such as distortion, can become a significant cause for delay in processing a new passport.

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Thus, guidelines exist in countries that use facial recognition biometrics to ensure that the photographs taken of each passport holders portray the face correctly. Some countries, like the United Kingdom, provide a template for photographers as a guideline to take pictures ideal for biometrics. Often, these photos should be well-lit to prevent shadow distortion and on white backgrounds to maximize the contrast of the face.

Although it is sometimes possible for individuals to take their own passport photographs, it is generally recommended that they seek professional passport photo services.

And because facial recognition software cannot always account for changes caused by the movement of facial muscles, rules must be put in place to limit facial distortion through expressions. In the United States, this meant that facial expressions must be kept neutral in passport photographs. Smiles are discouraged, and only closed-jaw smiles are permitted.

Cox & Kings Global Services provides consular and diplomatic offices with a range of services covering all aspects of visas, passports, and consular application processing. Learn more about the company’s biometric services from this page.

Some tips on interacting with visa officers

Securing a visa is an activity that essentially requires an applicant to be at the top of their game. It is also a social interaction, one that will see an interesting exchange between two personas. This is a very human reality. Here are a few helpful tips on interacting with visa officers.

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1. Come earlier than schedule.

Of course, the real objective here is to be on time, but going earlier is a way to get around the unpredictable delays. This is a fair standard because tardiness can be grounds for visa disapproval.

2. Always be polite.

You simply cannot play the arrogance card here, and you would be wrong to act condescendingly. Diplomatic officers are educated people, and they are very likely smarter than you. Treat them accordingly.

3. Don’t make up stories.

Visa officers are very perceptive people. While they talk to you, their attention toward you is focused on a different number of areas on your person. These people are trained to read body language, and they can say whether or not you’re telling the truth.

4. Dress appropriately.

You can’t enter an embassy looking uncivilized. There is a certain message of respect that emanates from an applicant whenever they wear the right clothes as they speak with an officer in a formal venue. However, you can’t attend to your visa appointment in your prom clothes either. Be at the same level of fashion as the person you’ll be meeting.

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Take your meeting seriously and act with your best manners. Visa officers are professional, and if you qualify, they would even be the ones to welcome you in warmly.

Cox and Kings Global Services is a specialist business process outsource agency that serves consular sections of diplomatic missions. For visa application advice, visit this website.

Connected: Tourists provided with free SIM card in India

For the longest time, foreign tourists have found it especially difficult to get an Indian phone number. The lengthy, bureaucratic process involves submitting various documents as proof of identity and address, a photocopy of the passport that contains an official visa stamp, a supply of passport photos, and the contact details of a local reference.

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Even after all the requirements have been provided, tourists would still have to wait a couple more days for the activation of the number.

This has provided a difficult time for foreigners. For instance, when the Indian government suddenly demonetized the high-value currency, tourists found themselves stranded with essentially no cash and limited means to communicate with people who could help them.

When Indian tourism minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma visited Sri Lanka one time, he was given a SIM card. He decided to adopt the measure in his home country to guarantee the safety of foreign tourists.

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Starting February 2017, upon arrival at airports, tourists will just need to show their passport and a copy of their e-visa to receive a pre-activated SIM card that is already loaded with 50 megabytes of data and 50 Indian rupees and will expire after one month. Through the SIM card, the user is also given access to a 24-hour government helpline that provides information in 12 different languages.

Cox & Kings Global Services is specialist business process outsource agency that provides consular sections of diplomatic missions with administrative support and management services for non-judgmental tasks related to the lifecycle of a visa, passport, and consular application process. Visit this website for more information about the company.

The astounding architectural heritage of India

The architectural wonders of India go beyond the Taj Mahal and date far back in history. In fact, many of today's modern structures may have taken inspiration from the great ruins and monuments some of which have existed since the 6th century B.C. This is a look at some of India's oldest but very influential structures from bygone eras.

Khajuraho temples. Considered one of the ingenious masterpieces of Indian Art, the Khajuraho temples were built during the Chandella Dynasty between 900 and 1130 A.D. It is believed to be inspired by the Tantric school of thought with the portrayal of the sensual and non-sensual union of male and female images. These simply assert that one cannot exist without the other.

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Sun Temple, Konark. A tribute to the Sun God, the Konark Temple is an exemplary work of art from the 13th century. The intricate mammoth sculptural work is built to resemble the god's chariot, which has 24 stone-carved wheels and is drawn by seven stone horses.

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Ajanta and Ellora caves. The caves are replete with stone-carved sculptures and paintings that feature Buddhist symbols and images. These were built by many Buddhist monks over a long period and may have begun in 200 B.C.

Cox & Kings Global Services is a BPO agency focused on the administration and management of tasks pertaining to visas, passports and consular applications. For more articles about tourism in India, follow this blog.

Places to visit and reasons to get that Indian visa now

Everyone knows about the Taj Mahal. It’s far and away the most popular tourist attraction in India. But what many people don’t know, however, is that India is filled with captivating places that visitors will never forget. Here are some of them.

Jaipur

The capital of Rajasthan is also called the Pink City. It’s famous as a tourist city and as an education hub. The history in Jaipur is deep, with dozens of forts and monuments that show remnants of the colorful and dramatic past of India. It also has a lot of magnificent hotels for tourists.

Goa

The beaches in Goa are nothing short of breathtaking. Nine out of 10 tourists who visit Goa do so for the beach experience. A lot of residents in Goa are foreigners who stayed because of the relaxing ambiance of the place. Life is easy here.

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Kashmir

What was once upon a time one of the most beautiful places on the planet has been tarnished by terrorism. Kashmir was aptly named “Heaven on Earth” because it was home to the Himalayan mountain ranges.

Kanyakumari

There are very few places in India that rival Kanyakumari when it comes to the horizon come dusk or dawn. The sunrise and sunset here are sublime since three bodies of water – the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal – frame Kanyakumari. This mystical place can even afford visitors the chance to see both the moon rise and the sunset at the same time – on different horizons!

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Cox and Kings Global Services is a BPO agency that provides administrative support for consular sections of diplomatic missions worldwide. It also aids in the acquisition of Indian visas for Americans. Learn more by subscribing to this Twitter page.

Dressing up for your embassy appointment

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Securing a visa to a foreign country is a task that does not seem to be taken seriously enough by many people. When matters are taken too lightly, this reflects in other behaviors that immigration officers and embassy workers from all over the world are very keen at observing. In fact, they are trained to spot such subtleties, and with even the slightest hint of doubt, a visa application can be denied. A huge way to communicate intention is in the way one dresses up.

Having a shot at getting into a different country necessitates that you exact a certain amount of regard to its gatekeepers by showing up dressed appropriately. This is specifically useful when going for interviews in embassies or other immigration exercises, in which you are to subject yourself to scrutiny for gatekeepers to decide whether or not you are worthy to come to their country.

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Dressing up for a tourist visa may allow you a certain amount of liberty in choosing to wear more relaxed clothes. But in a more stringent visa application, such as a work visa, obviously, you need to show that you are there to prove that you are worthy of working as an asset to their economy. Treat it as sacredly as a job interview and dress professionally.

No doubt, dressing in a skimpy outfit just to make a creative impression on your interviewer may not be a good idea, as this might be found to be suspicious. In some situations, this is deemed disrespectful, even having led to as far as refusal of entry to embassy premises in the past.

The embassy appointment is a business engagement where what you wear can either make or break your chances of getting that approval.

Cox and Kings Global Services has been providing administrative support and managing non-judgmental tasks related to the entire lifecycle of a visa, passport, and consular application process. Learn more about its services by visiting this Facebook page.

Visa denied: The common problems in securing a visa to India

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As it is an adventurous prospect to go to India, a very culturally rich destination with an even richer history, preparing for what can be a challenging visa application is a smart move. Here are some common concerns:

1. The official application form is filled out online. It is best to be prepared for your answers with complete information, because this is not an application that can be saved and returned to at a later time. It is purposely designed to be accomplished in one sitting.

2. Research on the kind of visa that you will be applying for in your attempt to enter India. While it may sound sensible that you go for a visa which, in a crude and unexamined sense, ‘sounds just about right,, some have found out the hard way that intricate details of the trip and their purpose for going to India have been showstoppers to the goal. Knowing the differences between visas greatly increases your chances of getting approved.

3. India is such a huge country. While you are approved entry by means of visa, this does not mean that you can visit absolutely any destination within the country. Some have found out the hard way that visas have restrictions in local travel. The traveler who goes on business to Bangalore, for instance, might find it a bit disheartening that he is not allowed to go on a side trip to Mumbai, due to visa restrictions, requiring him to go through another process.

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India has been a favorite destination of many Americans for a number of reasons, whether it is business, pleasure, or anything in between. It’s a nice place to visit, and maybe knowing its visa challenges is but a small sacrifice to ensure approval.

Cox and Kings Global Services has been providing administrative support and managing non-judgmental tasks related to the entire lifecycle of a visa, passport, and consular application process. Learn more about its services by visiting this Facebook page.