Passport photo defect

[Kaibutsu]

When I got my passport about a year ago, I noticed the picture has a slight scratch over my face.(It looks like a scar).The scratch is small and my face isn't obscured, so should I worry if customs will let me through or not?

[amdg]

Any chance you could scar up the side of your face to match the photo before you come???


Its the only way to be safe....


P.S. Seriously, my passport photo looks like a Nazi war criminal in hiding. In real life I'm not nearly so cute, and I've never had any problems, so you should be OK. Us gaijin all look alike anyway...

[maraboutslim]

I suspect that to the Japanese immigration officers (it is immigration that checks people - customs checks your stuff) don't really even look at the pictures. I, too, bet all white folks look the same to them, all black folks look the same to them, etc.

[Andocrates]

I read this review of a Japanese horror movie on IMDB (Ju On the grudge) and guy said

"All the women in the lead roles looked so much alike I couldn't follow the story."

I had a good laugh at that. He's probably still clueless.

[Snapped]

I wouldn't worry about it. When I first came to Japan they'd spelled my name on my Certificate of Eligibility wrongly. The immigration officer didn't bat in eyelid.

Things might be a bit different now, what with security being tightened up, but I don't think a mark on a passport photo will make any difference.

FYI both immigration and customs check your passport. Customs I think are less interested in the photo page and more interested in where you've come from.