Yes, the U.S. uses electronic passports and you might already have one

https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/travel-verify/electronic-passports-epassports-march-31-not-us-but-jamaica/536-edb0fbd4-cff5-4785-9bd9-ef5623aba329

An electronic or e-passport is the standard book passport that has a microchip embedded in the back cover. It is not a digital passport, such as a mobile passport app.

The U.S. Department of State says it has exclusively issued electronic passports since 2007. 

The screenshots Marylyn sent VERIFY are from a TikTok account of a former Jamaica News Network reporter named Abi-Gaye Smythe. In the video, she reports that electronic passports will become available to Jamaicans on March 31.

The Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA), a Jamaican government agency referenced in the TikTok video, wrote on March 28 that the country would start issuing its new e-passports on March 31.

More than 150 countries already use electronic passports. All e-passports across the globe are identified with the same symbol on the front cover, which looks like a circle inside a rectangle split in half.

The chip in an American passport stores a unique identification number, the personal information displayed on the passport’s photo page, a digital version of the photograph to be used by facial recognition technology at ports-of-entry and a digital signature meant to protect the data from alteration.

“If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date,” the State Department says. “You will continue to be processed by the port-of-entry officer as if you had a passport without a chip.” 

Rules for Travel within USA are changing! Check REAL Id act.

NOTICE: State ID requirements for airline travel have changed!
 

Q. Am I required to have a passport as part of the REAL ID Act?

A: Starting October 10, 2018, you may be required to present an alternative form of ID (in addition to your driver's license), for domestic air travel. Among the acceptable identification forms are U.S. Passports, permanent resident cards, and more. For more information on the REAL ID requirements and to see the full list of states, please visit the Department of Homeland Security's DHS REAL ID webpage.

Q. Where can I get my passport photo taken?

A: Visit www.onlinepassportphotos.com or ipassportphotos.com! They will provide you with 6 perfectly sized, professional-quality passport photos that meet the government requirements listed on the U.S. Department of State's website. 

Q: How do I apply for a passport?

A: For information and forms needed for the application process, please visit the Travel section of the U.S. Department of State's website.

Q: Where can I get my passport registration form authorized?

A: Where you apply depends on when you need your passport and what form you use. For details, please visit the Travel section of the U.S. Department of State's website.

Q: How do I apply for a passport for my child?

A: Passport applications for children (under the age of 16) must be submitted in person. For more information on applying for a child's passport, please visit the Travel section of the U.S. Department of State's website.

Last date of application for free conversion
of PIO Cards to OCI Card is
on or before 31st December 2017

GRATIS FEE (zero consular fees) will be applicable for
applications submitted on government website and CKGS website
as a part of OCI application process ON or PRIOR to
December 31, 2017(up to 2400 hours IST of December 31, 2017). Hence, do not worry about submitting your paper application. You can go ahead apply online before the cut off date and then submit paper application later.

Also, for OCI photos, they require digital image. To order your digital image, you can visit onlinepassportphotos.com OCI page.

Last date of application for free conversion of PIO Cards to OCI Card is on or before 31st December 2017. 
Thereafter a fee of US $275.00 will be charged as for issuance of a fresh OCI Card; and

All PIO Card holders are, therefore, requested to apply for converting their PIO Cards into OCI Cards,
free of any Consular Fee, on or before 31st December 2017;

The last date will not be extended beyond 31st December 2017.

Check details on San Francisco Consulate of India website:

http://www.cgisf.org/notice/display/202

The Government of India will charge a revised consular fee of US $275.00
for issuance of OCI in lieu of PIO Card from January 1, 2018 on wards
ICWF Fees CKGS Service
Fees will be charged over and above the Consular Fee. Therefore,
any application received ON or AFTER January 1, 2018 will be
charged with the revised fee of US $275.00.

GRATIS FEE (zero consular fees) will be applicable for
applications submitted on government website and CKGS website
as a part of OCI application process ON or PRIOR to
December 31, 2017(up to 2400 hours IST of December 31, 2017). 

REVISED FEES WILL BE APPLICABLE for all applications applied
ON or AFTER January 1, 2018. Click Here for more information.

With effect from October 2018, International Civil Aviation Organization
will accept only machine readable travel documents and hence
the existing PIO cards will become invalid All PIO Card holders are,
therefore, requested to apply for converting their existing hand written
PIO Cards into machine readable OCI Cards.

New service for online passport photos

There is a new service/website for ordering passport or visa photos for most countries. It is designed with latest themes and Wordpress software. You can visit it at http://www.passport-pictures.com and we would love to hear back your reviews.

Passport photos are more expensive now

Not long ago, stores like Walgreens and CVS used to charge $6.99 for two passport photos. Slowly they raised the prices to $9.99 for two photos. Now the prices have entered into double digits! They have started charging $10.99 for two passport photos now!

On the other side, more and more people are getting passport photos online. It is so convenient! You don't even need to leave your home and you can pick up finished photos, not 1,2,3..but 6 photos, at the same Walgreens or CVS store for around $7. Online passport photo businesses can help you get big discount if you need lot of photos. http://www.onlinepassportphoto.com will provide you 6 USA passport photos for $6.95 and you can get 12 photos for only $9.95.
Other than prices, online passport photo providers can help you get photos for any country, in any size and as per any specific requirements.

Walgreens Passport photo service and prices: http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/pdpsdpitems/type=passport_photos

PS: Walgreens has one of the best photo printing in the drug store industry. However, I doubt their passport photo service. See the photo on their passport photo page. The lady has shadow across the face!! Most passport offices will reject such a photo that doesn't have uniformly exposed face!

Now get Canada Passport for 10 years

 The government is on track to begin issuing 10-year electronic passports in the spring - a high tech version of the existing five-year document that has to be replaced six months before it expires.
The so-called ePassport contains a chip and enhanced security features that will help prevent identity theft, making the document more tamper proof.
The chip stores the same information found on page two of existing passports - name, sex, place of birth, date of birth, photo, passport number and expiry date. Signatures are not reproduced on the chip.
The ePassport will cost adults $135 - up from $87 they pay now. A child's version will be good for only five years and cost $57 - up from $37.
Adults can get a five-year version for $95.
The new passport will bring Canada up to par with about 98 other countries, including all G-8 countries.

Source: Toronto Sun

Why Order Passport Photos Online?

Why should one order Passport Photos online?

1. Online Photos are a Better Deal: Why spend $10 for 2 passport photos at your local Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy when you can order 6 or 8 photos for less than $7.99! Need more photos, get 12 US Passport or ID Card photos for only $9.95! Need photos for the entire family? You can save a ton of money by ordering online.
2. Faster and Convenient: Get professional looking passport or visa photos delivered to your doorstep. Or pick them up at your local Walgreens, CVS, Target or Walmart store within few hours. (How does this work?).Need photos for your baby or for your grand parents? You can order photos for your toddler or for anyone right from your home. 
3. Passport Photos for Any Country, in Any Size!: Most places in the USA print only 2x2 US Passport photos. Most of their employees are not even aware about passport photo guidelines for any other country! We can also help you get passport photos for almost any country and in any size- 35x45mm, 33x48mm, 35x35mm, 35x50mm, 4x5 cm, etc.
4. Passport Photos for Kids No need to mention the problems with passport photos for infants, babies, toddlers, or old parents. Newborns often just fall sleep at the wrong time LOL. Plus your baby may be too young to keep her head straight. This sometimes creates a nightmare to have photo taken in a store or at  Costco. We are a lifesaver for most parents. Take photos of your child in your home at the most convenient time and we will make passport photos that will be amazingly beautiful.
5. Order Photos from any part of the World: Are you in Australia or UK and need US Passport photos? Or are you in the USA but need Canada Visa photos? Or are you out of your country on a job, on a vacation, or for studies and you need Passport or Visa photos for your country? By ordering online, you can get correct photos as early as within 24 hours!!

To order your photos, visit us at http://www.ipassportphotos.com/