Why must I upload a photo with my face?!

[#1]

Dear Upwork community,

I've started to work as a freelancer recently and was looking forward to build up my reputation here on Upwork. But I was really disappointed by the fact that you require a face recognized photo in order to complete the profile.

As you may know, here in Arab countries many girls cover their face,  so I think the fact that we can't work because of this simple issue is really frustrating. 

I can't see any reason that I can't work with a profile photo like this one for example:

I'm already working on other websites with profile photos wearing the Niqab (face cover) and customers where having no problem with that at all.

I hope you take into consideration girls like me who want to start earning money by themselves.

Regards,

Salma Hassan

[#2]

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@Nina K wrote:

Hi Salma,

Please see our response about a similar question in this thread, and to confirm what Petra stated, our support team can assist you with being able to upload your photo while wearing the Niqab.

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 Oh! This is really great!

So I have to contact the customer support and verify my indentity with them?

Because I was actually trying to reach them in the first place, but I've got redirected to post a thread instead and I don't know why.

[#3]

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@Salma H wrote:

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@Nina K wrote:

Hi Salma,

Please see our response about a similar question in this thread, and to confirm what Petra stated, our support team can assist you with being able to upload your photo while wearing the Niqab.

---

 Oh! This is really great!

So I have to contact the customer support and verify my indentity with them?

Because I was actually trying to reach them in the first place, but I've got redirected to post a thread instead and I don't know why.

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CS isn't available to all freelancers at the same level. Often, newer freelancers are directed to threads and articles rather than CS mostly due to volume issues - literally millions of freelancers with millions of issues. You can imagine, I'm sure. 

FWIW, I respect your choice to present yourself however you choose. You may find some clients don't care at all what someone's profile photo looks like while others factor photos into their opinion whether they do it knowingly or not. That's just life, though. What's definitely not OK is if anyone harrasses you or is threatening in any way. I certainly don't expect that to happen and don't mean at all for this to sound dire, just a reminder that those things are not tolerated and offenders should be reported. 

[#4]

And in the interests of a balanced world... there will be some clients who will care about the photo in a way that it works to Salma's advantage.  

[#5]

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@Melissa T wrote:

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@Salma H wrote:

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@Nina K wrote:

Hi Salma,

Please see our response about a similar question in this thread, and to confirm what Petra stated, our support team can assist you with being able to upload your photo while wearing the Niqab.

---

 Oh! This is really great!

So I have to contact the customer support and verify my indentity with them?

Because I was actually trying to reach them in the first place, but I've got redirected to post a thread instead and I don't know why.

---

CS isn't available to all freelancers at the same level. Often, newer freelancers are directed to threads and articles rather than CS mostly due to volume issues - literally millions of freelancers with millions of issues. You can imagine, I'm sure. 

FWIW, I respect your choice to present yourself however you choose. You may find some clients don't care at all what someone's profile photo looks like while others factor photos into their opinion whether they do it knowingly or not. That's just life, though. What's definitely not OK is if anyone harrasses you or is threatening in any way. I certainly don't expect that to happen and don't mean at all for this to sound dire, just a reminder that those things are not tolerated and offenders should be reported. 

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 Thank for you reply. I totally understand.

So all I have to do is to wait until the CS reach me out first, right?

[#6]

Yes, it sounds like from the thread Nina pointed to that Lena explained CS will reach out because the auto-recognition triggers a manual response if the photo fails that part of the verification. You'll likely get an email about it with next steps to take. 

[#7]

Okay then. Thank you all for helping me out.

I really appreciate your quick responses!

[#8]

Hello everyone,

Six months ago, I've posted a thread here in the community about my ID verfiction and face recognition thing  in the profile picture. 

https://community.upwork.com/t5/New-to-Upwork/Why-must-I-upload-a-photo-with-my-face/td-p/479369

I've been told through the replies that Upwork do have exceptions for women in my case and that someone will reach me out through custoemr service. But nothing happend since then! 

So I'm hoping someone could help me out this time.

Thanks!

[#9]

Hi Salma,

I apologize for the delay in answering your request. I've followed up with the team about your concern and they’ll reach out to you directly as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

[#10]

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@Bojan S wrote:

Hi Salma,

I apologize for the delay in answering your request. I've followed up with the team about your concern and they’ll reach out to you directly as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

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 That would be great. Thank you.

[#11]

salam, salma did you get some solution?

[#12]

Assalamu Alaikum Salma, may I know what happened? Were you able to upload the photo with niqab?

[#13]

Hi Sakinat,

One of our team members will reach out to you via ticket as soon as possible and assist you further with your profile photo. Thank you.

[#14]

Are you using that in your Id card too?

[#15]

I have SEVERE anxiety disorders and am on permanent SSD to the point that I don't leave my home more than twice monthly in order to avoid interacting with people. I explained this to customer numerous times. I've uploaded my current state Driver's License... I've offered to pay out-of-pocket to have a notary public come to my home in order to verify my identity yet that's not sufficient. Their "compromise" is to have me hold up a paper with my username and send them a selfie. They do not seem to understand that this is one of the problems at the very core of my anxiety issues!!!

If they only wanted to me to verify my identity... that I truly am who I say that I am, why would a notary not be sufficient??? There's something really wrong here and this requirement is sounding more and more prejudiced/discriminatory than anything else. I wish I were the type of person who could just let this go, but I am not.

Other than the (completely understandable) religious coverings, has anyone had similar issues?

[#16]

Hi Christine,

We are sorry to hear about this. Please bear with us as this may take a little time to get information since we’re waiting on a response from another team. We appreciate your patience and will update you as soon as possible.

Thank you,

[#17]

Hi Christine, 

I apologize for the delay as we had to follow up with another team. I can confirm that a member of the team has reached out to you through your open support ticket with Ticket #29814148 to assist you further with your account verification. Kindly refer to the ticket and don't hesitate to update the ticket thread if you have further questions about your concern. 

Thank you for your patience.

[#18]

Peace be upon you. As it is Upwork's rule, you may ask the support if you can replace the image with a Niqab Photo once the verification process is done.

I hope they will give you a solution for this.

Regards,

M.Helal