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DS-160 and US visa interviews
US Visa Photo Online for the DS-160
The DS-160 photo from your phone, sized and verified
The DS-160 needs a square photo, 600 to 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, on white, no glasses. Take it as a selfie on your phone and get the file in minutes, checked before you pay.
Every requirementverified before you pay
Sized for the DS-160600 to 1200 px, under 240 KB
Acceptance guaranteedouble your money back
Your photo is deleted 30 days after delivery and never used to train AI.
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2 inches51 mm
2 inches51 mm
1 to 1 3/8 in25 to 35 mmHead heightchin to top of headPhoto requirements
US Visa Photo Size and Requirements for the DS-160
The US visa photo uses the same 2 x 2 standard as a US passport photo. The difference is the file: the DS-160 takes a square JPEG of 600 to 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB.
| Size | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), 50 to 69% of the photo |
| Eye height | 56 to 69% of the photo, measured from the bottom |
| Background | Plain white or off white, no shadows |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open, mouth closed |
| Glasses | None |
| Online form | Upload in the DS-160 photo step |
| Our digital file | Square JPEG, 600 to 1200 px, under 240 KB |
Sources: Photo Requirements, travel.state.gov and Digital Image Requirements, travel.state.gov. Always check the instructions from your embassy or consulate.
How it works
Your US visa photo in 3 steps
Guided by the camera, measured by the software, checked before you pay.
Take a selfie or upload a photo
Take a selfie at arm's length and the camera guides you on distance, tilt and light. Or upload a recent photo.
We crop it and check it
The AI crops it to a square, sizes your head, sets a plain white background and checks every requirement of the DS-160 photo.
Upload it
The digital photo is in your inbox within minutes, as soon as the final automated check passes, ready to upload in the DS-160 photo step. A ready to print copy is included in case your consulate asks for a printed photo.
- Square, 600 to 1200 px
- Under 240 KB
- Head height in range
- Plain white background
- No glasses, eyes open
- Ready to upload
Three tips before you take the photo
Get these three right and the software handles the rest.
Take It As A Selfie
Hold your phone at arm's length, 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 inches) from your face. The guide sets the distance.
Face The Camera
Hold the camera at face height. Keep your head straight and your expression neutral.
Ensure Even Lighting
Stand facing a light source, such as a window. Don't worry about the background.
Why customers choose PassportPhotos
Fast, guided, and backed by our acceptance guarantee.
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Three minutes of your time
Take the photo, watch the initial check pass, pay once. No account, no appointment, no line at a counter.
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Guided, then checked
The camera guides you while you take it. Software does the crop, the background and the measurements, then verifies the result against the official requirements before you pay.
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Accepted or double your money back
Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout. If the authority rejects the photo, you get twice what you paid, to the card you used.
Accepted or double your money back
Every photo gets two automated checks: one while you take it, before you pay, and a final check of the finished photo before we release it. Add the Acceptance guarantee at checkout for $6.99 and that final check is stricter. If the consulate rejects the photo, email us within 14 days of the rejection and you get twice what you paid.
What the US visa photo needs, in plain words
The same standard as a US passport photo, with a strict file limit for the online form.
Size
2 x 2 inches, in color, head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head, centered.
Background
Plain white or off white, no shadows or pattern.
Recent
Taken within the last 6 months, looking the way you do today.
Pose And Expression
Face the camera straight on, neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
Glasses And Coverings
No glasses of any kind. No hat or head covering unless worn daily for religious reasons, with the full face visible.
The File
A square JPEG between 600 and 1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB. Ours is made to fit.
The software measures the size, the background, the pose, the expression, glasses and the light before you pay. It cannot see when the photo was taken, so take a new one for your application.
Which visas use this photo
Every US visa application starts with an online form, and the photo you upload there is the one the consulate sees.
Visitor Visa
B1 and B2 visitor visas for tourism and business.
Student Visa
F-1 and M-1 student visas, and J-1 exchange visitors.
Work Visa
H-1B, L-1 and other temporary work visas.
Immigrant Visa
Immigrant visa interviews use the same 2 x 2 photo standard.
If The Upload Fails
If your DS-160 confirmation page shows an X instead of your photo, contact your embassy or consulate and bring one printed photo with the confirmation page.
At The Interview
Some consulates also ask for one printed photo at the interview.
US Visa Photo Near Me? Make the DS-160 File at Home
The DS-160 asks you to upload a photo, so a studio print is not the first thing you need. Take a selfie at home and we turn it into the square JPEG the form accepts, 600 to 1200 pixels and under 240 KB, checked before you pay and sent to your email.
Ready for the Upload Step
The file is sized and saved the way the DS-160 photo step expects, so you can attach it the same day you fill in the form.
A Print for the Interview, If Asked
Some US embassies and consulates want one printed photo at the interview. Your order includes a 4 x 6 inch sheet you can print at a photo shop near you.
Glasses Off, Background White
Glasses are not allowed in a US visa photo, and the background must be plain white. The check flags both before you pay, so you find out now and not at the upload.
US Visa Photo Price
| Digital photoThe DS-160 photo by email, ready to upload, plus a ready to print copy in case your consulate asks for one | $12.99 |
|---|---|
| DeliveryBy email, within minutes of the final check | Included |
| Acceptance guaranteeOptional, added at checkout | +$6.99 |
Prices show in your currency where we can, and taxes, where they apply, show at checkout. You pay once, after the initial check has passed, and never before.
Why visa photos get rejected, and how we catch it
The usual problems:
- head too small or too large
- shadows across the face or background
- glasses
- a file that is too big or not square
- a low quality snapshot or an old photo
The camera guides you on distance, tilt and light, and the software checks the size, background, pose, glasses and file before you pay.
What we do not do to your photo
We crop it, size it, place your head correctly and set the background your document asks for. We do not change your face, your features, your eyes or your expression. A photo that looks like you is the whole point.
Sources: Photo Requirements, travel.state.gov and Digital Image Requirements, travel.state.gov. Always check the instructions from your embassy or consulate.
FAQ
US Visa Photo Questions, Answered
PassportPhotos.com is a private online photo service that makes the US visa photo for the DS-160 upload. We are not part of the US State Department, an embassy or a visa agent.
Is a US visa photo the same as a US passport photo?
Yes, a US visa photo has the same size and requirements as a US passport photo: 2 x 2 inches, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches, white background, no glasses. The difference is the file: the DS-160 needs a square JPEG of 600 to 1200 pixels, no larger than 240 KB.Can I take my US visa photo as a selfie?
Yes, you can take your US visa photo as a selfie, and it is the easiest way. Hold your phone at arm's length, about 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 inches) from your face, and the camera guide sets the distance and framing. The software then checks every rule before you pay. Prefer a helper or the timer? That works too.Which US visa photo file do I upload to the DS-160?
Upload the US visa photo JPEG we email you within minutes of paying, once the final automated check passes. It is already square and under 240 KB.What if the DS-160 does not accept my photo?
If your confirmation page shows an X instead of your photo, print one photo from the 4x6 sheet and bring it to your interview with the confirmation page, and contact your embassy or consulate. Email us too and we will look at the file with you.Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No, glasses are not allowed in US visa photos, except for a medical reason with a signed statement from your doctor.How recent does a US visa photo need to be?
A US visa photo must be taken within the last 6 months, and it should look like you do today.Do I need a printed US visa photo?
Not for the DS-160, which takes the digital US visa photo. The 4x6 sheet in your email has two photos if your consulate asks for a printed one.Where can I get a US visa photo near me?
You can make it at home in a few minutes: a selfie becomes the square DS-160 JPEG, checked before you pay and emailed to you in any country. If your consulate asks for a printed photo at the interview, print the 4 x 6 sheet that comes with your order.Does the guarantee cover visa photos?
Yes. With the Acceptance guarantee, if the consulate rejects your photo, send us the rejection notice within 14 days and you get double your money back.What happens to my photo afterward?
Used to make your photo and for nothing else. Deleted 30 days after delivery, never used to train AI.
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