US Visa Photo Online

US Visa Photo Guide

There could be an endless number of reasons to go to the United States of America. Exploring, sightseeing, visiting family and friends, work, education or liking for adventures. If going to the US is on your plan list, you need to be prepared to meet some requirements. Of course, you need a passport and in many cases - also a visa. To get a visa you must provide certain documents and a visa photo. There is not an obligation to take it in a professional photograph studio - you can do it yourself, using only your smartphone and online photo editor. Be attentive because there is a specification for the US visa photo and if you fail, your visa application form will be rejected.

The US visa photo guidelines

When it comes to American visa photo spec, people are often confused because its required size and some other demandings are different than for visa pictures to the majority of countries in the world. We have created a short handbook on this topic - please, be our guest and grab the most important information about the US visa photo requirements. You will read this text in less than ten minutes after after reading it, you will know how:

• is the required size, color and orientation of a visa photo
• to pose in the picture
• to crop and resize the photo
• remove a wrong background and change it into a white one
• avoid the most common mistakes 
• verify and make 100% sure that your photo is absolutely suitable

Intelligent visa photo maker

If you want to save your money and time, you will love our Visa Photo Tool which is based on Artificial Intelligence technology. Nowadays all photos in American passports and visas to the US must be machine-readable, so what is better to verify them than a machine itself? All pictures uploaded to our editor are automatically verified by AI and marked as
correct or incorrect. This is completely free of charge. You pay only for a perfectly done photo which you wish to download. All previews are gratis.

When you decide which shot you want to print or send with your visa application, you may order a template which you can later use as many times as you wish. 

There are only a few things that you need to create your visa photo in a couple of seconds. There are:

• a smartphone, tablet or a digital camera (a webcam is not allowed)
• our visa photo handbook containing all requirements and tips
• a photographer - it can be your friend or family member (or if you prefer - a tripod)
• Visa Photo Editor online

Requirements for the US Visa Photo

Preparing by yourself a visa photo you probably have many questions about size, head position, cropping, background, face expression, allowed and forbidden accessories like eyeglasses or hearing devices. Maybe also questions about dress code or hairstyle have crossed your mind. We know all the answers and will share them with you with pleasure! So, let’s start!

Photo dimensions in mm and inches

The only required American visa photo size is 2 x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm) with a small framing allowed. This is worth knowing because it is not a very common photo size. But, anyway, even if you forgot it right in the moment, do not worry! Our intelligent photo tool will resize your picture accurately and automatically

The right visa photo crop

This one is about the right cropping. All your face, area around the collarbone and upper part of shoulder must be seen in the picture. Important thing: the head must be centered and fill 50-69% of the whole photo. Eyes line should be placed 28-35 mm from the bottom edge.

Your head must not be tilted in any direction and you must look straight at the camera. A shot must  be taken en-face, no profiles, no semi-profiles are allowed.

Are you wondering how to obtain the right crop? This is easy and you do not need to do anything but using the cropping tool for a visa photo.

Colors and background

Only color photographs are accepted as US visa photos. The background must always be white or off-white. It must also be free of patterns, spots and shadows which may be not so easy to get. What to do if you take your picture at home and behind you there is a wall in another than white color or other objects are visible? 

The answer is: erase the wrong background and change it into the required one - plain, white or off-white. How? Of course with our specially dedicated background removing app!

Shadows and fake colors

The visa photo must reflect your natural skin color. For this reason it must not be black and white, neither overexposed or underexposed. Use preferably daylight to obtain the most natural effect and get rid of unwanted shadows.

Our tips:

• take a picture standing frontally to the window
• take 2 meters (7 feet) of distance between you and camera
• check if light is evenly distributed on your face
• do not use a flash lamp because it may give the unnatural “red eyes” effect which causes a rejection of many photos

Please...don’t say cheese!

We have this instinct to smile while taking a picture. This is nice and desired when we pose against the Eiffel Tower or on the beach but when it comes to official photographs, the smile is not only unwelcome. Is not allowed.

Some people say that a biometric photo which is required to US visa documentation reminds them of a mugshot. That is probably because the photo must be taken in front with eyes turned directly towards the camera and the photographed person must keep a neutral face expression. So… don’t smile, even a little bit. Also, close your mouths and open your eyes. All “smiling” pictures will be rejected, also “blinking” ones.

Show your eyes!

In the visa picture the eyes and pupils of a photographed person must be clearly visible. It means that you must keep them open but not only this. The second important thing is that nothing can obscure your eyes - no hair or eyeglasses frame if you wear them in the photo.

More about eyeglasses:

1. if you wear everyday glasses (even prescription) you must take them off
2. sunglasses and tinted glasses are forbidden 
3. you are allowed to wear glasses which cannot be removed for medical reasons 

The point number 3 needs a larger write-up. What are the medical reasons justifying wearing eyeglasses in the US visa photo? It may be e.g. recent ocular surgery or other reason why the eyeglasses are necessary to protect your eyes. In such a situation you must provide the embassy or consulate with a medical statement signed by a medical professional or health practitioner. 

Anyway, even if the eyeglasses are accepted, you must make sure that:

• your eyes are clearly visible
• the frames of the glasses do not obscure your eyes.
• there are no shadows on your face caused by glasses
• there is not a glare from glasses

Dress-code in US visa photos

There is only one main rule for American visa photos: ban on uniforms and clothes looking like uniforms. You are not allowed even to wear a blouse or t-shirt in a camouflage pattern. All photos which are recognized by AI as “a person in a uniforme” will be rejected.

But aside from this interdiction you can wear as you wish. We just have some tips for you such as:

• Wear something you look good at just to like your picture!
• Choose colors contrasting with the background
• Do not wear tank tops - in the picture you will look like naked
• Dress casually or elegant as you will show your document to different people

Headgears (hijabs, hats, caps) - are they allowed?

If you prove that a head covering you wear in your visa photo is a part of recognized, traditional religious attire, you may keep it. On this purpose you must submit a signed document that you wear an item like hijab, yarmulke or hat for religious reasons. Anyway , niquabs covering most of the face are not allowed under any conditions.

Fashion headgears are forbidden so take off your cap or hat before starting to pose for the photograph.Don’t wear either headbands, scarves or big decorative hair accessories as they may obscure your face. Keep in mind that your full face must be visible and free of shadows so even if you wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure that it does not cover your face below the hairline.

Hairstyle, beard, jewelry and accessories

Candidats often ask about recommended hair style and beard . F. ex.: “May I have my hair down?”, “What’s about the beard?” “Is facial piercing allowed?”

We dispel doubts and inform that in the US visa photo you CAN:

• have your hair down and they may cover your ears
• have beard and moustache
• keep facial piercing if it does not obscure your face nor gives the glare
• wear jewellery if it does not “touch” your facial oval

You CANNOT instead wear headphones or other wireless devices (the exception are medical hearing devices).

Common mistakes in US visa photos and how to avoid them

Every year thousands of applications for American visa are rejected. A “wrong photo reason” is a significant part of them. So, what to do to avoid denial or delay of processing your US visa application? Get familiar with the most commonly made mistakes and check if you did not commit them in your picture!

The villain of the piece are:

• unnatural coloring (photos overexposed, underexposed or filtered)
• smile and grimaces
• tilted head
• open mouths
• interference (photos retouched, Photoshopped, altered with a computer software)

Remember that you absolutely must not use any retouching programs to retouch your picture. All scars or skin imperfections must be seen as in reality. Of course you can use make-up, so maybe that is a good idea? If you want to make your visa photo prettier, try to operate the light, use some foundation, take care of your hair, but never use a computer software to interfere in the photo.

However, you can use a professional photo app which is able to resize, crop, adjust the background and check your picture at the end.

The last but not least - validity of the photo and appearance changes

You must attach to your US visa application two identical pictures taken within the last 6 months. Maybe you already have a template and want to use it on this purpose? You can do it but make sure that your photo is not older than 6 months.

However, you need to submit a new picture if your appearance has changed significantly during this period. Cutting or dyeing the hair or growing a beard is not the case. Also children and teenagers under 16 years old are not obliged to provide a new photo for the US visa even if they have changed during the natural growth process. But there are some cases when this is mandatory. Submit a new photo if:

• you made a gender transition.
• you had a facial plastic surgery or experienced a permanent facial deformation.
• you added or removed tattoos or piercing on your face area.
• you lost or gained a significant amount of weight.

Visa Photo Generator App

Congratulations! You have read all the text below and now you are probably thinking about taking your perfect visa photo at home. Or the office. Or maybe in your garden, doesn’t matter. Just download our App and let us convince you that it is nothing easier than create an ideal visa photo in less than a minute! Your job is only to look good and remember about requirements described above. We will crop, resize and do the rest with your image!

US Visa photo crop and resize tool

You may know that a required size of an American visa photo is 51 x 51 mm. But the best thing is that you do not need to remember it! Once you pick up the desired document in our online photo creator, it is Artificial Intelligence which takes care about correct dimensions, the right crop and resolution. You can focus on choosing the best shot of yourself. You will pay only for the chosen one. All other shots are free of charge.

Background removing help

Our smart photo tool is able to generate every color of the background. It doesn’t matter if in your picture are other people or objects visible, if the background is full of shadows or in pattern. The online Photo Generator manages every challenge! After a second the background in your visa picture will be plain and white as required.

US Visa Photo Validating Software

Do you want to be 100% sure that the photo attached to your visa is correct and will be accepted by authorities? You do not need to ask a professional photographer or look for a separate tool on the Internet. Our Visa Photo Generator is a complete tool to give you 100% of satisfaction! Every photo is verified by AI and if it is marked as correct, you can be sure it really is. If somehow (what never happens but we want you know it) your photograph approved by our verifying tool is not accepted, just let us know and we will return you the money. But really, it cannot happen. We give you the warranty of acceptance.

US visa photo near me? - Document Photo Template

Once you create and accept your photo shot, you may order its digital version sent on your email address. You have the opportunity to print it f. ex. in Walmart, Walgreens, Costco or another store near you. If you apply online, your photo will be ready to attach to the application form. You can use your photo template more than once. 

US Visa Photo App for Android and iPhone

Regardless of the operating system on your smartphone, you can use our Visa Photo Online App. It is available for iOS and for Android as well. You can download it from Google Play Store for Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC, Lenovo and Sony smartphones or from AppStore for your iPhone.

Why to choose a US Visa Photo Editor?

Of course, you may not wish for any help and create your visa photo absolutely by yourself. But it is time consuming and in many cases frustrating. You must resize precisely and crop the picture, do something with the unsuitable background and at the end you are still not sure if everything is alright. So, why not to give us a chance to help you? With our photo tool your photo will be:

• perfectly sized and cropped
• created with the required background
• approved by an embassy or consulate
• 100% satisfying as you can take even one milion shots and choose your favourite one!

Of course, you can look for a photo booth or book a visit in a professional photography studio but do you really want to spend your money and time for something you can have for a part of costs and in a minute? Moreover, we have difficult times, we need to keep a social distance from other people so going to a mall or city center or waiting in a line or waiting in an antechamber is not the best idea. 

Stay safe and do via the Internet what is possible to do. And for sure taking a correct American visa photo is! And it may also be funny! You can try different outfits, hairstyles and makeups, take many shots and play with lights. It doesn’t matter how many shots you take, you pay only for what you order. And you have a warranty of photo approval. Could it be better?