US visa photo from the UK
A US visa photo is a 2 × 2 inch (51 × 51 mm) square in colour, with your head taking up 50% to 69% of the image height, on a plain white or off-white background. Digital files must be square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. Glasses are not allowed.
Your photo never leaves your phone
- Stand about 1.5 m in front of a plain, light wall.
- Face a window or a bright light so both sides of your face are lit.
- Ask someone to take it with the phone at your eye level. Selfies are often rejected.
- Glasses off, hair away from your eyes, mouth closed, no smile.
Ready offline. Turn on airplane mode and it still works, which shows your photo isn't uploaded.
Line up your head and shoulders with the outline. Keep the phone at eye level, about 1.5 m away.
Finding your face…
These rules haven't been checked against the official page yet. Please check them there before you apply.
US visa photo rules
- Square: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) printed, or 600–1200 pixels digital
- Head 50% to 69% of the image height, chin to top of hair
- Eyes between 56% and 69% of the image height from the bottom
- Plain white or off-white background
- No glasses
- JPEG, 240 KB or smaller for online forms
- Taken within the last 6 months, not edited
Source: US Department of State: Photo requirements. SkipTheBooth helps you meet these rules but can't guarantee your photo will be accepted.
Questions
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No. Glasses aren't allowed in US visa photos, except in rare medical cases with a signed doctor's statement.
Why is the file limit so small?
The US online forms reject large files. SkipTheBooth compresses the photo to fit under the limit without visible loss of quality.