Visiting the United States of America is a dream of many. Whether for travel purposes, family visits, or business issues, you must get the appropriate visa - unless your country is on a Visa Waiver Program list.

One of the main questions is - what are the US visa photo requirements?

US Visa Photo Requirements

Firstly, if you want to apply for an American visa, you must attach two identical photos. Both of them must be in color.
As for the photo size, you have to know that, according to American legislation, your photos should be no smaller and no larger than 2 x 2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm).
Now, let’s focus on the photo itself.
According to the American visa requirements , the only elements on the picture should be your face, the area around the collarbone, and the upper part of your shoulder. Your face must be centered and fill between 50 to 69% of the whole image. Remember that you must take the photo from the frontal view. Your eyes should be open, and you should look directly at the camera. Close your mouth and keep a neutral facial expression (however, a slight smile is fine).
The background must be plain white or off-white, without any shadows allowed.
Your photo shouldn’t be older than 6 months, but if your appearance significantly changed during this time, the period is even shorter. What does the significant appearance change mean? Definitely issues like changing your gender, facial surgery, new tattoos or piercing on your face, or a massive change in the amount of weight.

Clothing & Accessories

One of the most frequently asked questions in the case of the US visa photo is - should I take off my glasses? In general - yes, because glasses are allowed only under certain circumstances, such as recent eye surgery. Sunglasses are forbidden without exceptions, same as headphones and wireless hands-free devices. If you’re wearing a hearing device, it’s possible to have it on your visa photo.
There is no special dress code - you can wear whatever you want, with the exception of camouflage patterns and uniforms. Women wearing a hijab don’t have to take them off until they don’t cover the face below the headline, but they must possess a signed document proving that religious reasons determine the usage of this hair cover.

Can I take the US Visa Photo Online?

This question seems a no-brainer - yes, of course you can take your you can take your US visa photo online! There’s no need to wait in line at a photographer’s studio anymore. All you have to do is find a trusted and certified provider of online visa photos, upload your image, adjust it according to the requirements above, and voila! Your perfect visa photo is ready for download!
Remember - if you don’t meet all the US Visa Photo Requirements, your application might get delayed. So make sure you double-check everything before submitting!
Author’s bio:
Michal Jonca is passionate about trail running and travel experiences. After spending 2.5 months in East Africa and 2 months in the Caucasus, he currently enjoys a few months of rest in Poland. Michal is the Community Manager at ePassport Photo.

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