Passport photo requirement

[Cheburashka34 228]

It says this in the instructions:

You must submit one color passport-style photograph of yourself and one color passport-style photograph of the
beneficiary taken within 30 days of filing this petition. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be
printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and unretouched.

 

Does it really matter if its a glossy finish or matte finish? I have to print my fiance's since it takes too long to send by mail and walmart printing says its a matte finish. Am I overthinking this?
 

[igoyougoduke 1,604]

they dont care about finish as long it meets the guidelines on the instructions. 

[Greenbaum 12,258]

3 hours ago, Cheburashka34 said:

It says this in the instructions:

You must submit one color passport-style photograph of yourself and one color passport-style photograph of the
beneficiary taken within 30 days of filing this petition. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be
printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and unretouched.

 

Does it really matter if its a glossy finish or matte finish? I have to print my fiance's since it takes too long to send by mail and walmart printing says its a matte finish. Am I overthinking this?
 

Here are the official requirements.

 

Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. To learn more, review the information below on how to provide a suitable photo. Digital images are required for some visa categories, while photos are required for other visa categories. The acceptance of your digital image or photo is at the discretion of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.

We recommend you use a professional visa photo service to ensure your photo meets all the requirements.

 

Your photos or digital images must be:

• In color
• Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
• Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
• Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
• Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
• Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
• Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
• Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons; e.g., the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant's eyes. A medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons:
  • The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover the eye(s).
  • There must not be glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
  • There must not be shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s). 
• If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

 

Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos. Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable.

 

Please review the additional photo requirements for:

• Nonimmigrant Visas
• Immigrant Visas
• Diversity Visa (DV) Program

Additional Information

• Tips for taking photos yourself
• Change of Appearance
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Additional Requirements for Nonimmigrant Visas

 

Applicants using Form DS-160 or Form DS-1648

If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa by filling out the DS-160 or DS-1648 online form, the form will instruct you to upload your digital image as part of completing the online visa application form. Review the Digital Image Requirements, which also provide additional requirements if you are scanning an existing photo.

 

Some embassies and consulates require visa applicants to bring one (1) photo, which meets requirements, to the interview. Review the embassy or consulate instructions where you will apply to learn more.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html#nonimmigrant

[JojoandTomas 204]

4 hours ago, Cheburashka34 said:

It says this in the instructions:

You must submit one color passport-style photograph of yourself and one color passport-style photograph of the
beneficiary taken within 30 days of filing this petition. The photos must have a white to off-white background, be
printed on thin paper with a glossy finish, and be unmounted and unretouched.

 

Does it really matter if its a glossy finish or matte finish? I have to print my fiance's since it takes too long to send by mail and walmart printing says its a matte finish. Am I overthinking this?
 

Was Walmart able to accommodate the requirements because I also have to print my fiance's photos and the dimensions are off. I'm searching for another place that might be able to print these for me

[sbarbie1914 22]

My husband, in the Dominican Republic, went to a place to have his passport photo taken and they sent them to me via email.  When they arrived, they weren't the correct size.  I downloaded a passport photo app to my phone which allowed me to adjust the size and put multiple photos on one page.  then I uploaded the photo to Walgreens online and printed it there for a few cents.

 

The app will also guide you to take your own passport photos based on USA requirements.  

[JojoandTomas 204]

2 hours ago, sbarbie1914 said:

My husband, in the Dominican Republic, went to a place to have his passport photo taken and they sent them to me via email.  When they arrived, they weren't the correct size.  I downloaded a passport photo app to my phone which allowed me to adjust the size and put multiple photos on one page.  then I uploaded the photo to Walgreens online and printed it there for a few cents.

 

The app will also guide you to take your own passport photos based on USA requirements.  

This is exactly what happened to me as well. But I ended up finding a small local photo editing place near me and they were able to scale it down and print it thankfully. 

[Ryan H 3,790]

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