Photo for DS-160

[Sparkey 17]

Do I need to get passport photos taken for the DS-160 or can I just take a pic that meets the requirements and upload that? 

I know for the medical and final interview I will need actual passport photos. 

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

You can always make your own passport photo that meets requirements. If you upload it and it is accepted then you don’t have to take passport photo.

[Sparkey 17]

4 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

You can always make your own passport photo that meets requirements. If you upload it and it is accepted then you don’t have to take passport photo.

Thanks! Is the picture used on thebDS-160 used on anything else? Do I need a hard copy of that picture for the interview or anything?

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Yes you can keep a copy of it and print it later for interview, it needs to be less than 6 months though. If by the time of interview and it is more than 6 months, you need to take and print new one (fyi I always used a set of passport photo, seems no problem but I do not advise that.)

[Sparkey 17]

37 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

Yes you can keep a copy of it and print it later for interview, it needs to be less than 6 months though. If by the time of interview and it is more than 6 months, you need to take and print new one (fyi I always used a set of passport photo, seems no problem but I do not advise that.)

Since I will need 4 passport pictures for the medical and 2 for the interview, should I just get 6 photos now and then upload 1 of those to the DS-160?

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

6 minutes ago, Sparkey said:

Since I will need 4 passport pictures for the medical and 2 for the interview, should I just get 6 photos now and then upload 1 of those to the DS-160?

Never skimp on passport photos, just print some more.

[Sparkey 17]

1 minute ago, NancyNguyen said:

Never skimp on passport photos, just print some more.

So the 1 for the DS-160 and the 4 for medical plus the 2 for the interview don't all have to be the same picture?

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

4 minutes ago, Sparkey said:

So the 1 for the DS-160 and the 4 for medical plus the 2 for the interview don't all have to be the same picture?

I believe so.

[payxibka 10,045]

16 minutes ago, Sparkey said:

So the 1 for the DS-160 and the 4 for medical plus the 2 for the interview don't all have to be the same picture?

No.  The requirement is that it is a compliant photo of the applicant

[Babu Frik 1,162]

You can successfully take them yourself for uploading, and there are apps that will help with that, but just make sure it meets the requirements and check the examples from the state department.

 

When it comes to taking actual photos, I'd be careful about printing your own, not to say that you can't do it successfully, but I'd rather have the piece of mind of a professionally printed one.

[Sparkey 17]

14 minutes ago, Babu Frik said:

You can successfully take them yourself for uploading, and there are apps that will help with that, but just make sure it meets the requirements and check the examples from the state department.

 

When it comes to taking actual photos, I'd be careful about printing your own, not to say that you can't do it successfully, but I'd rather have the piece of mind of a professionally printed one.

I'd rather have piece of mind as well. 

So it's ok to use my own photo for the DS-160 and then have actual passport pictures take for the medical and the 2 that I will need for the interview?

I just wanted to know if I need to have the same picture for everything. 

[Babu Frik 1,162]

17 minutes ago, Sparkey said:

I'd rather have piece of mind as well. 

So it's ok to use my own photo for the DS-160 and then have actual passport pictures take for the medical and the 2 that I will need for the interview?

I just wanted to know if I need to have the same picture for everything. 

Yes, as it should be a recent photo

[payxibka 10,045]

21 minutes ago, Sparkey said:

 

I just wanted to know if I need to have the same picture for everything. 

No, the requirement is that it is photo of the applicant within the specifications. No where does it indicate that these need to be identical.   

Edited January 26, 2021 by payxibka