US visa photo requirements — official specs
The US Department of State specifies the following photo requirements for all non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications, including the B-1/B-2 tourist/business visa, F-1 student visa, H-1B work visa, and the DS-160 online application form:
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Print dimensions | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) — square |
| Digital dimensions | 600 × 600 px minimum |
| File size (DS-160 upload) | Max 240 KB |
| File format | JPEG only |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Head size in frame | 1–1⅜ inches (50–69% of frame height) |
| Eye position | Between ½ and 1⅜ inches from bottom |
| Glasses | Not permitted (since November 2016) |
| Head coverings | Only for verified religious reasons |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open and forward-facing |
The US State Department banned glasses in visa photos in November 2016 to comply with ICAO biometric standards. Even if you wear glasses daily, they must be removed for your visa photo. Contact lenses are fine as long as they are not tinted.
How to generate your US visa photo free with Bisnep
The Bisnep Passport & Visa Photo Generator handles the US visa square format and keeps the JPEG output within DS-160's 240 KB file size limit — all without ever sending your photo to a server.
Open the Bisnep photo tool
Visit bisnep.com/passport-photo in your browser — no installation or sign-up needed.
Upload your source photo
Choose a front-facing photo in good lighting. A plain or light-coloured background makes the next step easier. Your file never leaves your device.
Select "US Visa (2×2 inch)"
The crop area locks to a 1:1 square ratio. Drag and zoom to position your face: eyes roughly in the upper-centre of the frame, head filling about 60% of the height.
Set white background
Enable background replacement to achieve the required plain white background required by the State Department.
Download your compliant photo
Save the JPEG. The output is 600×600 px, under 240 KB, ready to attach to your DS-160 form or print for a physical application.
Every step — cropping, background replacement, resizing, compression — happens in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. No image data is sent to any server. This matters for sensitive documents like visa applications.
Bisnep vs. other US visa photo tools
There are numerous online tools that generate US visa photos, but privacy policies, pricing, and compliance accuracy vary significantly. Here is an objective comparison:
| Feature | Bisnep | PhotoAiD | Passport-Photo.online | Fotor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completely free | ✅ Yes | ❌ Paid | ⚠️ Limited free | ⚠️ Freemium |
| No server upload | ✅ Yes | ❌ Uploads | ❌ Uploads | ❌ Uploads |
| DS-160 compatible output | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Manual |
| 240 KB file size check | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies |
| No sign-up required | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Optional | ⚠️ Optional | ⚠️ Optional |
| Mobile browser support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Paid tools like PhotoAiD and Passport-Photo.online offer AI compliance checking, which can be useful if you are unsure whether your source photo meets the State Department's requirements. However, for most users with a decent front-facing photo in good light, the Bisnep free tool produces a fully compliant result in under a minute.
Tips for taking a compliant source photo for your US visa
- Good, even lighting is critical. The State Department frequently rejects photos with shadows across the face. Stand facing a window or use two light sources to eliminate shadows.
- White or very light background. A white wall is ideal. Avoid cream or yellow walls — the background must read as white.
- No glasses. Remove glasses before taking the photo — even prescription eyewear is not permitted.
- Look straight into the camera. Slight tilts of the head are common rejection reasons. Position the camera at eye level.
- Neutral expression. Mouth closed, no exaggerated smiles.
- Recent photo. The State Department requires the photo to have been taken within the last 6 months.
Using your photo for the DS-160 online application
The DS-160 form includes a photo upload step. The portal checks the image automatically and will reject files over 240 KB or photos where the face cannot be detected clearly. The Bisnep-generated photo is sized and compressed to pass this check. If the DS-160 portal still rejects it, the most common cause is the face being too small in the frame — re-crop with the face filling more of the square.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work for all US visa types?
Yes. The 2×2 inch square format and white background requirement applies uniformly to all non-immigrant visas (B-1/B-2, F-1, J-1, H-1B, L-1, etc.), immigrant visas, and the DS-160 digital application. The DV Lottery uses the same format and file size limit.
Can I use this for the US passport renewal as well?
The US passport requires the same 2×2 inch square format with white background, so yes — the same photo generated for a visa can typically be used for a US passport too, as long as it meets the State Department's requirements and was taken within the last 6 months.
My DS-160 says my photo was rejected — what now?
Common DS-160 photo rejection causes: face too small in frame, file over 240 KB, non-square format, or face detection failure due to shadows or low contrast. Re-generate with the Bisnep tool, making sure the face is prominently centred and well-lit in your source photo.
Is the free tool really compliant with the US State Department rules?
The tool outputs to the correct specifications (600×600 px, under 240 KB, 1:1 aspect ratio). The photo will be compliant as long as your source photo meets the content rules — forward-facing, neutral expression, white background, no glasses. The Bisnep tool handles the technical dimensions; you control the content.