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DS-160 Ready 2×2 inch US Visa Photo

Generate a DS-160-ready 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) US visa photo with AI in 30 seconds — white background, JPEG under 240 KB, correct head ratio and automatic eyewear detection.

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DS-160 compliant 2×2 inch square US visa photo example with white background

Key takeaways

  • 51×51 mm square — the only accepted DS-160 dimension
  • JPEG file ≤ 240 KB, resolution 600×600 – 1200×1200 px
  • Glasses NOT allowed (post-2016 rule); white background required
  • Same spec for B1/B2, F1, J1 and H1B visa applications

Produce the US B1/B2, F1, J1 or H1B visa photo you upload to DS-160 (or take to the consulate) with the correct pixel/inch ratio.

How it works

DS-160 Ready 2×2 inch US Visa Photo — get it right in 4 steps.

  1. Shoot without glasses in front of a white background

    Glasses have been banned for US visas since 2016; hold the phone at eye level and take one daylight frame.

  2. Upload the photo and start the DS-160 check

    The AI measures the 50-69% head ratio, white background and square crop against State Department criteria.

  3. Let the 51×51 mm square crop apply automatically

    A JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels and under 240 KB is produced — ready for the DS-160 upload.

  4. Upload the digital file to DS-160, ship the prints

    The 2 51×51 mm prints you need for the interview ship to your address on a 10×15 sheet.

How much does an ID photo cost? (2026)

Photo analysis and the biometric compliance check are completely free. Digital file and print prices are below — identical to the live prices in the order wizard.

Service Price
Photo analysis & biometric check Free · No sign-up · Results in seconds Free
Digital File Print-ready high-resolution file, instant download. 50.00 TRY
US Passport & Visa print package 2 photos (5.1 × 5.1 cm (2×2 in)) · Your photos are printed in your chosen size and quantity and delivered to your address. 250.00 TRY
Cargo 100.00 TRY
Prices include VAT.

Technical specifications

Authority
US Dept. of State / DS-160
Size
2×2 inch (51×51 mm), square
Pixels
600×600 – 1200×1200 px, square
File
JPEG, ≤ 240 KB
Head height
1–1.375 inch (25–35 mm)
Background
White or off-white
Freshness
Taken within the last 6 months

Requirements checklist

  • Photo must be square (equal width and height), minimum 600×600 pixels.
  • JPEG file size cannot exceed 240 KB — DS-160 will reject larger files.
  • Head vertically centered; from chin top to hair top must be 50-69% of frame.
  • Do NOT wear glasses — as of November 2016 US visa does not accept eyewear.
  • Plain white or off-white background, zero shadows.
  • Neutral expression, closed mouth, eyes fully open, look straight at camera.

Related document sizes

Official photo sizes for documents related to this page, with pixel equivalents.

Document Physical size Pixels (300 DPI) Background Note
US Passport & Visa 5.1 × 5.1 cm (2×2 in) 600 × 600 px White Square format required
Canada Visa 5 × 7 cm 591 × 827 px White IRCC, back-of-print note
EU Passport & Schengen Visa 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White or light grey ICAO compliant
United Kingdom Passport 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px Cream / Light grey ICAO compliant
Passport (TR) 5 × 6 cm 591 × 709 px White ICAO biometric
China Visa 3.3 × 4.8 cm 354 × 472 px White Compatible with most countries
Russia Visa 3.5 × 4.5 cm 413 × 531 px White Compatible with most countries

US Visa Photo Requirements for DS-160 (2026)

The US visa photo is spelled out in the State Department's "Digital Image Requirements" and "Photo Requirements". For **DS-160** (nonimmigrant/tourist) or **DS-260** (immigrant) or **DS-1648** (refugee/A/G) online submissions the format must be a 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) **square**, between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, in **sRGB colour space**, 24-bit colour, and saved as a **JPEG** smaller than 240 KB. The portal automatically rejects larger files, HEIC files, Display P3 files or wrong aspect ratios at the upload step.

The same photo standard applies to B1/B2 visitor, F1 student, J1 exchange, H1B work, K1 fiancé and IR/CR1 spouse-immigrant visas. The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and must not have been used in a previous application — the 9 FAM 303.6 Facial Recognition software runs an automated match. Head height (chin to top of hair) must fill **50-69%** of the frame (25-35 mm), and the eyes must sit at **56-69%** of the frame height from the bottom. For other countries see the Canada visa photo and Schengen visa photo guides. **NOTE**: Turkish citizens require a visa and therefore apply via the standard DS-160 — **not ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)**.

Why Are Glasses Banned in US Visa Photos?

The single most important rule is eyewear: since November 2016 the US does not accept visa photos taken with glasses of any kind, medical exemptions aside. Even clear prescription glasses cause rejections; a medical exemption requires a signed doctor's statement. The rule exists to eliminate lens glare and frame shadows that break face-recognition matching.

vesikalik.com.tr's analysis report scores eyewear detection, lens glare, shadows and head angle separately on a red-yellow-green scale, so you can fix every flagged area before the DS-160 upload. That removes the risk of being asked for new documents — or having your application put on hold — because of the photo on interview day.

The iPhone User Trap: HEIC, Display P3 and Natural Smile

Correct and incorrect US visa photo examples: compliant 2×2 inch photo versus smiling, lens glare and shadowed background mistakes
Correct (✓): natural expression or slight smile, white background. Wrong (✕): big teeth-smile, lens glare, shadowed background.

In 2024-2025 the most frequent technical rejections have been **for iPhone users**: (1) **HEIC format** — iPhone saves as HEIC/HEIF by default; DS-160 accepts only JPEG. If iOS "Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible" is not chosen, conversion is required. (2) **Display P3 colour space** — iPhone shoots in P3 by default; the DS-160 system **requires sRGB** and rejects P3 files as "colour not correct". (3) **Compression ratio max 20:1** — JPEG quality below ~60% causes banding and gets "quality insufficient" rejections. vesikalik.com.tr converts outputs to sRGB and stays under the 20:1 ratio automatically.

**A natural smile IS accepted** — this differs from Schengen and UK! travel.state.gov and 9 FAM 303.6 state explicitly: *"A natural smile is considered a neutral facial expression"*. However a wide teeth-showing smile, raised brows or exaggerated expression is rejected — the system cannot always tell a natural smile from an exaggerated one, so a **slight neutral expression** is safest. Visible ears are not mandatory; the full face contour (jawline, forehead) must be unobstructed. Skin-smoothing filters, eye enlargement or face slimming break the biometric match and can lead to a full refusal.

How to Take a 2×2 inch Photo at Home

You can absolutely shoot a compliant photo without a studio: stand 30-50 cm in front of a plain, pattern-free (ideally white) wall so your shadow does not land on it, hold the phone vertically at exact eye level, and face a window so natural daylight falls evenly on your face. Keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, and look straight into the lens.

You do not need to fight with cropping, background or pixel ratios afterwards: vesikalik.com.tr analyses your upload with MediaPipe FaceLandmarker's 478-point face mesh, automatically re-frames the crop to the DS-160 head and eye ratios, swaps the background to white with the BiRefNet model, and optimises the JPEG below 240 KB.

Digital JPEG + 51×51 mm Print Together

Besides the DS-160-ready JPEG we also produce a 51×51 mm print version for the consulate interview, laid out four-up with cut marks on a 10×15 photo sheet that can be shipped to your address in Turkey. Your online upload and the physical copy you hand over at the interview match exactly the same specification.

It is recommended that the photo uploaded to the CEAC portal and the printed photo you bring to the interview are the very same frame; mismatched photos can trigger extra verification questions. Because vesikalik.com.tr generates both versions from the same processed source, that consistency is automatic.

Do's and Don'ts

Do

  • Use a square 600×600 – 1200×1200 pixel resolution
  • Choose a plain white or very light off-white background
  • Keep the JPEG file size under 240 KB
  • Head height must fall within 50-69% of the frame
  • Use a photo taken within the last 6 months

Don't

  • Wear any glasses (unless medically exempted with a doctor's note)
  • Smile, show teeth or open your mouth
  • Use a coloured, patterned or shadowed background
  • Upload a file over 240 KB or below 600×600
  • Apply filters, skin smoothing or face slimming

FAQ

Should I remove glasses for the photo?
For Turkish ID cards, passports and most visa applications glasses should be removed; lens glare, tinted lenses or thick frames can cause rejection. Our analysis flags glare, dark lenses and thick frames as warnings. Prescription glasses without glare may be allowed for driving licences in some cases, but shooting without glasses is safest.
What should I pay attention to when taking the photo?
Stand in even natural light in front of a plain light background (white or light grey) and avoid harsh side shadows. Face the camera with a neutral expression, eyes open and no smile; keep your head upright and make sure hair does not cover the face or eyebrows. Wear plain clothing and avoid glare on glasses — our analysis measures each of these criteria automatically and warns you before you commit.
What are the visa photo sizes and requirements?
The most common international visa photo is 35×45 mm biometric; US visas use a 51×51 mm (2×2 in) square. The background must be white or a very light plain colour, the photo taken within the last 6 months, and the head should fill about 70-80% of the frame. Choose the target country in the wizard — the system applies the right pixel, DPI and file-size rules automatically.
Can I wear a headscarf in a visa photo?
A headscarf may be worn for religious reasons; however the hairline, eyebrows, ears/cheeks and chin must be fully visible, and no fabric or hair may cross the face boundary. Choose a non-transparent, plain-colour scarf and avoid decorative accessories or loose strands. Our analysis automatically checks that the chin-to-forehead face frame is visible in the correct proportion.
Can I smile in a visa photo?
No — a neutral expression is required for visa, passport and official ID photos; smiling, showing teeth, an open mouth or raised eyebrows are grounds for rejection. Keep your lips gently closed in a natural pose and your eyes open and normally wide. Our analysis flags smiling, open-mouth and squinting cases as warnings automatically.
What are the US visa photo requirements?
The US visa photo must be a 51×51 mm (2×2 in) square on a plain white or off-white background; the DS-160 online application requires a square JPEG between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels and under 240 KB. Head height must fill 50-69% of the frame, a neutral expression is mandatory, and the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. Pick the "US visa" preset in the wizard — the square crop and DS-160 file limits are applied automatically.

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