US visa photos that pass the DS-160 check.
The US wants a square photo, exactly 2x2 inches, on a plain white background, with your head sized to a precise range. When you upload it to the DS-160 form, an online system measures your face before a human ever sees it. Get a number slightly wrong and it bounces back. We shoot it to the State Department specification and hand you both the print and the matching digital file, so the check passes the first time.
A machine checks your face before a person does.
The DS-160 site runs your image through facial-recognition and measurement software the moment you upload it. It is unforgiving about the things people get wrong at home. A bathroom-wall background that reads as grey, a head that is a few millimetres too big or too small, a soft smile, a glare on glasses, a tilt of the chin. Any one of these throws the photo out, and you only find out after you have filled in the form.
Head size, to the millimetre
Your head must run between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches, that is 50 to 69 percent of the frame height. We frame it inside that band so the check reads a valid face.
Truly white, no shadow
A real white backdrop and controlled light, so there is no grey gradient or shadow behind your shoulder that the software flags as a busy background.
No glasses, neutral face
Glasses have not been allowed since November 2016. We take it without them, eyes open, a relaxed and natural expression, both ears of the rule satisfied at once.
Built to the numbers the form expects.
These are the State Department rules we shoot to, for the printed photo and the DS-160 online upload alike. We give you both in one visit, correctly sized, so nothing has to be redone.
DV lottery (green card) photo.
The Diversity Visa entry has its own strict rules, and the lottery runs once a year, so a rejected photo can mean waiting a whole year to try again. The entry image is digital only, a square colour JPEG between 600 and 1200 pixels and 240KB or smaller, taken within the last 6 months. The expression must be neutral with the mouth closed, no smile, no teeth, and again no glasses. The same photo used on a prior year entry will be disqualified.
We shoot it fresh, size it to those exact limits, and send you the file ready to upload. If you are selected and called for the interview, you will need two identical 2x2 inch prints, and we keep your file on hand to print them.
Three steps, in and out.
No appointment needed for a US photo. Walk in, sit down, and leave with everything the form asks for.
Walk in
Drop by the Business Bay studio, or send a WhatsApp first if you want to check the hours. Tell us it is for a US visa, passport or the DV lottery so we set the right format.
We shoot it right
Real white backdrop, even light, no glasses, head framed inside the official range. We take a few frames and pick the cleanest one with you.
Print plus file
You leave with the printed 2x2 inch copies and the DS-160 ready digital file sent to your phone or email, sized to 600x600 pixels and under 240KB.
Need a different country?
Every country sets its own size, head ratio and background rule. We keep the specs for each one on hand. Heading to Europe next? The Schengen photo is a different shape and we shoot that too.
Common questions.
What size is a US visa photo?
What are the DS-160 online photo requirements?
Can I wear glasses in the photo?
Do you do the DV lottery green card photo?
How fast can I get it in Dubai?
Get your US visa photo.
- Where
- Office 905, Business Bay, Dubai
- Hours
- Saturday to Thursday, 10am to 9pm
- +971 50 140 8298