For Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy wish to encourage nonimmigrant visa applicants the importance of the quality of the photograph submitted with form DS-156. Following is the description that a photograph for a nonimmigrant visa application must meet:

A “full face” photograph taken within the past six months, in which the applicant is facing the camera directly without looking down or to either side. The face should cover about 50% of the area of the photograph, preferably the ears be exposed.

The photograph should be 2 inches square, about 50mmX50mm, with the head centered in the frame. The head should measure from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches, about 25mm to 35 mm, with the eye level between 1 1/8 inch to the 1 3/8 inches, 28 mm and 35 mm, from the bottom of the photo.

Photographs may be either in color or black and white and must be taken against a white or off-white background. Photographs should be printed without borders.

Photographs should be stapled or glued to Form DS-156, if stapled, the staples should be placed as far away as possible from the applicant’s face.

Photographs taken in front of busy, patterned, or dark backgrounds will not be accepted.