US visa photo for the DS-160
A square JPG that meets the State Department’s digital rules: 600 to 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, head and eyes in the right place.
Runs on your device. Your files are never stored.
Short answer
A US visa photo for the DS-160 must be a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, with the head 50–69% of the photo’s height. Add your photo to FileFleet and it crops, sizes and saves it to those rules, free and without uploading it.
- Price
- Free
- Account
- None needed
- Your files
- Never stored
- Limits
- No daily limit, no watermark
- You get
- A square JPG under 240 KB, plus a 4 × 6 sheet to print
- Works on
- Phones and computers
US visa photo: the rules
For the DS-160 and other online visa forms: a square JPEG from 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, in colour.
| Upload | Format | Pixels | File size | Head size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa photo | JPG, square | 600 × 600 to 1200 × 1200 | up to 240 KB | 50–69% of the height; 25–35 mm on a 51 × 51 mm print |
What FileFleet can’t fix, so get it right when you take the photo
- Taken in the last 6 months, in colour.
- Plain white or off-white background, with no shadows.
- Face the camera with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
- No glasses, unless a doctor’s note says you can’t take them off.
- No hats or head coverings, except for religious or medical reasons.
- Not edited or filtered.
Source: travel.state.gov: Visa photo requirements. Checked November 11, 2026. Rules can change, so compare them with your application’s own instructions before you submit.
Common reasons it gets rejected
- Over 240 KB, which is the most common reason the DS-160 refuses a photo.
- Not square, or smaller than 600 × 600 pixels.
- The head is too small or too big: it must be 50–69% of the height, with the eyes 56–69% from the bottom.
- Shadows, glasses or a background that isn’t plain white or off-white.
FileFleet fixes the type, pixel size and file size. Lighting, background and expression have to be right when you take the photo.
How to make a US visa photo
- 1Take a photo facing the camera, against a plain white or off-white wall.
- 2Add it, and line your head up with the oval if needed.
- 3Download the JPG and upload it to the DS-160.
Questions
Do my files get uploaded?
No. FileFleet runs entirely in your browser, so your files never leave your device. Close the tab and they're gone.
Is it really free?
Yes. No account, no daily limits and no watermark on your files.
Why does the DS-160 reject my photo?
Usually because it’s over 240 KB, not square, or the head is too small or too big. FileFleet fixes all three; poor lighting, shadows or glasses need a new photo.