The DS-160 visa form checks your photo as soon as you upload it: it must be a square JPEG between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels and no larger than 240 KB, showing a 2 × 2 inch passport-style portrait. This page opens the photo maker with those rules loaded, including the eye-line band, so the upload copy is accepted first time.
Your photo is handled only in your browser. Nothing is sent to this site, and nothing is shared.
How to make a DS-160 photo
- Country and Document are already set to United States and Visa.
- Drop a recent photo without glasses, facing the camera, in even light.
- Let Auto-fit place the head, or adjust until the head and eye guides both turn green.
- Keep Background on "As required" for white, then select "Make photo".
- Upload the online copy to the DS-160. Print the sheet if your interview needs paper photos.
The rules in brief
- Print size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm).
- Head: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25 to 35 mm) from chin to the top of the hair.
- Eyes: 1⅛ to 1⅜ inches (29 to 35 mm) up from the bottom of the photo.
- Upload: square JPEG, 600 to 1200 px, 240 KB or less.
- White or off-white background, no glasses, taken in the last 6 months.
- Immigrant visas also need 2 identical printed photos.
Why uploads get rejected
Most failures come from a file that is too big, a photo that isn't square, or a head that is too small or too low. The online copy made here is square, sized in pixels and kept under 240 KB, and the checks under the editor tell you if the head is out of range. The full rules are on the State Department's visa photo page.
Frequently asked questions
What size should the DS-160 photo be in KB?
240 KB or less. The tool keeps the best quality that fits under that limit.
Can I reuse my passport photo?
Only if it is recent and meets the visa rules. Making a fresh upload copy here is quick and checks the head and eye positions for you.
Can I wear glasses?
No. Glasses aren't allowed in US visa photos, except in rare medical cases with a signed statement.