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US Visa Photo from India (2×2 Inch / 51×51mm)

Updated May 2026 · For Indian applicants · B1, B2, F1, H1B, L1, all categories

⚠ Two critical specs different from Indian passport

1. Size: Indian passport is 35×45 mm rectangular. US visa is 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) square. Not interchangeable.
2. DS-160 240 KB cap: Most photo tools export at 350-500 KB → silent upload failure. Need explicit ≤240 KB JPEG.

US visa photos are 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) square, plain white background, per the US Department of State. For Indian applicants this means a different size from the Indian passport (35×45 mm) and a strict 240 KB JPEG cap on the DS-160 online portal. The spec is identical at US Embassy New Delhi and the four US consulates in India (Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata).

Spec at a glance

Size	2×2 inch = 51×51 mm (square)
Pixels (DS-160 portal)	600×600 to 1200×1200 px
File format	JPEG only (PNG / HEIC rejected)
File size cap	240 KB maximum (strict)
Background	Plain white only (no off-white tint)
Head height (chin to crown)	25-35 mm (50-69% of frame)
Glasses	Not allowed (banned Nov 2016)
AI retouching	Not allowed (banned Jan 2026)
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed
Photo age	Last 6 months

US embassies and consulates in India

US Embassy New Delhi (Chanakyapuri) — capital territory, northern India
US Consulate Mumbai (BKC) — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa
US Consulate Chennai (Anna Salai) — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andaman
US Consulate Hyderabad (Hi-Tec City) — Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
US Consulate Kolkata (Ho Chi Minh Sarani) — West Bengal, Odisha, Northeast states, Bihar, Jharkhand

Visa interviews are conducted at these embassy / consulate locations. Document collection and biometric appointments are handled by VFS Global India at 12 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Puducherry, Pune).

Where to get the photo in India

VFS Global on-site photo service (INR 350-500). Most convenient. The photographer at the centre knows the US 2×2 inch spec exactly and outputs a DS-160 compliant digital JPEG. No risk of wrong size.
Local studio (INR 100-300) — only if they know US visa spec. Specify "US visa 2×2 inch square, 51×51 mm, plain white background, ICAO biometric, no glasses". Most Indian studios default to Indian passport 35×45 mm rectangular and may need explicit instructions.
Free online tool at home (INR 0). IDPhotoSnap US visa tool generates a DS-160 compliant JPEG (51×51 mm square, ≤240 KB, JPEG, white background) plus a print-ready PDF with 6 photos per A4 sheet (print at any photo lab for INR 50-100). Takes 30 seconds, no upload to our server, no signup, no watermark. Save the cost for the US visa fee itself (USD 185 for B1/B2, much higher for other categories).

Common rejection reasons for Indian applicants

Wrong size (35×45 mm instead of 51×51 mm) — using Indian passport photo for a US visa. The most common rejection.
File size over 240 KB — DS-160 portal silently fails the upload. Most photo tools default to 350-500 KB which exceeds the limit.
Wrong file format — DS-160 accepts JPEG only. PNG and HEIC files (default on iPhone) are rejected.
Background not pure white — Indian passport photos often use off-white or slightly tinted backgrounds. US visa requires pure white (#FFFFFF).
Glasses worn — banned since November 2016. Remove glasses.
AI retouching — banned January 2026. Photos with skin smoothing, lighting adjustment, color filters, or any automated facial enhancement now auto-rejected.
Photo too old — must be within last 6 months.

Frequently asked questions

What is the US visa photo size for Indian applicants?

US visa photos are 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), square format with a plain white background — the US Department of State specification used at every US embassy and consulate worldwide. For Indian applicants this means the photo size is DIFFERENT from the Indian passport photo (35×45 mm rectangular). The same 2×2 inch format applies whether you submit at US Embassy New Delhi, US Consulate Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata.

Why is my Indian passport photo rejected at the US visa appointment?

The most common rejection reason for Indian applicants is size: Indian passport photos are 35×45 mm (rectangular), US visa photos are 51×51 mm (square, 2×2 inch). The two are NOT interchangeable. Bringing an Indian passport photo to a US visa appointment fails the State Department specification. Always get a separate 2×2 inch square photo for the US visa.

What is the DS-160 240 KB file size limit?

The US DS-160 nonimmigrant visa online application portal caps photo uploads at 240 KB maximum file size. Most photo tools export 600×600 JPEG at 350-500 KB, which silently fails upload. Our tool produces a DS-160 portal-compliant JPEG at exactly 600×600 pixels under 240 KB. The State Department also requires JPEG format (PNG and HEIC rejected), pixel dimensions between 600×600 and 1200×1200, and pure white background.

Where are US embassies and consulates in India?

The US has one embassy and four consulates in India: US Embassy New Delhi (Chanakyapuri), US Consulate Mumbai (BKC), US Consulate Chennai (Anna Salai), US Consulate Hyderabad (Hi-Tec City), and US Consulate Kolkata (Ho Chi Minh Sarani). Visa appointments are conducted at these locations. Document collection and biometric appointments are handled by VFS Global India at 12 cities across the country.

Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?

No. The US Department of State has prohibited glasses in visa photos since November 2016. Remove them for the photo session. The State Department allows medical exceptions only with a signed letter from a medical professional explaining the necessity — very rare cases.

How many US visa photos do I need at the appointment?

You need 1 digital photo uploaded to the DS-160 online application before the appointment, plus 1 physical printed photo to bring to the US Embassy / Consulate on the day of the interview. Our print-ready PDF layout includes 6 photos per A4 sheet — extra copies useful for the supporting documents package and any re-application within 6 months.

I am applying for a US B1/B2 tourist visa from India — does this photo work for B1, B2, F1, H1B, L1?

Yes. The 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) format is required for ALL US nonimmigrant visa categories: B1/B2 tourist/business, F1 student, J1 exchange visitor, H1B work, L1 intracompany transfer, O1 extraordinary ability, K1 fiancé, and all others. The photo specification does not vary by visa category, only by US Department of State biometric rules.

Are AI-retouched photos accepted in 2026?

No. Effective 1 January 2026, the US Department of State no longer accepts visa photos that have been digitally retouched — including background editing, skin smoothing, lighting adjustment, color filters, or any AI-driven facial enhancement. Background segmentation and geometric cropping (changing dimensions only) remain acceptable. IDPhotoSnap only does background segmentation and crop — fully compliant with the 2026 rule.

Free US visa photo tool (DS-160 compliant)

Generate a 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) square photo with ≤240 KB JPEG output for DS-160 upload. Plus print-ready PDF with 6 photos per A4 sheet. Free, browser-only, no upload to our server.

Open US visa photo tool →