US Visa Photo from Vietnam (2×2 Inch / 51×51mm)
Updated May 2026 · For Vietnamese applicants · DS-160 240 KB
⚠ Wrong size AND aspect ratio
Vietnamese passport: 40×60 mm rectangular. US visa: 51×51 mm SQUARE. Both dimensions and aspect ratio differ. Not interchangeable.
US visa photos are 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) square, plain white background, per US Department of State. DS-160 caps file size at 240 KB JPEG. Format identical at US Embassy Hanoi and US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City.
Spec at a glance
| Size | 2×2 inch = 51×51 mm (square) |
| Pixels | 600×600 to 1200×1200 px |
| File format | JPEG only |
| File size cap | 240 KB maximum (strict) |
| Background | Plain white only |
| Glasses | Not allowed (banned Nov 2016) |
| AI retouching | Not allowed (banned Jan 2026) |
| Photo age | Last 6 months |
US embassies and consulates in Vietnam
- US Embassy Hanoi (Rose Garden Tower, Ngoc Khanh) — main visa centre, northern Vietnam
- US Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City (Le Duan Boulevard, District 1) — southern Vietnam and Mekong Delta
Where to get the photo in Vietnam
- Photo studio near US Embassy Hanoi / US Consulate HCMC (VND 250,000-500,000). Studios near US diplomatic locations know the 2×2 inch US spec.
- Local studio (VND 80,000-250,000). Specify "US visa 2×2 inch SQUARE, 51×51 mm, plain white background". Vietnamese studios default to 40×60 mm passport.
- Free online tool at home (VND 0). IDPhotoSnap US visa tool — 51×51 mm square + DS-160 ≤240 KB JPEG + print-ready PDF.
Common rejection reasons
- Wrong size (40×60 mm Vietnamese passport) — most common rejection.
- File size over 240 KB — DS-160 silently fails.
- Wrong file format — DS-160 accepts JPEG only.
- Glasses worn — banned November 2016.
- AI retouching — banned January 2026.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the US visa photo size for Vietnamese applicants?
US visa photos are 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) square with plain white background, per the US Department of State. This is SMALLER than the Vietnamese passport photo (40×60 mm rectangular) AND a different aspect ratio (square not rectangular). Format applies at US Embassy Hanoi and US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City.
Why does my Vietnamese passport photo get rejected at the US visa interview?
The most common rejection is size mismatch. Vietnamese passport photos are 40×60 mm rectangular; US visa is 51×51 mm SQUARE. Both dimension and aspect ratio differ. Bringing a Vietnamese passport photo to a US visa appointment fails the State Department specification.
Where are US embassies and consulates in Vietnam?
The US has one embassy and one consulate in Vietnam: US Embassy Hanoi (Rose Garden Tower, Ngoc Khanh) — serves northern Vietnam and is the main visa processing centre, and US Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City (Le Duan Boulevard, District 1) — serves southern Vietnam and Mekong Delta. Visa interviews are conducted at these two locations.
What is the DS-160 240 KB file size limit?
The US DS-160 online visa application portal caps photo uploads at 240 KB maximum. Most photo tools export 600×600 JPEG at 350-500 KB which silently fails upload. Our tool produces DS-160 portal-compliant JPEG at 600×600 pixels under 240 KB. JPEG only (PNG / HEIC rejected), pure white background.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No. US Department of State prohibited glasses in visa photos since November 2016. Religious head covering is permitted if facial features (chin to forehead, both sides of face) are clearly visible.
How many US visa photos do I need at the appointment in Vietnam?
You need 1 digital photo uploaded к DS-160 + 1 physical printed photo to bring to the US Embassy Hanoi или US Consulate HCMC interview. Our print-ready PDF lays out 6 photos per A4 sheet.
I am applying for US B1/B2 from Vietnam — does this photo work for F1, H1B?
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, H1B work, L1, O1, K1 fiancé. Spec does not vary by category.
Are AI-retouched photos accepted in 2026?
No. Effective 1 January 2026, the US Department of State no longer accepts retouched visa photos. IDPhotoSnap is compliant — background segmentation and geometric cropping only.
Free US visa photo tool (DS-160 compliant)
Generate 2×2 inch square photo с ≤240 KB JPEG output + white background + print-ready PDF.
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