The DS-160 uploader fails on three things: not square, too small, or over 240 KB. We crop to the exact geometry and compress in a loop until the file fits.
Get My Photo — $4.99Ready in about 60 seconds · Free redo if it fails our check
The three limits that actually reject files
Most rejections are not about the photo looking wrong. They are about the file not meeting a number.
Cost
A visa photo is one of the few things where the cheapest option is also the most accurate.
| Options | Price | Compliant check | Digital file | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo studio | $15–$20 | Staff judgement | Sometimes | Varies |
| CVS / Walgreens | $16.99 | Staff judgement | No | No |
| Print a photo you took | $0.35 | None | No | No |
| PhotoCleared | $4.99 | 18 automated checks | 600×600 JPEG + print sheets (4×6, A4, Letter) | Free redo if it fails our check |
How it works
Any common format. It stays in your browser.
Square crop, 600×600 output, JPEG at a quality that lands under 240 KB.
Ready to upload to the form, plus a 4×6 sheet if your consulate wants a print at interview.
FAQ
The geometry is the same — head 50–69%, eyes 56–69%, plain background — but the file rules differ. Passport uploads allow 54 KB to 10 MB; the DS-160 caps at 240 KB.
Check your consulate's instructions. Several ask applicants to bring one 2×2 print. Your 4×6 sheet covers that with copies to spare.
Not by editing — removing a shadow digitally is an alteration. Retake it standing further from the wall; two feet of distance removes most shadows.
Official requirements
| Requirement | This document |
|---|---|
| Pixel size | 600 × 600 minimum · 1200 × 1200 maximum |
| Aspect ratio | Square |
| File format | JPEG |
| File size | 240 KB maximum |
| Colour space | Colour, sRGB, 24 bits per pixel |
| Compression ratio | 20:1 or better |
| Head height | 50–69% · 25–35 mm* |
| Eye height (from bottom) | 56–69% · 28–35 mm |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Photo age | Within the last 6 months |
* The State Department's visa photo page prints the head range as “1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (22 mm to 35 mm)”. The 22 mm is a unit slip — 1 inch is 25.4 mm, and the Department's own Photo Composition Template prints 25 mm. Both describe the same requirement, so we check against 25–35 mm.
Ready when you are
Square crop, 600×600, under 240 KB — done in a minute, and redone free if our own check fails.
