U.S. document photo requirements, explained
Some photo requirements can be measured from an image; others need your own review. These guides explain the published numbers, common failures and what to check before submitting.
Check my photoHas DV-2028 registration opened?
No, and neither has DV-2027. Visa issuance restarted on 28 August 2026 under a court order, which is a different thing. The timeline, the two new entry rules, and what to prepare before the window opens.
The AI photo ban: why edited passport and DV photos get rejected
The State Department no longer accepts document photos touched by artificial intelligence, filters or editing software. The hard part is that most phones apply that processing without asking. What counts as an alteration, how to switch it off, and how to take a clean photo.
DV Lottery photo requirements: every number in one place
The entry form measures your photo, not your intentions. Exact dimensions, file size, compression ratio, head height, eye level, background and expression — with the failure each one produces, and why 600×600 is not the same as 600–1200.
12 reasons a DV photo gets rejected
Some failures are a file problem you can fix in a minute. Others need a new photograph. Twelve reasons sorted by what each one costs: a resize, a crop, or a retake.
How to take a green card photo with your phone
A plain wall, a window and two metres of space are enough. How to set the camera up so it stops improving the picture, shoot, move the file without breaking it, and crop to 600×600.
Run 32 checks based on the photo requirements
DV Photo combines file checks, automated image estimates and reminders for you to verify. All 32 checks and the automatic fix are free and need no sign-up.
Check my photo