1
Glasses visible
Banned since November 2016 except documented medical reasons. Remove glasses for the shot — no exceptions.
Rejection guide
US passport photo rejected — reasons and how to fix each
US passport photo rejections fall into two categories: automated rejection during the online application (DS-11 portal) and human rejection at the post-office acceptance desk. Different causes; different fixes.
Fast diagnosis
Top 3: glasses, background tint, head size
The three highest-frequency rejection causes for US passport photos are: any visible glasses (banned since 2016), background that reads as off-white or cream rather than plain white, and head height outside the 1 to 1⅜ inch chin-to-crown rule.
Top 7 rejection reasons
2
Background not plain white
Off-white, cream, light grey or any other shade will be rejected. Use a plain white wall under daylight.
3
Head height outside 1 to 1⅜ inches
Chin to crown must measure between 25 mm and 35 mm in the 2 × 2 inch frame. Use a tool that fits this ratio rather than cropping manually.
4
Smile or non-neutral expression
A "natural smile" is technically allowed but causes biometric mismatch flags. Safer to keep mouth closed and eyes neutral.
5
Photo retouched or filtered
Beautification filters from phone camera apps cause automated rejection. Disable filters before the shot; the State Dept reads facial geometry against the unedited reference.
6
Shadow on face or background
Direct sun creates shadows; indoor flash creates harder shadows. Use diffused daylight from a window in front of you.
7
Photo from a phone in selfie mode
Wide-angle selfie distortion changes facial proportions. Use the rear camera with a timer instead.
5-step recovery checklist
- 1Remove glasses. Pull hair away from forehead and ears.
- 2Stand 1-2 metres from a plain white wall.
- 3Face a window during daylight; do not use phone flash.
- 4Use rear camera, eye-level tripod or steady surface, short timer.
- 5Upload through our tool — it crops to the 2 × 2 inch DS-11 specification and exports under the 240 KB limit.
Frequently asked questions
My DS-11 portal rejected my photo for "incorrect size" — what does this mean?
The portal expects a square photo (1:1 aspect ratio) at minimum 600 × 600 pixels. A portrait-orientation phone photo is rejected even if the head is correct. Use a tool that exports the exact aspect ratio.
Can I use the same photo for my US visa and my US passport?
Yes, both use the same 2 × 2 inch specification. The DS-160 (visa) and DS-11 (passport) accept the same digital file format. The only difference is the application form, not the photo.
Will the post office reject my photo even if I bring a printed one?
Yes. Post-office acceptance agents check the print against the State Dept specification under fluorescent lighting. A photo that looks correct at home but reads as off-white under fluorescents is rejected at the desk.
Other rejection guides
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