Whose photo is required?

It is very important to submit all the required photographs. When you register on our website you must either upload or send recent photographs of the following people:
- You
- Your spouse
- Each unmarried child less than 21 years of age, including all natural children as well as all legally adopted children and stepchildren, even if a child no longer resides with you or you do not intend for a child to immigrate under the DV program.
Failure to submit the required photographs for your spouse and each child listed will result in an incomplete entry to the E-DV system. The entry will not be accepted and must be resubmitted. A spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident will not require or be issued a DV visa. However, you should include all family members in your registration and photos of each person who will receive a DV visa.
Group or family photographs will not be accepted; there must be a separate photograph for each family member.

Failure to enter the correct photograph of each individual into the E-DV system may result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visas associated with the case at the time of the visa interview.

A digital photograph (image) of you, your spouse, and each child must be submitted online with the E-DV entry form. The image file can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner.The image file must adhere to the following compositional and technical specifications and can be produced in one of the following ways: taking a new digital image or using a digital scanner to scan a photograph.

Instructions for Submitting a Digital Photograph (Image):

- The image file can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner.
- Digital enhancement or other alterations or retouching are not permitted.
- The original aspect ratio of the image must be preserved. (No image stretching is allowed.)
- Entrants may send us via email their digital photo(s), or by postal mail their paper photos. In this case we will scan them. All photos will be checked to conform the requirements.
- Once you have uploaded your photo on our website one of our specialized consultants will verify if the photograph fulfills all the requirements.
- Entries are subject to disqualification and visa refusal for cases in which the photographs are not recent, or have been manipulated, or fail to meet the specifications explained below.

1. Compositional Specifications:
- The submitted digital image must conform to the following compositional specifications.

1.1 Head Position:
- 1.1.1 The person being photographed must directly face the camera.
- 1.1.2 The head of the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side.
- 1.1.3 The head height or facial region size (measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin) must be between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height. The eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56 percent and 69 percent of the image's height.

WELL-COMPOSED PHOTOS
INCORRECT PHOTOS
No Retouching	No Image Stretching
Pose Not Frontal	Image Not Portrait View
Head Too Small	Head Too Big

1.2 Background:
- The person being photographed should be taken with the person in front of a neutral, light-colored background.

INCORRECT PHOTOS

Background Not Plain

1.3 Focus:
- The photograph must be in focus.

INCORRECT PHOTOS
Not In Focus	Visible/Coarse Dot Pattern
Resolution Too Low

1.4 Decorative Items:
- Photographs in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or other items that detract from the face will not be accepted.

1.6 Head Coverings and Hats:
- 1.6.1 Photos of applicants wearing head coverings or hats are only acceptable if the head covering is worn for religious beliefs; even then, the head covering may not obscure any portion of the face of the applicant.
- 1.6.2 Photographs of applicants with tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in nature will not be accepted;
- 1.6.3 Photographs of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats will not be accepted.

1.9 Color photographs in 24-bit color depth are required.
- Color photographs may be downloaded from a camera to a file in the computer or they may be scanned onto a computer. If you are using a scanner, the settings must be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. See the additional scanning requirements below.

2. Technical Specifications:
The submitted digital photograph must conform to the following technical specifications:

2.1 Taking a New Digital Image:
If a new digital image is taken, it must meet the following specifications:
2.1.1 Image File Format:
- The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
2.1.2
- .
2.1.3 Image Resolution and Dimensions:
- Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 pixels (width) x 600 pixels (height). Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels. Image pixel dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (meaning the height must be equal to the width).
2.1.4 Image Color Depth:
- 24-bit color
[Note: Color photographs are required. Black and white, monochrome images (2-bit color depth), 8-bit color, or 8-bit grayscale will not be accepted.]

2.2 Scanning a Submitted Photograph:
Before a photographic print is scanned, it must meet the compositional specifications listed above. If the photographic print meets the print color and compositional specifications, scan the print using the following scanner specifications:
2.2.1 Scanner Resolution:
- Scanned at a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).
2.2.2 Image File Format:
- The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
2.2.3 Image File Size:
- The maximum image file size is 240 kilobytes (240 KB).
2.2.4 Image Resolution:
- 600 by 600 pixels.
2.2.5 Image Color Depth:
- 24-bit color
[Note: Color photographs are required. Black and white, monochrome images (2-bit color depth), 8-bit color, or 8-bit grayscale will not be accepted.]