US · Application requirements

US DS-160 Digital Visa Photo Requirements 2026

All applicants for non-immigrant US visas (B1/B2, F1, J1, H1B, L1, O1, etc.) must complete a DS-160. Required for every visa interview at a US embassy or consulate abroad.

Issued by U.S. Department of State · Last verified May 28, 2026 · Official source ↗

At a glance

Application fee

DS-160 form itself: Free
MRV — B/C/D/F/I/J/M: $185
MRV — H/L/O/P/Q/R: $205
MRV — E: $315
Visa Integrity Fee (at issuance): $250

as of May 28, 2026 · details

Processing time

Fill out DS-160 form: 60–90 minutes
Interview wait (varies by post): days – 12+ months
Visa printing after interview: ~1–2 weeks

details

Issuing authority

U.S. Department of State

Who needs a US DS-160 Digital Visa Photo?

All applicants for non-immigrant US visas (B1/B2, F1, J1, H1B, L1, O1, etc.) must complete a DS-160. Required for every visa interview at a US embassy or consulate abroad.

Where to apply

Online at ceac.state.gov/genniv. Must be submitted before the visa interview can be scheduled at the US embassy or consulate.

Fees

DS-160 form itself: Free
MRV — B/C/D/F/I/J/M: $185
MRV — H/L/O/P/Q/R: $205
MRV — E: $315
Visa Integrity Fee (at issuance): $250

The DS-160 form itself is free. The Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee is paid separately when booking the interview: $185 USD for most B/C/D/F/I/J/M visas; $205 USD for H, L, O, P, Q, R; $315 USD for E. A separate $250 USD Visa Integrity Fee (signed July 2025) is collected at visa issuance for most nonimmigrant categories.

Fees as of May 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts on the official source before paying.

What to bring

Documents and items you'll need at the appointment or with your application.

Valid passport (and any prior passports you hold)
Recent compliant passport-style photo for digital upload — bring a printed 2×2 inch backup to the interview
Travel itinerary if you have one (not required)
Last 5 years of international travel history dates
Employer or school contact information
Family member details (parents, spouse, children) — required in form

Need the photo specs?

Exact size, head height, background, and what gets rejected.

Open photo requirements →

How long does it take?

Fill out DS-160 form: 60–90 minutes
Interview wait (varies by post): days – 12+ months
Visa printing after interview: ~1–2 weeks

Completing DS-160 itself: 60–90 minutes. Visa-interview wait times vary by embassy — check travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html for current waits per post.

Times vary by location, season, and individual case. Always check the official source for the current backlog before you book travel.

Official source

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Last verified May 28, 2026

Verify before applying. We compile this from official government sources and re-verify regularly. Fees, processing times, and rules change without notice — always confirm current information on the official site before you apply or pay any fee.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about applying for a us ds-160 digital visa photo.

Is the DS-160 form free? +

The DS-160 form itself is free to fill out and submit online. The MRV (Machine-Readable Visa) fee — $185 USD for most categories — is paid separately when you book your interview appointment. You will need the DS-160 confirmation number to schedule that appointment.

How long does it take to complete the DS-160? +

Most applicants need 60 to 90 minutes to fill out the DS-160 carefully. You will need your passport, prior visa details, employment information, and your 5-year international travel history. Have all documents in hand before starting to avoid the session timing out.

Can I save my DS-160 and finish later? +

Yes — the form lets you save your application and resume within 30 days using your application ID and the security question. Sessions also time out after 20 minutes of inactivity, but saved progress is preserved.

How long is a DS-160 confirmation valid? +

A submitted DS-160 confirmation has no formal expiration. The only requirement is that the information must remain accurate at the time of the interview — if anything material changes (employer, marital status, address), submit a fresh DS-160 and bring both barcodes to the interview.

Do I pay the visa fee before or after submitting the DS-160? +

You submit the DS-160 first, then use the confirmation number to schedule your interview. The MRV fee is paid before booking the interview slot — payment methods and instructions vary by country (online bank transfer, in-person at a bank, etc.), explained on the US embassy site for your country.

Can I correct a mistake on a submitted DS-160? +

Once submitted, a DS-160 cannot be edited. If you notice a mistake before the interview, submit a new DS-160 with the corrections and bring both confirmation pages to the interview. Bring the new one's barcode for the consular officer to scan.

Got the paperwork? Now nail the photo.

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