Passport photo for interview--US or UK standards?

[meredith and zac 5]

First of all, I am looking at this website: http://london.usembassy.gov/photo.html and it says that the photos brought to the interview must meet Department of State standards. I compared this to the UK and US standards and it appears that they want the pictures to follow the US requirements, and we're assuming this means he can't just get them done at the photo booths. We looked into snappy snaps or whatever it is called... and it is extremely expensive! Something like 15 pounds for 2 pictures... and.... we need 3. ARGH!! So, I am wondering, am I correct in assuming this pics can't just be done at the normal photo booth? And if not, does anyone have a suggestion about where to get them done cheaper? Oh, and now that I'm thinking about it, does the pic for the medical need to be US standards too?

Also, I have read on some of the forums that the visa fee must be paid before they will even schedule the interview... but it says on the embassy's site that information about paying the fee will come with the letter that tells us the interview date. So, what's the truth? Do you have to pay the fee before the interview is even scheduled? (PS if they require advance payment, that must mean that it is rare to not get approved wishful thinking.. or eek! do they not refund the fee if you are denied?)

Thanks!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I used this site: http://www.epassportphoto.com/ for my AOS because I didn't know it existed when I did K1. I had no issues with it. What I did do was scan a copy of a photo I already had left over from my K1. If you want (if it's cheaper) get some regular photos done at a photo booth to your liking and then scan them into the website and size them to US standards. A friend just took a regular photo of herself and did the upload that way and she got her GC no problems, just follow the requirements on the screen.

You can then put the pics on a USB or something and print them at a shopping centre or whatever. Cost me 19c per sheet of 5 pics (5 pics print on one regular photo size).

[amykathleen2005 441]

I believe that London actually takes a picture of your passport pics to put in their computers (weirdly) so the size really is not crucial. Give them what you've got or you can trim them to fit the specifications, it is not a big deal. I believe that info about how to pay for the visa will be sent with you appointment letter. London has many approvals. They are more worried about the affidavit of support then anything. So as long as the medical is clear, no criminal records, and you are fully sponsored then you should be pretty ok barring anything unforeseen.

Edited February 2, 2011 by amykathleen2005

[ameribrit 37]

Also, I have read on some of the forums that the visa fee must be paid before they will even schedule the interview... but it says on the embassy's site that information about paying the fee will come with the letter that tells us the interview date. So, what's the truth? Do you have to pay the fee before the interview is even scheduled? (PS if they require advance payment, that must mean that it is rare to not get approved wishful thinking.. or eek! do they not refund the fee if you are denied?)

Thanks!

As soon as you have your LDN case number, you can pay for your visa via the 'Operator Assisted Visa Information Line' http://london.usembassy.gov/visa_contact_information.html

If you think getting the photos is expensive, get ready to pay £1.23/ min for this call to pay for your visa. And just because you pay for it ahead of time you can still be denied a visa. And no, you would not get your money back if this were to happen.

[NikiY 0]

First of all, I am looking at this website: http://london.usembassy.gov/photo.html and it says that the photos brought to the interview must meet Department of State standards. I compared this to the UK and US standards and it appears that they want the pictures to follow the US requirements, and we're assuming this means he can't just get them done at the photo booths. We looked into snappy snaps or whatever it is called... and it is extremely expensive! Something like 15 pounds for 2 pictures... and.... we need 3. ARGH!! So, I am wondering, am I correct in assuming this pics can't just be done at the normal photo booth? And if not, does anyone have a suggestion about where to get them done cheaper? Oh, and now that I'm thinking about it, does the pic for the medical need to be US standards too?

Also, I have read on some of the forums that the visa fee must be paid before they will even schedule the interview... but it says on the embassy's site that information about paying the fee will come with the letter that tells us the interview date. So, what's the truth? Do you have to pay the fee before the interview is even scheduled? (PS if they require advance payment, that must mean that it is rare to not get approved wishful thinking.. or eek! do they not refund the fee if you are denied?)

Thanks!

This drove me crazy too! I had my husband take normal passport photos from the typical UK photo booths, and we included those. I also resized the photos and printed them on photo paper and we included those. To be honest, I don't know which version they used --but it was sufficient as they never mentioned it or asked for alternates.

As for payment, I believe that if you are filing through the embassy you pay the embassy. If you are filing through the NVC you pay the NVC directly prior to your interview. I can't tell from your profile which route you are going.

One word of advice....my husband had his interview yesterday and I had paid the NVC directly in October. The embassy didn't have record of payment. Luckily, I gave my husband a copy of the receipts I had showing all payments to the NVC from my sign in. They cross-referenced, and confirmed the payment. Good thing he had the receipt!

[meredith and zac 5]

Great! Thanks for the help everyone!! I am so jealous of the passport photo booths the UK has, we don't have anything like it!! We have to go deal with the under-experienced photo people at Walgreens.

[jennycandy 0]

Hi just a quick question my husband paid £420 in the states last year in October to the USCIS in California. I Have the receipt he sent me. If this the fee you guys are talking about or is there another fee at the time of the interview?

Hi just a quick question my husband paid £420 in the states last year in October to the USCIS in California. I Have the receipt he sent me. If this the fee you guys are talking about or is there another fee at the time of the interview?

$420 sorry

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi just a quick question my husband paid £420 in the states last year in October to the USCIS in California. I Have the receipt he sent me. If this the fee you guys are talking about or is there another fee at the time of the interview?

$420 sorry

Wow, this is a year old thread about photos. But to answer your question--The fee people are talking about is probably the K1 visa fee ($350) paid over the phone to the embassy pre-interview. It's in addition to the petition fee paid to the USCIS at the start. Spouse visas are paid to the NVC ($404??)before the case gets to the embassy. It's also in addition to the petition fee of $420.