Hmm

[ninamyers 0]

This is all very confusing, we need to have our ears showing, and they have to be 5x5, is this not the standard photo booth size photograph?

[Mew 0]

This is all very confusing, we need to have our ears showing, and they have to be 5x5, is this not the standard photo booth size photograph?

Nina, check the instructions: http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/com...sition_874.html

[aussiewench 9]

I captured picture for visa. As it is needed - 5x5 cm.

Now I read rules about photos. Thats there has to be able to see my ears.

There cant see my ears in this picture. Can it be problem?

Which rules said that ears had to be seen? Neither my passport styled photo for the initial petition was such nor was my passport photos for my visa that I submitted. The service centers seem also to be less strict in their requirements, hence passport-style photos. From reading posts many have had variances and been accepted at petition filing stage including size of photos (my husbands was smaller). Visa stage at consulates will be stricter and require a passport photo (not passport-style), but still.....the instructions do not state anything specific about ears and I agree in that some of the photo samples indeed have the ears covered. http://travel.state.gov/pdf/Photo%20Guide%2010-01-04.pdf

What about glasses in the pic? Yes or no? I heard so and so....thanks in advance

Instructions state (from the above link)

Eyeglasses should be worn if normally used by the subject

This is why I wish there was ONE set of regulations for passport style or passport pictures. One person is told this, one person is told that. We were told no glasses and ears showing (where we had the passport pictures made), hence the statement "what we were told".

Im not denying what may be required for the actual visa application, as the passport photos are required for the visa which should comply with US regulations. Obviously from the mixed bag of responses, various consulates have somewhat of a different interpretation of the official guidelines from DOS. As I said though, the requirements for the petition are not as strict at USCIS stage. One is not going to have passport-style photos refused eg as in the examples meauxna gave when submitted at petition stage as they are not applying for a visa at this stage.......and there has been plenty of anecdotal evidence of such.

[Cristy 4]

My ears were not showing on any of mine. It was no problem.

[Deanne and Carlos 0]

Actually, as someone with a tiny bit of experience inside a US consulate... I think the issue regarding whether or not you can see the ears has to do with the computer software that is used to pass the picture to the computer. The placement of facial features is what helps the software recognize the picture as a face, and facilitates the digitalizing, which of course is then used to scan for previous encounters with DHS, DOS, and/or USCIS.

That software is pretty darn picky... anything from weird hairstyles to too much glare on your forehead can send it out of wack...