Passport or Visa Photo Rejected — What to Do Next

Step 1: Find the exact rejection reason

Before doing anything else — read the rejection notice carefully. Government agencies almost always specify why the photo was rejected. The reason determines the fix.

1

Read the rejection notice word for word

For mailed passport applications: the notice comes with your returned documents. For online portals (DS-160, online renewal): an error message appears on the upload screen. Screenshot or write down the exact wording.
2

Match the reason to the table below

Each rejection reason has a specific fix. Most can be resolved without retaking the photo.
3

Fix the issue and resubmit

For online portals: you can re-upload immediately. For mailed applications: you'll receive instructions with the returned package.

Most common rejection reasons — and how to fix them

Technical

File too large (DS-160 / online portal)

The DS-160 portal requires files under 240 KB. The online passport renewal portal requires 54 KB – 10 MB. A raw phone photo is typically 3–8 MB — too large for DS-160. Fix: Use PixID to compress and output the correct file size automatically. Do not use generic image compressors — they may create a file that passes the size check but fails the quality check.

Technical

Wrong file format (not JPEG)

DS-160 accepts JPEG only. The online passport renewal portal accepts JPEG or HEIF. PNG, WEBP, and HEIC (older Apple format) are rejected. Fix: Convert to JPEG. On iPhone: go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible to shoot in JPEG. Or use PixID — we always output JPEG.

Compliance

Head too small or too large in the frame

US passport and visa photos require the head to be 50–69% of the total image height. This is checked automatically by government systems. Fix: Retake the photo at the correct distance, or use PixID to crop your existing photo to the correct head ratio. If the original photo is unusable, a new photo is required.

Compliance

Shadows on face or background

Shadows are one of the most common rejection reasons for both mailed and digital applications. Even subtle shadows on the cheeks or behind the head trigger rejection. Fix: Retake against a plain white wall with even, diffused light. Stand at least 2–3 feet from the background to eliminate shadows. Natural window light (not direct sun) works well. See our lighting guide for setup details.

Compliance

Background not white or off-white

A grey, cream, blue, or any non-white/off-white background will be rejected. Fix: Retake in front of a plain white wall — or use PixID's background replacement, which sets a compliant white background automatically.

Compliance

AI editing, filters, or beauty mode detected

Since January 2026, the State Department enforces zero tolerance for AI-processed photos. This includes phone portrait mode, skin-smoothing, and background blur. Fix: Retake the photo in standard camera mode — disable all beauty or portrait settings. PixID never applies AI face alteration.

Compliance

Glasses in the photo

Glasses have been prohibited in US passport and visa photos since 2016. Fix: Retake without glasses. There is no way to fix this digitally — the photo must be retaken.

Photo quality

Blurry, pixelated, or low resolution

For printed passport photos: minimum 300 DPI for a 2×2 inch print. For DS-160: minimum 240×240 px. Fix: Retake with better lighting and a steady hand, or use a tripod. Do not enlarge a small photo — it will appear pixelated. PixID checks resolution and will flag if the source photo is too low quality to produce a compliant output.

Photo quality

Non-neutral expression / mouth open / smiling

All US government documents require a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Fix: Retake with a relaxed, neutral expression. This cannot be fixed digitally.

Photo quality

Photo older than 6 months

Agencies require the photo to reflect your current appearance and be taken within the last 6 months. Fix: Take a new photo. There is no workaround for this requirement.

What happens to your application after a photo rejection

Application type	Photo rejected at	What happens
US passport (mail-in)	Passport agency review	Application returned with notice. Fee is generally retained; you resubmit with corrected photo.
US passport online renewal	Upload portal (auto)	Portal blocks submission. Re-upload immediately — application is not submitted until photo passes.
DS-160 visa application	CEAC upload (auto)	Upload blocked. Re-upload on the same page — form is not submitted until photo passes.
USCIS (green card, naturalization)	Officer review or RFE	Request for Evidence (RFE) issued. You have a set time to respond with a corrected photo. Application is not automatically denied.

PixID free redo guarantee

If your photo was created with PixID and rejected specifically because of a photo compliance issue, we redo it at no charge. Contact customer@pixid.studio with the rejection notice and your original order details.

Note: rejections due to retaking requirements (glasses, expression, photo age) are not covered by the redo guarantee, as these require a new photo session rather than reprocessing.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my application fee if my photo is rejected?

For online portals (DS-160, online passport renewal): no. The photo is validated before the application is submitted. You re-upload until the photo passes — the application fee is only charged after submission. For mailed passport applications: the application fee is generally not refunded, but the photo rejection typically means your application is returned for correction, not denied outright. The $130 fee is retained and your application is reprocessed once you resubmit with a correct photo.

Can I fix a rejected photo digitally or do I need to retake it?

Depends on the reason. Technical issues (file size, format, head cropping, background) can often be fixed without retaking. Compliance issues that require a different photo (glasses, expression, lighting/shadows, photo age) require a new photo session. PixID can fix most technical and background issues from your existing photo — but cannot add what isn't there.

My DS-160 upload keeps failing with no error message. What's happening?

The CEAC portal commonly fails silently when the file is over 240 KB or not a square JPEG. Check your file size first — raw phone photos are typically 3–8 MB, well above the 240 KB limit. Use PixID to generate a correctly-sized file, or manually resize and re-export as JPEG under 240 KB.

My passport photo was rejected for "AI editing." I didn't use any AI tools.

iPhone Portrait Mode, Samsung beauty mode, and many other default phone camera features apply AI processing automatically — often without the user being aware. The State Department's detection system flags these. Disable Portrait Mode and all beauty/AI camera features before taking the photo. Take it in standard camera mode.

How quickly do I need to resubmit after a rejection?

For online portals: immediately — re-upload on the same screen. For mailed passport applications: follow the instructions in the returned package; NPIC generally gives 90 days to resubmit. For USCIS RFE: the response deadline is stated in the notice, typically 87 days. Missing the deadline may result in denial.

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