You may be wondering whether a Diversity Visa is the same as a Green card. Not only will we answer that question, but we’ll show you how to increase your success rate of applying for a Diversity Visa. Read on to find out everything you need to know in 2022 about Diversity Visas.
Table of contents
- What is a Diversity Visa?
- How to Get a Diversity Visa Photo in 2023?
- Diversity Visa Requirements?
- Is the Diversity Visa Photo the Same as a Green Card Photo?
- What Size Does a Diversity Visa Photo Need to Be?
- How Much is a Diversity Visa in 2023?
- The Diversity PhotoTool ( How to Use it)
- How to Check my Diversity Visa Photo?
- Take Your Diversity Visa Photo With Your Phone(at home)
- Summary
- FAQ
What is a Diversity Visa?
You may have come across the Diversity Visa Lottery when searching for how to immigrate to the United States. Put simply, the Diversity Visa is one of the ways that the US government has provided for people to apply for a green card. If you are successful with your application, you will receive a green card.
With a green card you can:
- Stay and work in the United States indefinitely
- Sponsor family members to live in the United States
With a green card, you have what’s called ‘Lawful Permanent residence’ which means you can live in the United States permanently.
How to Get a Diversity Visa Photo in 2023?
There are many ways you can acquire a Diversity Visa photo in 2023. Firstly, a Diversity Visa photo isn’t something complicated, it’s just a Passport photo.
As long as your photo adheres to the US government’s guidelines, you can use it for your Diversity Visa application.
Throughout the United States, there are various places that offer a Diversity Visa photo (Passport photo). Particularly, most convenience stores and pharmacies offer a photographing and printing service.
Here are some stores that offer Diversity Visa photos:
- Walmart Photo Center: $7.44 USD, upload your compliant photo and pick up two copies in-store
- UPS: $11.99 USD, in participating locations, book and get a photo taken in-store, including two photos
- Bartell’s: $14.99 USD, in participating stores, find a store online and book an appointment for your photo to be taken in-store
- Staples: $14.99 USD, only in participating stores, your picture will be taken in-store, and you’ll receive two copies
- Walgreens Photo: $16.99 USD, find a participating store, get your photo taken in the store with a one-hour appointment, service includes two photos
- CVS Photo: $16.99 USD, in select locations you can get your photo taken in-store, includes two photos
Now, these are all good options. However, there is an even easier, cheaper option available for your Diversity Visa photo in 2022.
It’s called ‘Smartphone iD’.
- With our app, you can take pre-approved document photos from the comfort of your home.
- The app’s AI will make all the necessary checks and changes before sending them to our experts for certification.
- To finish, you’ll receive the perfect Diversity Visa photos digitally via email.
Scroll to the bottom to find out more!
Diversity Visa Requirements?
If you want to take your Diversity Visa photo yourself, there are a number of requirements that the US government needs you to comply with. Before you start your journey, make sure you fully understand all the key points.
So here are the requirements that you need to follow for a United States Diversity Visa in 2022:
Photo Size:
- Photo must be 2 inches x 2 inches in size
- Your head must be centred and between 1 inch and 1.4 inches in size, in the photo
Photo Quality:
- When taking your photo by yourself, ensure the photo is sharp with no visible pixels or printing errors.
Your Appearance:
- Your face should be entirely visible in the photo
- No deep shadows or glaring lights that will obscure your face in the photo should be visible
- Head coverings and hats are disallowed except for medical or religious reasons
Your Posture:
- Keep a neutral expression for the photo
- Face the camera directly and center yourself in the frame
- Your eyes need to be clearly visible in the photo
If you simply don’t have the time to worry about all these requirements when applying for your United States Diversity Visa, there’s a solution.
Our app ‘Smartphone iD’ can do away with the requirements. Just download and take your snaps! We’ll do the rest.
Is the Diversity Visa Photo the Same as a Green Card Photo?
In short, the United States Diversity Visa photo is exactly the same as the Green card photo. This is because they both require United States Passport photos.
If you’re applying for the Diversity Visa online, you’re going to have to upload a digital photo when you make the application. For this, there are a few specifications that need to be met.
Digital upload requirements:
- Your photo must be in JPEG (.jpg) format
- The photo file size must be equal to or less than 240 kilobytes
- Your photo must be in a square aspect ratio, so the height and width are the same
- Your photo must be 600×600 pixels in dimension
You can also scan a photo that you have taken beforehand. Just make sure:
- Your photo is 2 inches x 2 inches
- Scanned with the resolution of 300 pixels per inch or 12 pixels per millimeter
If you have been selected as a successful candidate for the United States Diversity Visa program, you will have to acquire two matching photos for your interview.
Make sure:
- Your photos are 2 inches x 2 inches
- Printed on quality photographic paper
- Meet all Passport photo requirements
Remember that if you are selected as a successful candidate and need physical photos, through ‘Smartphone iD’ we can offer you professional-grade photographic prints.
What Size Does a Diversity Visa Photo Need to Be?
Typically, your Diversity Visa photo needs to conform to US government Passport standards. If you don’t take a photo that is compliant, it’s likely your application will be rejected by the US government. We’re sure you don’t want that to happen!
So when taking your Diversity Visa photos in 2022, make sure they are:
- 2 inches x 2 inches in size
If you’re uploading a digital photo to an online application:
- It must be 600×600 pixels in dimension
If you’re not sure how to achieve this size with your United States Diversity Visa photo, we can step in and help.
If you choose to download our app ‘Smartphone iD’, all your questions will be taken care of. As you will be guided through taking the perfect Diversity Visa photo from start to finish.
How Much is a Diversity Visa in 2023?
Preparing an application for a Diversity Visa can be costly, in time and money. So make sure you know all the details about how to make a successful application before submitting it.
Before you are selected for an interview you will need to pay a fee for your Diversity Visa application.
- You will have to pay a fee of $330 USD per applicant
- The fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether you receive a visa at the end
As you can see, it’s vital you get everything in order before applying, as you don’t want to get rejected by the US government. Part of doing this is getting a professional Diversity Visa photo taken.
‘Smartphone iD’ can produce expert, pre-approved document photos for you. Additionally, you can also receive them through the mail on professional-grade photographic paper.
How to Use the Diversity Visa Photo tool?
If you’re struggling to get the correct photo because of all the requirements that are necessary, you can try using the Department of State’s online photo tool.
Here is how to use the online photo tool:
- Upload a photo by clicking the ‘Choose New Photo’ button at the bottom of the page
- Click through the headings (Size and Position, Pose and Expression etc.) to learn what your photo should look like
- The photo tool will automatically crop your Diversity Visa photo
- Click ‘Accept & Proceed’ when you’re ready to continue
- Click ‘Download image to your device’ to get a digital copy of your cropped photo
Even though this photo tool is really handy, it doesn’t check whether your photo is fully compliant with the US government’s requirements.
So if you do need a service that can provide a full check, our app ‘Smartphone iD’ can provide this for you. Not only does the AI algorithm check and correct your photos, but our experts will analyze them to make sure they’re compliant.
How to Check my Diversity Visa Photo?
Once you’ve taken some photos for your Diversity Visa application, you need to make sure they won’t be rejected if you use them to apply. There is an online tool that you can use to check your Diversity Visa photos, it may help you out!
What is a Diversity Visa Photo Checker?
The DV Lottery Photo Checker is a website tool that you can take advantage of when applying for a Diversity Visa. You simply upload a photo and it will edit your photo to make it compliant with requirements.
How to Check my Diversity Visa Photo?
To check your Diversity Visa photo, all you need to do is:
- Upload a photo you have taken
- Check or uncheck the additional options, whether you need head tilt, background or contrast fixed
- Click ‘Upload photo & Continue’
- Get a formatted photo with the specifications listed
- Click ‘Continue to Download’
- It costs $7.89 USD to download your photos without watermarks
Using ‘Smartphone iD’, you can get a secure and speedy service. We’ll even print your photos on high-grade photographic paper if you want!
Take Your Diversity Visa Photo With Your Phone(at home)
With all the time it takes to prepare your Diversity Visa application, take your photo the easy way, with ‘Smartphone iD’. When you choose our app, you’ll have the document photos you need, in no time.
Simply follow these steps to start today!
- Download ‘Smartphone iD’ on your phone, it’s available on iOS and Android
- Take a photo using the app, ‘Smartphone iD’ will guide you through the process
- Select which country you want to produce a Passport photo for
- Choose which document type you want the photo for (Passport, driving license, visa etc.)
- Receive photos digitally via email, once our experts have approved them
- You can use these digital copies to print them yourself. Alternatively, you can use our printing service, to make it even easier
Don’t take a chance when you’re spending $330 USD applying for a Diversity Visa. We’re sure to get your photos approved by the US government or your money back.
Summary
So there’s a lot to consider when making your application. But hopefully, you don’t need to think too hard about how you’ll get your Diversity Visa photos in 2022. It’s clear that ‘Smartphone iD‘ is a great option to choose. Our app is secure, quick, and efficient.
Start today to begin the process and receive your pre-approved photos in no time at all!
FAQ
Can I take a photo with my phone for DV Lottery?
Yes! You can. Using our clever app ‘Smartphone iD’, you can take as many photos as you need for the Diversity Visa Lottery. Download ‘Smartphone iD’ today to start!
Does the photo matter in the DV lottery?
It’s one of the main requirements. Having a fully compliant Passport photo is necessary for a Diversity Visa application.
Can I smile in the DV lottery photo?
The US government mandates that you must keep a neutral expression when taking your Diversity Visa photo in 2022.
Can I use a mobile photo for the DV lottery?
You can, however, make sure your photo is compliant with all the regulations. If you use our app, you don’t need to worry about getting it right, as ‘Smartphone iD’ does the heavy lifting.
Do I need to carry photographs for a US Visa interview?
If you are selected as a successful Diversity Visa Lottery candidate, then you will need to bring:
- Two compliant physical passport photos
- Printed on photographic paper
Do we need a Passport for the DV lottery?
As of February 2022, a valid Passport is no longer required to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery.
