What counts as white or off-white
- Plain, with no texture, lines, patterns or objects.
- No shadows on the wall or behind your head.
- Off-white is allowed. Blue, gray stripes and colored walls are not.
- If you use a wheelchair and part of the head support shows, include a note explaining it.
Make one at home
- Use a flat white bed sheet or blanket and hang it with tape or pins so it has no folds.
- Stand several feet in front of it. Close to the wall, your shadow lands on it.
- Light your face from the front with a window or a lamp behind the camera.
- Check the photo: the wall should look the same shade everywhere.
Do not edit the background
The State Department says to submit the original, unchanged photo, and not to use software, phone apps or artificial intelligence to change it. Its examples list as unacceptable a photo where the background was cropped out with a retouching tool, and one that was fixed with AI. If your wall is not white, the State Department’s advice is to fix the lighting or background and take a new photo.
What our tool does
Framefare replaces a non-white background with plain white and only moves the cutout; every face pixel comes from your original. This is still an edit. A photo already taken against a white wall changes only in crop and size, and that is the best case. If you use the background step, look at the preview edges and decide for yourself. $2.49 only if you are happy with it, and refunds are open for 30 days.
Common questions
Can the background be off-white?
Yes. The State Department accepts white or off-white as long as it is plain and has no shadows.
Can I use a background remover app?
The State Department says not to use software or AI to change your photo and lists a removed background as unacceptable. Take a new photo against a white sheet.
How far should I stand from the wall?
Several feet, so you do not cast a shadow on it.
What if my photo has a gray wall?
Retake it with a white sheet over the wall. If you cannot, the preview here shows what our background step produces, and staff decide.
Sources
Rules checked October 21, 2026. Framefare is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS or any government agency, and cannot guarantee that your photo is accepted.