The United States Mission in Nigeria has advised Nigerians applying for visas not to submit AI-generated or digitally edited passport photographs, warning that such images will not be accepted during the application process. The advisory on US visa photos forms part of efforts by American authorities to ensure applicants provide authentic images that accurately reflect their appearance.
In a statement published on its official X account on Saturday, the mission said passport photographs submitted for visa applications must be recent, unedited and clearly resemble the applicant. It warned that the use of artificial intelligence or digital enhancement tools could result in significant processing delays.
“Do NOT use AI or digital editing tools on your passport photo. We will not accept photos that are edited or filtered.
“Your photo should be recent (taken within the past six months) and look like you (the TSA or CBP agent must be able to tell it’s you). Submitting a digitally enhanced photo will significantly delay your application,” the mission stated.
The advisory was accompanied by an official information flier reinforcing the same requirement. The notice emphasised that the United States Department of State does not accept altered or filtered passport photographs submitted as part of visa applications.
“Do not use AI or digital editing tools on your passport photo. The Department of State will not accept photos that are edited or filtered.
“Using a digitally enhanced photo will significantly delay your application,” the flier read.
The mission encouraged prospective applicants to review the complete photo guidelines before submitting their visa applications. It directed applicants to consult the official U.S. Department of State photo requirements available through the department’s website to ensure compliance with the prescribed standards.
The latest advisory comes as U.S. authorities continue efforts to address the growing use of artificial intelligence in creating or modifying official identification photographs. Advances in AI-powered editing tools have made it easier to alter facial features, lighting and image quality, raising concerns about identity verification during immigration and border screening processes.
According to the mission, accurate and unaltered US visa photos are essential because agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rely on high-quality facial images to verify travellers’ identities during visa processing and entry into the United States.
The advisory serves as a reminder for Nigerian applicants to submit passport photographs taken within the last six months and to avoid any form of digital enhancement or artificial intelligence modification. The mission said complying with the requirements would help reduce processing delays and support efficient verification throughout the visa application process.
