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Question re: applying for DV14. Australian applying for the first time! Prev winners pls help me :)

A

ajwrigley

Registered Users (C)
Hello Everyone! My name is Aj, I live in Sydney Australia and I am new to these forums!
I have been reading through all the success storys and I hope I am successful like most of you.
I am 22 and have lived in the US two separate times, at age 18 I was a nanny in Washington DC and last year I lived in North Carolina for a year as part of my university study abroad program.
I am entering the 2014 lottery and just have a question in regards to the photo.
Obviously I am at the initial stages of applying, as it opens up early next month. I was just wondering if I could get your advice as the majority of you have already done this stage.

I have no idea about anything to do with photography so when I read the requirements I freaked out a little and thought this is not something I can do by myself. As you know the requirements as as follows:
Must be JPEG
Max image file size is 240KB.
Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 pixels (width) and 600 pixels (height). And must be a square aspect ratio (equal width to height)
Must be colour 24 bits per pixel.

Simply put, did everyone take their own pictures? Or did they go somewhere to get it professionally done. Like I said I live in Sydney AUS and would be willing to travel throughout Sydney in order for my picture to be correct. I just have heard horror stories where people have won and then been disqualified due to their picture requirements.
I understand these dimensions are different to a regular passport photo? And that the post office wouldn't be a good place to get it done. Also the instructions for scanning seem to scare me so I would rather a digital photo taken for me.
Do you all have any suggestions that could help me out. I greatly appreciate it and will become a regular on these forums!
AJ
 
Hi AJ

Welcome to the forums!

I actually said to my hubby just last week, "we need to hit Costco next week for photos, it's THAT time again" :) We go there because they will do American passport photos (and I am pretty sure you have one in Sydney). Otherwise, just call your local photo place, Australia Post (or even some chemists do passport photos) and check that they will do an American passport snap.

Last year I took our snaps and scanned them, making sure they were the right resolution when I scanned them. Piece of cake. If you are really unsure, take them to computer store, bring along the sheet we can get from the DV site re photo requirements and ask them to scan them and put them on a stick EXACTLY to those specifications. Also, once you have the photos home and on your computer, you can upload them onto the DV site to check that they conform - it will tell you if it doesn't. :)

Hope that helps!

The only change I will make this year is to do with our colours. I'm sure it's probably just hearsay but I read on the forums last year that they don't like 'light' coloured clothes on a light background, so this year we will adjust our clothes to a little more colour! :)

All the best, good to have you along for the ride.

Q
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi AJ!

Here is a great site to make sure your photo is the right size and shape: http://www.egreencardphoto.com/

Don't freak out that it says "2012". The rules haven't changed since then.



Get a friend to take a digital picture (follow all the hints about background, how far away to stand from the wall, etc.). Get the file onto your computer or on a thumb drive, and then upload it into this program.

The US uses facial recognition software - that's why we can't smile for the camera anymore. That's why they are so picky about the proportions on the photo.

My partner used the same photo for both 2012 and the 2013 entry (she looked exactly the same). We're hoping, if she gets a chance on October 1st, that this is not going to come back and bite her in the backside. We've taken a new one for 2014!!! (Hope we don't need it!).
 
Oh my goodness thank you so much to the both of you, You both really helped me out. I pray every day that I'm successful! Thanks so much for answering my question and good luck to you!

Thanks again :)
Much appreciated
 
Hi guys longtime..... i think the photo plays a big part in this lottery so i want to make sure i get it right this time. Would all those who were selected explain to us how they had their photos processed before submission. Please correct me if im wrong but did you follow these steps:

1) Take a digital photo in front of a nuetral background
2) Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to get the photo to 600 x 600 pixels and under 240kb


i also have a question on how to get it to a square aspect ratio meaning the picture height should equal the width??
I admit i maybe daft on how to really get the correct picture so i would appreciate if someone can explain step by step on this becoz you could just end up helping me and others win as well
Thank You
 
We took our own pictures with our digital camera then edited them using Microsoft Office Picture Manager - an app that comes with Office. We resized the photos first, to reduce the file size, then used the crop function to make them 600x600. You just drag the crop handles inward and on the sidebar it tells you the pixel size. You just keep adjusting til it says 600x600 and your head size looks like what they specify on their website. That was the easiest part.

The hardest part for us was taking a perfect picture with the proper lighting, i.e., no shadows or shiny spots; and with proper proportions, i.e., don't get too close so that your head takes up too much of the photo.

So take lots of photos - the beauty of digital.
 
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