A2 VISA APPLICATION / RENEWAL

You will need to access the following website to start the application process:

https://ceac.state.gov/agnato/

This will bring you to the US Department of State visa application page:

Note: this process/activity filling out the application will take 20 minutes.

A) Photograph

The first thing it will do is ask that you test an uploaded photo. You can test it at this stage, or add it

towards the end of the application process. Either way, the guidelines for the photo upload are:

Your digital images must be:

In colour

Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.

Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance

Main website for

Visa applicants

Start an application by

clicking on the box, at the

bottom of the site.

Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background

Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera

With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open

Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis

Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.

Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.

Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.

If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses), a hearing device, or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

Dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.

Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.

Examples:

Photo Head Size Template

Photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches

The height of the head (top of hair to bottom of chin) should measure 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm - 35 mm)

Make sure the eye height is between 1 1/8 inches to 1 3/8 inches (28 mm – 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo

Digital Image Head Size Template

The top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin must be between 50% and 69% of the image's total height. The eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56% and 69% of the image's height.

Image pixel dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio (meaning the height must be equal to the width). Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 pixels (width) x 600 pixels (height). Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 pixels (width) x 1200 pixels (height).

Well Composed Photo Composition Examples

B) Begin Resume/Application Process: Select Location:

Select according to where you are applying. In most cases, it will be Diplomatic Liaison of the Visa Office in Washington DC. Start a New Application:

Click on “Start New Application”

This will bring you to the Personal Information Page:

You’ll be asked to fill out: Last Name First Name Date of Birth Nationality Place of Birth Country of Birth Sex (M/F) Marital Status (Married, Single etc) Once you have done that, click on:

This brings you to the “Tour and Embassy Information Page”:

Enter your Tour/Employment Completion Date (5 years ahead), eg:

(example) Enter in your all Post details, eg:

Then click on:

Be sure to type your

Consulate address. Only put

The British Embassy as your

Sponsoring Organisation – if

you work there. If not, use

your Consulate (New York,

Boston, Chicago, LA, Houston

etc) details.

This brings you to the “Address and Phone Information” pages:

(example) It will also ask that you fill out an email address and phone numbers further down the page. Then click on:

This brings you to the Passport Details page:

(example) Enter details as requested. Then click on:

This brings you to the Personal Identification Information page.

The PID or State Department Identification Number could vary, so please check with Corporate Services USA at the British Embassy in DC, for the correct PID number for your Post, eg:

Then click on:

Then upload your photo:

Use the “browse” button to select your photo (according to photo standards previously explained) Then click on:

The PID Number can

vary for each Post.

Please check with

Corporate Services to

make sure you have the

correct PID number.

If you have uploaded the correct style photo, you should get this screen:

(example) Click on: “Continue Using This Photo” button if you are happy with your photo, and it has passed the upload criteria test. Then click on:

You will then be able to review your entries, eg:

(example) If everything is correct - then click on:

This will bring you to the final signature and confirmation screen. You will asked to enter your passport details again, and confirm a random code generated by the system:

Once you have done that – click on “Sign and Submit Application”. (continued………………………….

Re-enter your

passports

number.

Enter code

generated by

system.

You’ll then be directed to a final page that summarises your application, includes your photo and a barcode. You can also select to have this emailed to you. It looks like this (details removed to protect real applicant):

This final page with barcode should be printed off, and submitted to Corporate Services USA at the British Embassy in DC, along with your current passport (including your expired passport- if your current A2 visa is within it).

NOTE: PLEASE SEND PASSPORST AND BARCODE PAGE TO THE EMBASSY VIA REGISTERED CARRIER (FedEx or UPS). ALSO – PLEASE KEEP PHOTOCOPIES OF EVEYTHING YOU SEND, IE: PASSPORT PAGES, A2 VISA, I94, BARCODE PAGE ETC .