The 6 Month Passport Photo Rule
The U.S. State Department requires that passport photos be taken within 6 months of the application date. If your photo appears older than 6 months, your application can be rejected — and you'll need to start over with a new photo and a new submission.
The same rule applies to visa photos, green card photos, and most USCIS immigration documents. If there's any question about when your photo was taken, the burden of proof is on you.
Why EXIF Data Isn't Reliable Proof
Every digital photo contains EXIF metadata — including a date and time stamp set by your camera or phone. But EXIF data is trivially easy to edit. Anyone with basic software can change a photo's apparent creation date in seconds.
Because of this, EXIF metadata is not considered reliable evidence of when a photo was actually taken. If your passport application is questioned, pointing to the file's metadata won't settle the matter.
Bitcoin Timestamps: Independent Proof
A Bitcoin-anchored timestamp creates a fundamentally different kind of proof. Instead of relying on editable metadata, it records a mathematical fingerprint (SHA-256 hash) of your photo on the Bitcoin blockchain — a public ledger that no one can alter after the fact.
This means anyone can independently verify that your exact photo file existed at a specific point in time. The proof doesn't depend on your word, your device, or any company's records. It's anchored to the same network that secures billions of dollars in Bitcoin transactions.
How to Timestamp Your Passport Photo
- Create your photo — Use Kindro's free passport photo tool to generate a compliant 2×2 inch photo
- Download the photo — Save the final photo to your device
- Timestamp it — Go to EverCert.io and drop your photo file into the upload area. The file never leaves your device — only its hash is transmitted
- Save the proof — Download the timestamp proof (PDF certificate + .ots proof file) and keep it with your photo
- Submit with confidence — If your photo's recency is ever questioned, you have independent, verifiable proof of when it was created
Why This Matters for Immigration Applications
Immigration applications can take months or years to process. A photo that was compliant when you submitted may be questioned by the time an officer reviews your case. Having a Bitcoin-anchored timestamp provides an objective record that your photo met the 6-month requirement at the time of submission.
This is especially useful for green card applications (Form I-485), visa renewals, and naturalization (Form N-400) — all of which require recent photos and can involve long processing times. Learn more about how document timestamps work.