Many application delays start with the two files every traveler uploads: the passport bio page and the photograph. A careful five-minute review here protects the rest of the process.
For the passport scan, avoid glare, cropped corners, and blurry text. The machine-readable zone and personal details should be easy to read without zooming into noise.
For the photo, use a recent image with a plain background. Heavy filters, group crops, and old pictures create avoidable questions.
Before you continue, compare the typed name and passport number with the bio page character by character. Tiny typos are one of the most common reasons files bounce back.
A clean upload set is the fastest kindness you can do for your future self — and for anyone reviewing the file.