Photos Submitted To USCIS Must Now Be “Full Frontal”

IMMIGRATION LAW & POLICY

Obtaining
Lawful Permanent Resident
Status

Photos submitted to USCIS must now be "full frontal”
Immigrants' Rights Update, Vol. 18, No. 5, August 9, 2004

As of Aug. 2, 2004, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed its photo requirements so that now all photos submitted as part of applications to USCIS must be of the applicant’s full face, i.e., with the applicant directly facing the camera. Prior to this change, applicants could submit photos with a “three-quarter face” view of the applicant’s face.

According to a USCIS press release, “USCIS will accept both three-quarter and full color frontal photographs until September 1, 2004 after which only full frontal color will be accepted” [sic]. Furthermore, according to the press release: “All photos must be of just the applicant. Where more than one photo is required, all photos of the person must be identical. All photos must meet the specifications for full frontal/passport photos and must be no more than 30 days old when an application is filed.” (Answers to frequently asked questions about passport photos are available on the U.S. State Dept.’s website, at http://travel.state.gov/pass port/pptphotos/faqs.html.)