USCIS Mandates Fresh Photos for Immigration Forms, Bans Self-Submitted Images

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new guidance significantly tightening photo requirements for immigration filings. Effective immediately, photos submitted with USCIS forms must have been taken within three years of the date the applicant files. This replaces COVID-19-era flexibilities that had allowed photos to be reused for up to 10 years. In addition to the age restriction, USCIS is eliminating the option for applicants to submit their own photographs. Going forward, only photos taken by USCIS or other authorized entities will be accepted for use in immigration documents. The agency stated this ensures photos used in secure documents are recent, accurate, and reliable. For EB-3 applicants pursuing Adjustment of Status, Form I-485 is explicitly named among the forms that will require a new photo regardless of when the applicant's last photograph was taken. Other affected forms include Form I-90 (Permanent Resident Card Replacement), Form N-400 (Naturalization), and Form N-600 (Certificate of Citizenship). USCIS framed the change as a national security enhancement aligned with Department of Homeland Security priorities to modernize screening and vetting processes. The agency noted that prolonged COVID-era flexibilities created vulnerabilities in identity verification that this policy is designed to close. EB-3 applicants with pending or upcoming I-485 filings should plan to obtain new, professionally taken photographs that comply with USCIS photo specifications. Submitting outdated or self-taken photos may result in a Request for Evidence (RFE) or rejection of the application.