USCIS, EAD and citizenship
Green Card Photo
The 2 x 2 photo for your USCIS forms, from your phone
USCIS uses the 2 x 2 passport photo standard for green cards, naturalization, work permits, travel documents and most other forms. Take it on your phone and we deliver the file and the prints, verified against every requirement before you pay.
- Every requirementverified before you pay
- Two identical printsfor a paper filing
- Acceptance guaranteewith the Expert check
Your photo is deleted 30 days after delivery and never used to train AI.
2 inches51 mm
2 inches51 mm
1 to 1 3/8 in25 to 35 mmHead heightchin to top of headPhoto requirements
Green Card Photo Size and Requirements
USCIS follows the 2 x 2 passport photo standard, with one difference: most forms want a recent photo. We check every rule before you pay.
| Size | 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Head height | 1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm), chin to top of head |
| Background | Plain white or off white, no shadows |
| Taken within | 30 days of filing for most forms; check your form |
| Expression | Neutral or a natural smile, mouth closed |
| Glasses | None |
| Paper filing | Two identical prints |
| Online filing | Upload the file through your USCIS account |
| Our digital file | Square JPEG, included with every order |
Sources: U.S. Passport Photos, travel.state.gov, Form I-485 instructions, uscis.gov and Form N-400 instructions, uscis.gov. Always check the photo section of your own form's instructions.
How it works
Your green card photo in 3 steps
Guided by the camera, measured by the software, checked before you pay.
Take or upload a photo
The camera guides you on distance, tilt and light while you line it up. Or upload a recent photo.
We crop it and check it
The AI crops it to 2 x 2 inches, sizes your head, sets a plain white background and checks every requirement.
File it
The file and the print sheet are in your inbox within a minute. Mailed prints arrive in 3 to 5 business days, or 1 to 2 with Express, or pick them up near you in about an hour.
- Correct size
- Head height in range
- Plain white background
- Even lighting, no shadows
- Eyes open, mouth closed
- Ready to submit
Three tips before you take the photo
Get these three right and the software handles the rest.
Distance From The Camera
Take the photo 16 to 20 inches, or 40 to 50 cm, from your face.
Face The Camera
Hold the camera at face height. Keep your head straight and your expression neutral.
Ensure Even Lighting
Stand facing a light source, such as an exposed window. Don't worry about the background.
Why customers choose PassportPhotos
Fast, guided, and backed by our acceptance guarantee.
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Three minutes of your time
Take the photo, watch the initial check pass, pay once. No account, no appointment, no line at a counter.
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Guided, then checked
The camera guides you while you take it. Software does the crop, the background and the measurements, then verifies the result against the official requirements before you pay.
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Accepted or double your money back
Add the Expert check & acceptance guarantee at checkout. If the authority rejects the photo, you get twice what you paid, to the card you used.
What USCIS wants, in plain words
The requirements are the ones you would expect from a passport photo, with one difference: the photo has to be more recent.
Size
2 x 2 inches, in color, head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head, centered, the whole head in the frame.
Background
Plain white or off white, no shadows or pattern.
Recent
Most forms ask for a photo taken within 30 days of filing. Read the instructions for your form; the number is there.
Pose And Expression
Face the camera straight on, neutral expression or a natural smile, mouth closed, both eyes open.
Glasses And Coverings
No glasses. No hat or head covering unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, with the full face visible.
Paper Filings
Two identical prints, with your name and A-Number, if you have one, written lightly in pencil or felt pen on the back.
The software measures the size, the background, the pose, the expression, glasses and the light before you pay. It cannot see when the photo was taken, so take it when you are ready to file.
Which forms use this photo
One photo covers most USCIS forms. The instructions for your form on uscis.gov state the photo rule and how recent it has to be.
Green Card
The green card application (I-485) and the replacement or renewal (I-90).
Citizenship
The naturalization application (N-400), filed online or on paper with two prints.
Work Permit
The employment authorization application (I-765).
Travel Document
The travel document or reentry permit application (I-131).
DV Lottery
The Diversity Visa entry has its own upload with a 240 KB file limit. Check your file size on the entry page before you submit.
Biometrics Appointment
No photo needed. USCIS takes your picture there.
What it costs
| Digital photo | $16.99 |
|---|---|
| Digital photo plus two printed photosFour or six prints cost a little more | $19.99 |
| Standard shipping for mailed prints3 to 5 business days | Free |
| Express shipping for mailed prints1 to 2 business days | $15 |
| Pickup near youReady in about an hour | No shipping |
| Expert check & acceptance guaranteeOptional, added at checkout | +$6.99 |
| Photo retouchingOptional, added at checkout | +$4.99 |
Tax is included in the total you see. You pay once, after the initial check has passed, and never before.
Why photos get rejected, and how we catch it
The State Department publishes its own examples of rejected photos:
- head too small or too large
- shadows across the face
- a colored or patterned background
- glasses, eyes closed, mouth open or head tilted
- a filter, or a photo older than six months
Our software measures the head size, the tilt, the light and the background against the State Department's own requirements, and shows you every result before you pay. A photo that fails a check cannot be bought; you retake it, free, until it passes. That matters, because a rejection costs you weeks.
What we do not do to your photo
We crop it, size it, place your head correctly and put it on plain white. We do not change your face, your features, your eyes or your expression. The State Department rejects altered photos, and a photo that looks like you is the whole point.
If you add photo retouching, we remove temporary blemishes, shadows under the eyes, stray hairs and dust spots, and nothing else.
Sources: U.S. Passport Photos, travel.state.gov, Form I-485 instructions, uscis.gov and Form N-400 instructions, uscis.gov. Always check the photo section of your own form's instructions.
FAQ
Your questions, answered
Is a green card photo the same as a passport photo?
Same size and the same requirements, 2 x 2 inches with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall. The difference is timing: USCIS wants a photo taken within 30 days of filing for most forms.Which file do I upload to my USCIS online account?
The JPEG we email you within a minute of paying. The 4 x 6 sheet is for printing only.How many prints do I need for a paper filing?
Two identical photos for most forms, and the 4 x 6 sheet carries exactly two. Write your name and A-Number lightly on the back of each in pencil or felt pen.Can I reuse my passport photo for a green card application?
Only if it was taken within the last 30 days. A passport photo from last year is too old for most USCIS forms.Do I have to take my glasses off?
Yes. No glasses in the photo.Does the photo work for the citizenship (N-400) application?
Yes. The N-400 uses the same 2 x 2 photo, filed online or on paper with two prints.Does the guarantee cover USCIS?
Yes. With the Expert check & acceptance guarantee, if USCIS rejects your photo, send us the rejection notice within 14 days and you get double your money back.What happens to my photo afterward?
Used to make your photo and for nothing else. Deleted 30 days after delivery, never used to train AI.
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Choose your document
We make compliant photos for official IDs from all over the world. We do not provide or issue the documents themselves.
