Green card and USCIS photo
Two identical 2 × 2 passport-style photos, to the State Department standard.
USCIS does not publish its own photo geometry — its form instructions point to the Department of State passport photo standard. So a green card, naturalisation, work permit or petition photo is a US passport photo, and the tool opens with that preset. Most forms ask for two identical prints; the 4×6 sheet gives you six.
| Photo size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25–35 mm |
| Background | white / off-white |
| Digital upload | 600–1200 × 600–1200 px, square · JPEG · ≤ 240 KB |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Prints needed | 2 identical photos |
| Official source | U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos (USCIS uses the same standard) ↗Checked against the official page on 2026-09-20 |
- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
Which forms need them
Adjustment of status (I-485), naturalisation (N-400), the employment authorisation document (I-765), the travel document (I-131), a replacement green card (I-90) and family petitions where the beneficiary is abroad (I-130) all ask for passport-style photos, usually two identical ones per person, taken within 30 days of filing for some forms and within six months for others — read the form's own instructions for the number and the recency. Write the applicant's name and A-number lightly in pencil on the back of each print, as most instructions ask.
The geometry is the passport standard: 2 × 2 inches, head between 1 and 1⅜ inches from chin to crown, plain white or off-white background, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses, no hat except for religious reasons, printed on photo paper.
Filing online
Forms filed through a USCIS online account accept a digital photo upload instead of prints. The file rules are the same square JPEG the visa form uses; switching the preset to the US visa photo produces a file at those limits.
Printing two identical photos
"Identical" means the same image, not two separate shots. The 4×6 sheet places six copies of the same crop on one print, so any two of them are identical by construction. Print it as a normal 4×6 at a photo counter or kiosk and cut along the lines; the printing guide has the steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does USCIS accept a photo I made at home?
Yes, provided it meets the standard. There is no requirement that a studio take it. What gets home photos rejected is lighting, shadows and expression, not the fact that they were taken at home.
The instructions say 30 days but the passport rule says 6 months. Which applies?
The form's own instructions. Some USCIS forms require photos taken within 30 days of filing; follow the stricter one for the form you are filing.
Can my child's photo be made the same way?
Yes. Children and infants need photos for their own applications; see the baby passport photo page for how to take one.