USCIS has revised its photo requirements for immigration applications, limiting reuse to three years and rejecting applicant-submitted photos, aiming to strengthen identity verification and curb fraudulent activity across the immigration system.
USCIS no longer accepts photos older than three years.
Washington: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has introduced stricter guidelines for photographs used in immigration applications. The new rules prohibit applicants from submitting old photos and set a maximum age limit of three years for any image considered valid. This applies to all immigration benefit requests, except for specific forms requiring fresh biometric collection. Previously, photos up to ten years old could be reused in certain applications, but the updated policy significantly reduces this window to enhance security.
Only Authorised Photos Accepted
Under the new regulations, applicants cannot directly submit photographs. Only images captured by USCIS or authorised service providers will be accepted. The agency highlighted that allowing old photos compromised its ability to accurately verify identities. By restricting the validity of photos to three years, USCIS aims to strengthen identity checks and prevent fraud, which had become more prevalent when applicants submitted images taken decades earlier.
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Origins of Previous Flexibility
USCIS explained that the earlier leniency in photo reuse arose during the Covid-19 pandemic, when in-person procedures were limited. At that time, applicants were allowed to submit previously collected images to maintain continuity of services. This flexibility eventually led to extreme cases, including photographs taken more than 20 years earlier being used for current applications. After reassessing security risks post-pandemic, the agency first reduced the acceptable timeframe to ten years and now has implemented the stricter three-year limit.
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Impact on Identity Verification
According to USCIS, physical appearance can change significantly over long periods, reducing the effectiveness of identity verification. Old photographs made it difficult for officers to confirm applicants’ identities accurately, potentially allowing fraudulent submissions to pass through. The new rule aims to prevent these issues by ensuring that all images reflect recent appearances, supporting the integrity of the immigration system.
Exceptions and Additional Measures
Certain applications remain exempt from the three-year photo restriction. Forms such as the Application for Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, Replacement of Permanent Resident Card, and Adjustment of Status require the collection of new biometrics, including updated photographs. Even in other cases, USCIS retains the authority to request a new photo if it determines that an existing image is unsuitable for identity verification purposes.
