USCIS Issues New Photo Policy

By: Ujwala Bagal

Overview

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an updated photo policy intending to strengthen identity verification and reduce fraud. Under the new policy USCIS will rely on photos taken within the last 3 years of filing the relevant application. Additionally, such photos must be captured by USCIS or at an approved Application Support Center (ASC) during a Biometrics Services Appointment (BSA). Self-submitted photographs will no longer be accepted for creating certain immigration documents.  USCIS will also limit using a previously taken photo in certain instances.

Who is Affected

Applicants should expect to receive a biometrics service appointment notice if:

• Their most recent USCIS captured photo is more than 3 years old
• They are filing for a new immigration benefit after a significant lapse in filings; or
• Their application requires biometrics regardless of photo age, eg. Form I-485, Form I-765, Form I-90, Form N-400 and Form N-600 applications.

Impact on Applicants

• If USCIS does not have a qualifying photo on file, applicants may be scheduled for a new BSA so USCIS can capture a current photo
• Uploading or mailing a self-taken photo will no longer fulfil the photo requirement.
• If a new BSA is needed, this adds an additional step that may affect overall processing timelines.

How to Prepare

• Anticipate for biometrics scheduling and plan accordingly if your last USCIS-captured photo is older than 3 years or if you haven’t had biometrics recently.
• Watch for USCIS appointment notices and don’t miss them. A missed biometrics appointment can delay a case; rescheduling can take time.

For any questions or assistance please contact your trusted Chugh, LLP immigration professional.