USCIS immigration photo policy update latest news: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rolled out new policy guidance aimed at tightening identity verification measures, sharply limiting how old a photograph can be when used for immigration documents. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen national security and prevent identity fraud within the US immigration system.
Under the updated rules, which take effect immediately, USCIS will only reuse a previously captured photograph if it was taken no more than 36 months before an applicant files a new immigration form. The image must have been collected during a biometric services appointment or through another authorised process.
Three-year cap on photo reuse, self-submitted images barred
The new guidance applies across most immigration benefit requests, though certain categories will always require a fresh photograph. USCIS has also ended the acceptance of self-submitted photographs altogether. Going forward, only images captured by USCIS or approved partner entities will be used for secure immigration documents.
Explaining the shift, USCIS said ensuring image integrity is essential to preventing misuse of documents. The agency said this approach ensures that every image is “recent, accurate, and reliable,” a standard it considers vital for safeguarding against fraud and identity theft.
The policy marks a clear departure from temporary flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when USCIS reused previously collected photographs to reduce in-person visits to application support centres. During that period, photos could be reused for extended durations, even when an applicant’s appearance had changed significantly.
Pandemic-era flexibility rolled back amid security concerns
According to a USCIS policy alert, those pandemic-era practices weakened the agency’s ability to properly verify identities and screen foreign nationals. In some cases, the agency noted, secure documents were issued using photographs that were as old as 22 years by the time the document expired.
Following the formal end of COVID-related measures, USCIS had already begun tightening its rules in September 2024, limiting photo reuse to a maximum of 10 years for most applicants, with even shorter limits for younger individuals. The new guidance goes further by introducing a uniform three-year standard and removing the need to factor in the document’s validity period when calculating photo age.
USCIS also clarified that it retains the discretion to require a new photograph even within the three-year window if circumstances warrant, making reuse no longer automatic.
Certain high-impact immigration applications will require fresh biometrics regardless of when the last photograph was taken. These include Form I-90 (replacement of permanent resident card), Form I-485 (adjustment of status), Form N-400 (naturalization), and Form N-600 (certificate of citizenship). For these forms, USCIS will collect new biometrics, including a new photograph.
The revised photograph policy reflects a wider tightening of procedural safeguards as in-person services and biometric collection continue to return to pre-pandemic norms across the US immigration system.