Green card photo
Your USCIS form asks for two identical 2×2 color photos. We check the head size and eye line, then you print a 4×6 sheet.
The rules at a glance
Green card- Photo size
- 2 × 2 in; forms ask for two identical color photos
- Head size
- 1 to 1 3/8 in, top of hair to bottom of chin
- Eye height
- 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in from the bottom of the photo
- Background
- White to off-white
- Head covering
- Only if required by your religion
- Thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched
- Photo age
- Recent; within 30 days of filing for adjustment of status
Forms such as the I-485, I-765, I-131 and I-130 still ask you to mail two identical 2 × 2 color photos on a white to off-white background, unretouched, with your head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall. See the I-485 instructions (opens in a new tab).
Why photos get rejected
- Acceptable
Like this
Plain white, centered
RejectedToo far away
Head too small
- Rejected
Head tilted
Keep it level
RejectedSide shadow
Face a window
- Rejected
Too dark
Find more light
RejectedGlasses on
Take them off
RejectedBig smile
Close your mouth
RejectedHair over eyes
Keep your eyes clear
How it works
Take or upload your photo
Stand in front of a plain white wall facing a window. The live coach checks distance, tilt and light before it takes the shot, or you can upload a photo you already have.
We crop it and check it
We crop it to size and set a plain white background. No retouching. Then we check head size, eye line, photo size and face count, and show you every result.
Pay once and download
The preview is free. If it passes, pay once ($6.90 or $9.90) to download the photo and, with Digital + Print, a 4×6 sheet to print.
USCIS takes the card photo at biometrics
Since December 12, 2025, USCIS doesn’t use self-submitted photos on cards. It takes the photo for your green card at your biometrics appointment (USCIS photo policy (opens in a new tab)). Your form instructions still ask for two 2 × 2 prints, so include them.
Print the 4×6 sheet as a regular print on thin glossy paper, cut two photos, and write your name and A-Number lightly on the back in pencil. For adjustment of status, the photos must be taken within 30 days of filing.
Questions
Will my photo be accepted?
No one can promise that. A State Department employee (or the embassy, or USCIS) decides. We check your photo against the published rules (size, head height, eye line and face count) and show you every result before you pay.
How do I print at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart?
Upload the 4×6 sheet (JPG) in the store's photo app or website. Order a regular 4×6 print, not a "passport photo" product, and turn off auto-crop and auto-enhance. A 4×6 print costs about $0.39 (typical price, Oct 2026; it varies by store). Cut on the guides: each photo is exactly 2×2 inches.
Do you change my photo?
Yes, in two ways, and we tell you up front. We crop and resize it to the 2×2 inch layout, and our processor sets the background to plain white. We never retouch your face, skin, hair or expression. The State Department asks for an original, unedited photo on a plain white or off-white background, so take it against a plain white wall: that keeps the background change as small as possible. For online renewal we don't sell an edited file at all.
What do I get, and what does it cost?
Digital, $6.90: your digital photo and a single 2×2 photo file, to download for 7 days. Digital + Print, $9.90: both, plus a 4×6 print sheet as JPEG and PDF, to download for 30 days. You pay once. There's no subscription and no add-ons, and the preview is free.
Check your photo before you send it
Free preview, no account. You see every result before you pay.
Independent service — not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency.