U.S. Green Card (USCIS) photos and U.S. passport (State Department) photos use the same 2×2 inch (51×51 mm) format and very similar composition rules. The differences are in how many prints you send, what you write on the back, and — for some forms — how recently the photo must be taken. Here's the side-by-side breakdown based on the current official instructions.
| Rule | U.S. Passport (State Dept) | USCIS forms (I-485, I-765, I-131, I-130…) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing agency | U.S. Department of State | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |
| Size | 2 × 2 inches (51×51 mm) | 2 × 2 inches |
| Quantity | 1 color photo | 2 identical color photos |
| How recent | Taken in the last 6 months | "Taken recently" (I-485, I-765, I-131); within 30 days of filing for spouse photos with Form I-130 |
| Background | Plain white or off-white | White to off-white |
| Head height | 1–1⅜ inches (25–35 mm), chin to top of head | 1–1⅜ inches, top of hair to bottom of chin |
| Eye height | — | 1⅛–1⅜ inches from the bottom of the photo |
| Glasses | Must be removed (medical exceptions only) | Not addressed in the form instructions — remove them to be safe |
| Headwear | Only for religious or medical reasons | Head bare unless required by religious denomination |
| Print medium | Matte or glossy photo-quality paper | Thin paper with a glossy finish, unmounted |
| Editing | Original, unedited photo — no filters or digital changes | "Unretouched" |
| Labeling on back | Not required | Name and A-Number (if any), lightly, in pencil or felt pen |
A passport application takes one printed photo. USCIS form instructions — for example I-485 (adjustment of status), I-765 (work permit) and I-131 (travel document) — ask for two identical color passport-style photos. Sending only one is an incomplete submission, so order enough prints from the same shot.
The State Department requires a passport photo taken within the last 6 months. Current USCIS instructions for I-485, I-765, I-131 and N-400 (for applicants residing abroad) say the photos must be "taken recently". The Form I-130 instructions are stricter: when you petition for a spouse, the photos of you and your spouse must be taken within 30 days of filing. If you're unsure, take a fresh photo shortly before you file.
USCIS instructions say to lightly print your name and A-Number (if you have one) on the back of the photos using a pencil or felt pen. The State Department doesn't ask for anything on the back of a passport photo.
Form I-90 (Green Card renewal/replacement) instructions don't ask you to mail photos — USCIS can collect your photo, fingerprints and signature at a biometrics appointment. Form N-400 asks for photos only from certain applicants residing outside the United States. Always check the photo section of your specific form's instructions on uscis.gov.
Usually yes, if one shot satisfies both sets of rules. Practical approach:
Photo-Visa.Online's print-ready 4×6 in layout places several identical 2×2 in photos on one sheet, which you can print at any photo lab.
Both agencies want an unaltered photo: the State Department says to submit the original, unedited photo without filters or digital changes and checks photos for digital enhancement or alteration, and USCIS asks for "unretouched" photos. The safest input is a well-lit shot against a plain white or off-white wall, which then only needs cropping to the correct size.
The 2×2 inch size is the same. The differences: USCIS forms usually need 2 identical prints taken recently (within 30 days for I-130 spouse photos), labeled with your name and A-Number; the State Department needs 1 print taken within 6 months. Check the photo section of your exact form's instructions before you file.