USCIS : makes picture requirements for immigration paperwork more stringent
USCIS :The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new policy advice on Friday that severely restricts the age at which an image may be used to create immigration papers in an attempt to improve national security and prevent identity theft.
In accordance with the revised guidelines, which go into effect right now, USCIS will only reuse a previously obtained picture if, at the time an applicant submits a form, no more than 36 months have elapsed since the photo was acquired during a biometric services appointment or another authorized procedure.
With a few exclusions that always call for a new picture, the modification is applicable to all claims for immigration benefits.
Additionally, self-submitted photos are no longer accepted under the new policy. From now on, secure papers will only utilize images taken by USCIS or other approved organizations. According to the government, this method guarantees that each photograph is “recent, accurate, and reliable,” a criterion it views as crucial for thwarting identity theft and fraud.
USCIS stated in a statement that previous flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 epidemic had outlived their usefulness and that strong screening and vetting procedures are essential to safeguarding the security and integrity of the U.S. immigration system.
In order to decrease in-person visits to application assistance centers at that time, the agency recycled previously gathered pictures, enabling images to be utilized for prolonged periods of time even in cases when a person’s look has altered considerably.
The policy notice claims that USCIS’s capacity to appropriately screen foreign nationals and confirm identities was jeopardized by the pandemic-era strategy. The practice, according to the government, led to the issuing of security papers at one point, with an image that was up to 22 years old by the time the document expired.
In September 2024, USCIS had already tightened regulations after the official termination of COVID-19 flexibilities, restricting picture reuse to a maximum of 10 years for the majority of applicants and enforcing shorter limitations for younger applicants.
By eliminating the necessity to compare picture age to a document’s validity period and establishing a consistent three-year threshold, the new guidelines go one step further.
Reuse is no longer automatic, according to USCIS, which said that it will have the authority to demand a fresh picture even within the three-year period if circumstances call for it. Additionally, the organization made it clear that photographs contributed by users would never be utilized or republished.
A fresh picture is required for several high-impact immigration papers, regardless of when the applicant’s previous photo was taken. These consist of the following forms: Form N-400, which is an application for naturalization; Form I-90, which is an application to replace a permanent resident card; Form I-485, which is an application to register a permanent residence or modify status; and Form N-600, which is an application for a certificate of citizenship. USCIS will gather new biometrics, including a new picture, for these applicants.
As in-person services and biometric collecting return to pre-pandemic standards, the new picture policy is part of a larger trend toward strengthening procedural protections.