Green card photo requirements: the I-485 photo spec, and the Dec 2025 change
Since December 12, 2025, USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-29 stopped using self-submitted photos for Form I-485 (adjustment of status): your photo is now captured in person at your Application Support Center (ASC) biometrics appointment instead, corroborated independently by NAFSA and university international-student offices tracking the change (see /guides/uscis-no-longer-accepts-self-submitted-photos-n-400-i-90 for the same policy applied to N-400 and I-90). The I-485 form instructions themselves have not been updated to reflect this, and immigration attorneys widely still recommend including a compliant photo with your filing during this transition period, so having one ready costs nothing and may avoid a snag. The photo spec, if you do include one: 2 x 2 inches, JPEG of at least 600 x 600 pixels, plain white or off-white background, head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown, taken within 30 days, no glasses.
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What changed on December 12, 2025
USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-29, effective for benefit requests filed on or after December 12, 2025, ended the use of self-submitted photographs for I-485 adjustment-of-status applications; only a photo captured by USCIS itself at your ASC biometrics appointment is used going forward. This is the same policy change already covered for N-400 and I-90 on this site, and I-485 is explicitly named alongside them as a form that always requires a freshly captured photo, with no reuse of an older image even under the general 3-year reuse allowance USCIS gives some other forms.
In practice: you no longer need to mail or upload a printed passport-style photo with your I-485 package. Your photo happens automatically when you show up for biometrics.
Why a compliant photo still helps during the transition
The official I-485 form instructions have not caught up to the new policy, and multiple immigration-law sources report attorneys still advising clients to include a compliant photo with the filing anyway, just in case, while the transition settles. If your attorney or the form's own printed instructions ask for one, the spec below is what USCIS photos have long required: 2 x 2 inches, minimum 600 x 600 pixel JPEG, plain white or off-white background, full color, head height 1 to 1 3/8 inches (50 to 69 percent of the frame), neutral expression, both eyes open, no glasses, no filters or retouching.
The 30-day rule most other passport photos don't have
US and most foreign passport photos allow up to 6 months of age. USCIS instructions for I-485 and related forms ask for a photo taken within 30 days of filing if one is submitted, which catches people who reuse an old passport photo without checking the date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to submit a photo with my I-485 application?
No, not since December 12, 2025. USCIS now captures your I-485 photo in person at your Application Support Center biometrics appointment rather than using a self-submitted one. The form's printed instructions haven't caught up yet, which is why attorneys still often recommend including a compliant photo as a transition-period safety net.
What size photo does USCIS use for a green card application, if one is needed?
2 x 2 inches, a digital JPEG of at least 600 x 600 pixels, with a plain white or off-white background, if your attorney or the form instructions still call for one during the transition.
How recent does a green card photo need to be if I include one?
Taken within 30 days of filing your I-485. This is stricter than the 6-month window used for most passport photos.
Can I wear glasses in a green card photo?
No. USCIS does not accept glasses in green card photos; remove them before the photo is taken.
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