United States Green Card Photo: check yours against the official spec

A US green card photo (for Form I-485 and related USCIS filings) uses the same geometry as a US passport photo: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), head 25 to 35 mm from chin to top of head, eyes 28 to 35 mm from the bottom, against a white to off-white background. USCIS requires two identical colour prints on thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched, with your A-Number written lightly in pencil on the back.

Check your photo free. Pay $9 only if it passes. Accepted or your money back.

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Use a clear, front-facing photo against a plain white wall in even light. We measure and crop it. We never edit the pixels you submit.

🛡️ Accepted or your money back🔒 Your photo is deleted within 24 hours✓ We never edit your photo

United States green card photo requirements

Photo size	2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm)
Head height (chin to top of hair)	1 to 1 3/8 in (25 to 35 mm)
Eye height from bottom	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 in (28 to 35 mm)
Background	white to off-white
Digital file	JPEG, at least 600 × 600 px

Common reasons a United States green card photo is rejected

The photo has been retouched. USCIS requires prints to be unretouched, and glasses have been banned under the Department of State photo standard since November 2016.
The two prints are not identical, are mounted, or are not on thin glossy photo paper.
Head or eye position is outside the official range (head 25 to 35 mm, eyes 28 to 35 mm from the bottom), or the background is not white to off-white.
A hat or head covering is worn without a religious reason. The head must be bare otherwise.

“Photos must not be changed using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.”
U.S. Department of State, passport photo requirements

Photo rejections are common, and you pay twice

A rejected photo means a delayed application and paying again for a retake. It's one of the most common problems people hit when applying, and it's exactly what this tool is built to catch before you submit:

We measure your photo against the official spec, never AI-edit it (itself a rejection reason as of 2026), and back it accepted-or-your-money-back.

What a passport photo really costs

The photo is the cheap part. The expensive part is a rejection: redo fees, another queue, and a delayed application or trip. Here is the honest comparison:

Pharmacy or retail (CVS, Walgreens)$16 to $17 per attempt	No compliance guarantee. A rejection means paying and queueing again.
USPS photo serviceabout $15	Same deal: rejected means a second visit and a second fee.
Cheap online photo editors$1 to $3	Most replace your background with software. Edited photos are a documented rejection reason for the US, UK and Canada since 2026, and refunds usually cover technical failures only.
Compliant Passport PhotoFree check. $9 only if it passes	We measure and crop your original, never edit it. Accepted or your money back.

Retail prices are typical 2026 US prices and vary by location. Our guarantee: accepted or your money back.

Frequently asked questions

Is a green card photo the same as a US passport photo?

Yes, the geometry is identical: 2 x 2 inches, head 25 to 35 mm, eyes 28 to 35 mm from the bottom, white to off-white background. A photo that passes the US passport spec passes the green card spec.

How many photos do I need for Form I-485?

Two identical colour prints on thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched. Write your A-Number lightly in pencil on the back of each one.

Can I wear glasses in a green card photo?

No. Glasses have not been accepted under the Department of State photo standard since November 2016, and USCIS follows that standard.

Can my green card photo be edited or retouched?

No. USCIS explicitly requires unretouched prints. This tool only measures, validates, and crops your original photo; it never alters the pixels you submit.