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.

Upload a photo

Click anywhere here, or drag and drop your photo. 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

21 documents checked against official specifications

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 your result screen shows

Every photo is measured against these checks, the same list you see after uploading:

Head size
Eye position
Framing room
Resolution
Background colour
Plain background
Even lighting
Pose & expression

When every required check passes, the verdict reads “Passed” and you can download the exact photo you uploaded, cropped to spec, never edited. If a check fails, you get the reason and how to retake, and you pay nothing.

What real users said

“Photo accepted at the post office on the first try, which honestly surprised me. The instant spec check feels like it should be the default everywhere.”
Derya
“The webcam check instantly flagged my background was too cluttered even though I thought it looked fine, which was a nice surprise. Glad I didn't waste money printing a bad photo.”
Irmak
“Took a quick selfie with my webcam and it actually flagged the right issues with my framing. Kind of cool that they don't just slap a filter on it.”
Zafer
“love the pay-only-if-it-passes model, such a smart way to build trust before asking anyone to hand over money. the no AI editing promise is a really thoughtful touch too.”
Azra

From our Product Hunt launch, quoted verbatim. We never invent testimonials.

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.

Built by a real person

Nic built this after his own passport photo was rejected over a sizing issue he could not even see. The tool measures your photo against the official spec and never edits it, because since 2026 the US, UK and Canada reject AI-altered photos.

Read the launch story

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.

Common problems with this photo

Green card photo requirements: the I-485 photo spec, and the Dec 2025 change →