By Gonzalez Olivieri, on Immigration Updates
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued new guidance, effective December 12, 2025, that restricts photos used for immigration documents to those taken within three years of filing, replacing the previous ten-year allowance. The policy also eliminates self-submitted photos, requiring that only photos taken by USCIS or authorized entities be used. These changes aim to enhance national security and prevent identity fraud by ensuring that photos are recent, accurate, and reliable.
The policy shift by USCIS seems to be aimed at alleged vulnerabilities created by COVID-19-era flexibilities that allowed outdated photos to be reused despite significant changes in applicant appearances, which, according to the update, compromised USCIS’ ability to properly verify and screen individuals. The new requirements apply immediately to specific forms including the I-90, I-485, N-400, and N-600, and align with Department of Homeland Security priorities to modernize screening and vetting processes.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Gonzalez Olivieri LLC today.
Reference:
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs., New Photo Policy Helps Prevent Immigration Fraud Through Enhanced Identity Verification (Dec. 12, 2025), https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/new-photo-policy-helps-prevent-immigration-fraud-through-enhanced-identity-verification.
