On December 12, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new regulations: effective immediately, photographs submitted by foreign nationals for immigration documents must be taken within three years prior to the submission of the relevant forms. Additionally, USCIS will no longer accept photographs submitted by applicants themselves, only those taken by USCIS or other authorized agencies.
USCIS stated that this policy adjustment aims to enhance national security, improve the accuracy of identity verification, and effectively prevent immigration fraud and identity theft.
The validity period for photographs is strictly limited to "three years".
All photographs used for immigration documents must be taken within 36 months (3 years) prior to the submission of the application.
Previously, during the pandemic, USCIS allowed the reuse of old photographs for up to 10 years, but USCIS deemed this "too long" and it severely weakened the ability to verify, identify, and screen applicants' identities. This temporary policy has now been completely revoked.
In other words, an old photograph that is over 3 years old may directly lead to application delays or even requests for resubmission of materials.
Applicants are completely prohibited from submitting their own photographs.
USCIS has clearly stated that it will no longer accept photographs provided or uploaded by applicants. In the future, photographs used for immigration documents must be taken by USCIS or other authorized agencies (such as Application Support Centers - ASC).
The core purpose of this measure is to ensure the authenticity, uniformity, and verifiability of photographs, thereby reducing the risk of identity fraud from the source.
Some applications "unconditionally require new photographs".
Even if applicants have recently had their photographs taken, they must resubmit new photographs if they submit the following forms:
• I-90: Application for Replacement of Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• I-485: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• N-400: Application for Naturalization
• N-600: Application for Certificate of Citizenship
In other words, whether the photograph is within 3 years does not exempt these applications from the requirement to retake photographs.
How should applicants respond to the new regulations?
For all affected applicants, USCIS has provided clear guidance:
• After submitting the application, pay attention to the biometric appointment notice: applicants must timely go to the designated ASC to collect fingerprints, signatures, and new photographs.
• Be sure to attend the appointment on time: failure to attend the biometric appointment may result in the application being considered abandoned.
• Prepare to retake photographs: especially for applicants planning to submit I-90, I-485, N-400, N-600 applications, please allow time to retake photographs.
• Pay attention to applicable time points: the new regulations apply to new applications submitted after the policy announcement; old cases that are already under review may generally not be affected, but still need to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.
Overall, this new regulation sends a clear signal: U.S. immigration scrutiny is tightening, and the requirements for the standardization of materials and the authenticity of identities are being further elevated. In this context, immigration programs with clear legal basis, long-standing practical foundations, and mature processing experience are becoming a more rational choice for applicants.
Among many options, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is currently one of the most mature pathways to obtain U.S. status within the U.S. immigration system, applicable to the widest range of people. No waiting period, investment starting at $800,000, and the whole family can quickly obtain U.S. green cards.
Additionally, the Trump Gold Card Immigration Program is officially open for applications, and WorldWay has taken the lead in launching Gold Card acceptance services to assist applicants in efficiently advancing their application process and seizing key time windows.
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