The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed its standard photograph requirements for benefits applicants.

The new photo specification replaces the prior standard (three-quarter face position) with one requiring photos show a standard, full frontal face position. This change is in accordance with the Border Security Act of 2003.

Effective September 1, 2004 only full color frontal passport-style photographs will be accepted. (Those with applications pending who had previously submitted color photos meeting the prior standard will not be affected by the change.)

As in the past, all photos of each person must be identical, and must be no more than 30 days old when an application is filed with USCIS.

The US CIS has posted an example of the new photo specification on its website at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf

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