| August 2, 2004 - The USCIS today
issued a press release clarifying its plans for changing its
photo requirements for all petitions and applications. The new
photo requirement is for "full frontal" photographs
in the same format that is currently required for passport photos.
According to the press release, the change from the previously
required "three-quarter face position to a standard, full
frontal face position" takes effect beginning August 2,
2004. The press release clarifies that (1) "USCIS will
accept both three-quarter and full color frontal photographs
until September 1, 2004 after which only full frontal color
will be accepted," and (2) "The application process
of customers who have already submitted materials that include
color photos with the three-quarter standard will not be affected
by this change."
BAL Comment: This update helps clarify that both photo formats
will be accepted until September 1, 2004; prior to this clarification,
some USCIS service centers had already begun sending out random
requests for full frontal photos for cases filed prior to
the announcement, and thus some cases previously filed with
the three quarter photos were affected by premature and erroneous
requests by some USCIS service centers. BAL worked directly
with the American Immigration Lawyers Association to obtain
this much-needed clarification.
USCIS
Press Release 8/2/04 [PDF format]
USCIS
Photo Information 8/2/04 [PDF format]
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