Your photograph is one of the key elements of your Application for Naturalization form. If your photograph only partially meets the strict requirements set by the US government, then your application form may be considered incomplete or inapplicable. As a result, you will lose time and, possibly, money for sending an incomplete form.

What is convenient is that the requirements to your photograph are identical to those applied to US visa, passport, or green card.

What follows is a basic list of demands to photograph quality:

• The size of the photograph must be precisely 2 inches by 2 inches.
• Use only photograph paper to print your photo.
• The photograph must be colored.
• Your photograph must be taken no more than 6 months before you apply the form.
• Your photograph must be provided as is, meaning no digital corrections are allowed.

Knowing the basic demands to photos is not enough, so there are many other recommendations that concern not only your posture, but even your facial expression and clothes.

When you want to take a photo for an Application for Naturalization form, you should dress casually but without any striking colors. You cannot wear a hat, any headgear (unless for religious reasons), or dark glasses. Any odd or strange facial expressions are prohibited as well. What is allowed regarding expressions is a slight smile. Also, ask your photographer to set a necessary background of white or off-white color with no ornaments on it.

Ask the photographer to take the photo so that your head covers around half of it. You cannot tilt your head too much. In case you permanently wear prescribed glasses, they may glare at different angles. You are allowed to tilt your head a little bit to remove the glare.

Your photo must also be of the high quality. Most modern cameras are featured with several megapixels sensors, but it would be wise to ask your photographer if he or she can take a very detailed photo for an application.

Lastly, we also recommend that you mark your photo: write your name and leave a signature on the back of the photograph. You may as well write your Alien Registration Number on the photo using a pencil. And although one photo is usually enough, you should still have extra photographs just in case.

To get more help regarding your application for naturalization, consult our experts or simply use our service.