Passport photos

[Kanadka 2]

Just want to verify - passport photos are not needed when filing N-400?

[NickD 202]

Just want to verify - passport photos are not needed when filing N-400?

You need to download and read the M-476 manual for all you need to send in, and a lot more than just passport photos. IO did find the photos in my wife's file at her interview, looked and them, and her, then them, and said, this is you alright. Those photos become part of your certificate, wife was really particular as to how they looked so had quite a photo session with her. Couldn't wear earrings, and couldn't smile, ha, try and take an approvalable photo when she is laughing.

[Kanadka 2]

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

I'm using the N-400 instructions, and I don't see anywhere in there that mentions sending photos, unless I'm missing it. I realize there is a lot more information I need to send (I have all that), I was just curious about the photos.

[Kanadka 2]

Found the checklist. Thanks!

[NickD 202]

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

I'm using the N-400 instructions, and I don't see anywhere in there that mentions sending photos, unless I'm missing it. I realize there is a lot more information I need to send (I have all that), I was just curious about the photos.

Have to read the fine print, from the USCIS where you download the form:

"Special Instructions :

Please note: The Instructions to Form N-400 frequently refer to information in the USCIS document A Guide to Naturalization, M-476. We encourage you to review those referenced sections of the Guide as you complete this form."

Ha, we encourage you, you darn well better, or your application will be rejected.

[churipu 4]

As you know by now, the passport pics are indeed needed...just thought I'd post to tell you to make sure they turn out good enough, one of them is what goes on your certificate of naturalization!

Good luck with everything

[samantha_lou 0]

LOL - I was just going off the N400 instructions too, and was getting ready to send USCIS just the form itself! Luckily some very VJer's pointed me in the direction of the good old M-476 which gives a whole honey-do list for evidence to be submitted!

We haven't taken the photographs yet (still waiting for the tax info to come through), but I hate having my photo taken. We took our own for AOS, and funnily enough, they accepted my husbands (the USC) and rejected mine for the background - when they were taken in the same place, same lighting - just a few minutes apart. I know I'm going to be cracking up whilst he's trying to take a more serious and appropriate photograph...oh, I'm already imagining getting an RFE for the photo not being good enough!

[moonhunt 1]

LOL - I was just going off the N400 instructions too, and was getting ready to send USCIS just the form itself! Luckily some very VJer's pointed me in the direction of the good old M-476 which gives a whole honey-do list for evidence to be submitted!

We haven't taken the photographs yet (still waiting for the tax info to come through), but I hate having my photo taken. We took our own for AOS, and funnily enough, they accepted my husbands (the USC) and rejected mine for the background - when they were taken in the same place, same lighting - just a few minutes apart. I know I'm going to be cracking up whilst he's trying to take a more serious and appropriate photograph...oh, I'm already imagining getting an RFE for the photo not being good enough!

Same mistake I made.

When I order N400 form, N400 instructions, and M-476, USCIS only sent N400, N400 instructions with note of "M-476 is under reviewing".

So I ignored M-476 for that moment, and later I found out that M-476 is still valid.

If you miss some documents with N400, you can still bring those with you at your scheduled interview.

USCIS and US court is not ready for modern technology such as digital photo, so you have to provide two passport-size photo to them, so they can use it for "certificate of naturalization".

So probably you may want to have decent photo since it will be part of your "certificate of naturalization".

[NickD 202]

LOL - I was just going off the N400 instructions too, and was getting ready to send USCIS just the form itself! Luckily some very VJer's pointed me in the direction of the good old M-476 which gives a whole honey-do list for evidence to be submitted!

We haven't taken the photographs yet (still waiting for the tax info to come through), but I hate having my photo taken. We took our own for AOS, and funnily enough, they accepted my husbands (the USC) and rejected mine for the background - when they were taken in the same place, same lighting - just a few minutes apart. I know I'm going to be cracking up whilst he's trying to take a more serious and appropriate photograph...oh, I'm already imagining getting an RFE for the photo not being good enough!

Same mistake I made.

When I order N400 form, N400 instructions, and M-476, USCIS only sent N400, N400 instructions with note of "M-476 is under reviewing".

So I ignored M-476 for that moment, and later I found out that M-476 is still valid.

If you miss some documents with N400, you can still bring those with you at your scheduled interview.

USCIS and US court is not ready for modern technology such as digital photo, so you have to provide two passport-size photo to them, so they can use it for "certificate of naturalization".

So probably you may want to have decent photo since it will be part of your "certificate of naturalization".

Photographic quality is a mere 150 dots per inch, can easily double or triple that with state of the art digital. Best shots are taken with a telephoto about 12-15 feet back, subject sitting on a stool 15" a foot forward of a white wall with a 100 watt equivalent CFL plugged directly into a wall outlet 18" above the wall. The camera to subject distance is required to reduce red eye and to avoid hot spots, do have a bounce flash, but too lazy to dig all that stuff out.

With a good photo software with resizing, I just happen to use Corel Draw can mount six photos in a standard 4 by 6 photo size, e-mail that to Walgreens and pick that up for 19 cents, well seem to add a bunch others to that of photos we would like permanent record of. USCIS does have a site explaining what they want in these passport photos, and the wife has a wide choice of photos she wants me to process.

Have to say, her USCIS photos on her green cards are terrible, but those are throwaway cards, we did welcome the opportunity to submit our own with the N-400. She was both tired and nervous, and rushed at the USCIS, we could take our sweet time at home, and these photos are permanent.

[moonhunt 1]

Photographic quality is a mere 150 dots per inch, can easily double or triple that with state of the art digital. Best shots are taken with a telephoto about 12-15 feet back, subject sitting on a stool 15" a foot forward of a white wall with a 100 watt equivalent CFL plugged directly into a wall outlet 18" above the wall. The camera to subject distance is required to reduce red eye and to avoid hot spots, do have a bounce flash, but too lazy to dig all that stuff out.

With a good photo software with resizing, I just happen to use Corel Draw can mount six photos in a standard 4 by 6 photo size, e-mail that to Walgreens and pick that up for 19 cents, well seem to add a bunch others to that of photos we would like permanent record of. USCIS does have a site explaining what they want in these passport photos, and the wife has a wide choice of photos she wants me to process.

Have to say, her USCIS photos on her green cards are terrible, but those are throwaway cards, we did welcome the opportunity to submit our own with the N-400. She was both tired and nervous, and rushed at the USCIS, we could take our sweet time at home, and these photos are permanent.

If you have digital photo, you can try http://www.epassportphoto.com/ for editing and printing.

Somebody already pointed out from other article, and you may want to avoid to use color inkjet printing, since it may be faded out over the time.

I think you may want to keep "certificate of naturalization" forever, so when you submit the photo for N400, think about photo quality. ^^

I'm thinking re-print using color laser printer at this moment. ^^