how many pictures for AOS

[topaz75 1]

Hi folks,

I am just preparing my package for my AOS from a K1 Visa. I am filing for the whole shebang, including EAD and AP. I am puzzled by the requirements regarding the number of pictures. Do i really have to supply SIX passport-style pictures (after the 4 they already got during the I-129 & Visa-phase). If i read the instructions correctly they want 2 for the I485, 2 for the EAD and 2 for the AP. They must like my looks a lot.

Any experiences?

Topaz

[Mola 1]

Hi folks,

I am just preparing my package for my AOS from a K1 Visa. I am filing for the whole shebang, including EAD and AP. I am puzzled by the requirements regarding the number of pictures. Do i really have to supply SIX passport-style pictures (after the 4 they already got during the I-129 & Visa-phase). If i read the instructions correctly they want 2 for the I485, 2 for the EAD and 2 for the AP. They must like my looks a lot.

Any experiences?

Topaz

Yes, you have read correctly - you need 2 passport-style pictures for I-485, 2 for EAD (I-765), and 2 for Advance Parole (I-131) 6 in total.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

My personal opinion is that it isn't necessary to send separate photos for each concurrently filed application. Yes, the applications do get separated and sent to different service centers for processing, but all of this stuff gets scanned into their computer system, including the photos. Thereafter, the electronic copies are used. The photos you send are only actually used on the AP document, and they print a B/W digital scan of the photo on that document. The EAD and green card use the photo they take at the biometrics appointment, and that photo is ALSO a digital image.

I sent only two photos in each AOS package for three different people. I did not include separate photos for the EAD or AP applications. All were approved with no problems or RFE's.

Again, this is only my personal opinion, and it's based on my personal experience. I've been chewed out for posting this before, but I honestly believe it simply isn't necessary to send six photos. I've not seen anyone receive an RFE for this, as long as they included at least two photos. If anyone knows different then please let me know.

[ScottThuy 140]

I guess I'll get an RFE as I only included 4

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I guess I'll get an RFE as I only included 4

If you don't then it will back up my experience.

[K and L 27]

We sent 6, but 4 were the 4x3cm photos required for the K1 medical that we had leftover (the place we got it at gave us about 20). We got a RFE, but it wasn't for the photos - my husband forgot to sign his G-325. When we filed in August, we debated if it was necessary to send all 6 -- there were opinions here that concurrent filing, only one copy of the K1/I94/bio page of passport was sufficient and only one pair of photos was sufficient -- and ultimately decided that if we were RFEd for not sending 6 identical photos, or 6 photos that weren't all the proper passport size, then we were RFE'd. The process is expensive as it is, and we didn't see the need to spend another $20 on passport photos when we had photos around. For the record, his AP used the photos from his AOS.

The tl;dr version: I do somewhat agree with Jim in that it's probably not necessary to have 4 photos for concurrent filing. If you happen to have photos, great. If you don't have the extra 4 photos, I wouldn't worry about it too much. (Contrary to popular belief here, it is NOT the end of the world to get a RFE, and it does NOT slow things down all that much - takes a few days to get the RFE, and you can respond that day. Overnight it, and they'll process it the next business day, and less than a week after that, if your response was sufficient, you'll be on your way. Two weeks is nothing in a lifetime together.)