I-130 online file 2" x 2" photo

[Chen93 0]

Hi, everyone. I'm a little confused by the I-130 online filling photo requirement. 

 

Does it need to be a picture of a 2" x 2" physical photo? since it need to write down A number on the back. Or just unload a digital photo?

 

Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

Edited August 12, 2021 by Chen93

[chancecody 125]

Yes, it has to be. There are three options:

 

1. Go to CVS and purchase their digital version which will come in the USB stick

2. Use any app (this is what I did)

3. Use the US State Dept Passport photo tool https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

 

Regarding writing down an A number or signing the back, I don’t have an A number so I just took a picture of my signature in a blank piece of paper and used the app to cut it to the requirements. I know it’s lame…..not sure why they want us to “sign” the digital copy of the back of the passport photo.

[StrawberryKiss 170]

You can upload a digital 2”x2” photo, no problem. Don’t have to write down an A-number because you probably don’t even have one. 
And no, you don’t have to sign it on the back either. That is wrong and not even required per USCIS. 

[chancecody 125]

1 hour ago, StrawberryKiss said:

And no, you don’t have to sign it on the back either. That is wrong and not even required per USCIS. 

I wish they would update their requirements for online filing. I find the instruction weird as well to put our name in the back for a digital photo lol. To avoid RFE, I just took a picture of a blank white page and typed my full name (I actually did not sign it, my apologies….I just typed my name with no A number) then made it into 2x2.

 

Do you have proof or personal experience that this is not required? We want to make sure we are giving good advice to new filers to avoid RFEs to ensure there are no delays. The instructions from the online filing that we encountered posted by OP still says type your name so make sure to follow what they are asking for…..unless you have experience or proof that is not required

[chancecody 125]

2 hours ago, chancecody said:

Yes, it has to be. There are three options:

 

1. Go to CVS and purchase their digital version which will come in the USB stick

2. Use any app (this is what I did)

3. Use the US State Dept Passport photo tool https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

 

Regarding writing down an A number or signing the back, I don’t have an A number so I just took a picture of my handwritten name in a blank piece of paper and used the app to cut it to the requirements. I know it’s lame…..not sure why they want us to put our name on the digital copy of the back of the passport photo.

Corrected. I typed “signed” by mistake but we do not sign it. Instructions says “include an image of the back of the photograph with their name and A number written in pen or pencil” which is what I submitted. What I did to get around this is to write my full name using pencil and took a picture then converted it to 2x2 digital photograph. I submitted that along with our pictures.

[Chen93 0]

Thanks y'all for sharing. This is what I summarize of what USCIS actually trying to say for spouse beneficiary:

 

Upload two photos:

1. Digital format of a passport standard photo.

2. A picture for the back of my physical passport standard photo with name and A-number written on the back.

[StrawberryKiss 170]

12 hours ago, chancecody said:

Do you have proof or personal experience that this is not required? We want to make sure we are giving good advice to new filers to avoid RFEs to ensure there are no delays. The instructions from the online filing that we encountered posted by OP still says type your name so make sure to follow what they are asking for…..unless you have experience or proof that is not required

Maybe I didn’t express myself that well as it was late  No signature required, no A-number if you’ve never been issued one, but I didn’t say the names could be left out.  
We also filed online and submitted digital photos. Only put our names on the “back” (we wrote them individually on a piece of paper, scanned that and cropped it to fit the 2”x2” dimensions), but didn’t sign the backs. And if you’ve never been issued a green card, you don’t have an A-number, so you can’t put that on the back of your photo. 
Our petition got approved last month without any RFEs, so it all worked out  Yes, the USCIS instructions could be better and it makes you overthink/question things a million times, but at least they’re offering online filing now, which is some progress 😄

Good luck on your visa journeys!

[tomscan 0]

Hello,

Just to confirm what I think has been said, it is NOT necessary to have a passport photo taken at, say, CVS?  An applicant can have the photos taken at home so along as it follows/meets the USCIS requirements (i.e., size, quality, lighting, etc)?

NOt that going to CVS is that difficult, its just one less thing to worry about.

Thanks

 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

34 minutes ago, tomscan said:

Hello,

Just to confirm what I think has been said, it is NOT necessary to have a passport photo taken at, say, CVS?  An applicant can have the photos taken at home so along as it follows/meets the USCIS requirements (i.e., size, quality, lighting, etc)?

NOt that going to CVS is that difficult, its just one less thing to worry about.

Thanks

 

Yes, but CVS has gotten mine correct every time.

[tomscan 0]

This is a good point!

Thx