Help - Passport size photo recommendations?

[Crazy Cat 39,270]

4 hours ago, Visitor User said:

I will be paying $85 for biometrics. That is what it says. So are you saying I won’t be getting another biometric picture? I did this last in 2018 for AOS.

 

Do we get to pick if they want to use old picture?

Yes, you must pay for biometrics, but USCIS can still reuse old picture .  It is their choice.  You have no choices to make, other than choosing which new passport photos you want to send with the passport application. 

[Visitor User 236]

3 hours ago, Positive_Vibes said:

Yes, the 2x2 photos you get done yourself is for the US Passport. I personally had it taken at CVS but the print quality was really bad so I decided to just have it taken at the USPS facility the same day I submitted my passport application and those photos came out perfect. 

 

As for the biometrics, that's completely up to USCIS if they need new photos or will just re-use your old one. They don't give you an option of which photo to use on the certificate. The last biometrics I did was in May of 2019 and that is the photo they used for my Naturalization Certificate that I received in June of 2023. So it was quite old but it didn't matter to me personally since I just have my certificate stored away. 

Is the USPS facility better equipped with camera and lighting?

My last biometrics was in 2018 for AOS.

 

 

 

 

[Visitor User 236]

3 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes, you must pay for biometrics, but USCIS can still reuse old picture .  It is their choice.  You have no choices to make, other than choosing which new passport photos you want to send with the passport application. 

Got it. I just want to look very handsome for my photo shoot. 

[Me and her 276]

2 hours ago, Visitor User said:

Got it. I just want to look very handsome for my photo shoot. 

Again, your choice. I understand you want great photos, but we have answered your questions.  Now, you need to decide.

[Visitor User 236]

28 minutes ago, Me and her said:

Again, your choice. I understand you want great photos, but we have answered your questions.  Now, you need to decide.

I need to try a place first and see how that goes. 

[Positive_Vibes 59]

11 hours ago, Visitor User said:

I need to try a place first and see how that goes. 

That's basically what I did, I went to a CVS, they have good lighting/cameras and I looked great in the photo, but for whatever reason the print quality of the photo was so bad that I didn't trust it wouldn't get rejected. It basically looked like I printed it myself at home on photo paper. So I made plans to go to a professional photo studio BUT an appointment at USPS opened up sooner than my original passport schedule so I took that appointment and just took the photo at USPS. I'm sure not all USPS offices are the same but the one I went to had professional lighting/cameras and the photo came out great. 

[Visitor User 236]

6 hours ago, Positive_Vibes said:

That's basically what I did, I went to a CVS, they have good lighting/cameras and I looked great in the photo, but for whatever reason the print quality of the photo was so bad that I didn't trust it wouldn't get rejected. It basically looked like I printed it myself at home on photo paper. So I made plans to go to a professional photo studio BUT an appointment at USPS opened up sooner than my original passport schedule so I took that appointment and just took the photo at USPS. I'm sure not all USPS offices are the same but the one I went to had professional lighting/cameras and the photo came out great. 

Should I go to FedEx on a weekday afternoon when it’s less busy?

 

Aren’t places like CVS supposed to follow the exact rules for U.S Passport requirements? 

[Crazy Cat 39,270]

3 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

Aren’t places like CVS supposed to follow the exact rules for U.S Passport requirements? 

Yes

[Visitor User 236]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes

The other user wasn’t satisfied. 

[Crazy Cat 39,270]

5 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

The other user wasn’t satisfied. 

I can only give you my experience.  Both my wife and I were satisfied with CVS.  It's your money....do as you wish.  

Edited October 4, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Visitor User 236]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

I can only give you my experience.  Both my wife and I were satisfied with CVS.  It's your money....do as you wish.  

Cool cool. 

[Visitor User 236]

Has anyone used their phone camera and then send it to one of the printing services to print?

Edited October 4, 2023 by Visitor User

[Visitor User 236]

Did anyone use FedEx? They use to be Kinkos. 

[Visitor User 236]

How come the https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ site search only gives post office locations and not others like CVS/Walgreens?

[OldUser 4,825]

3 hours ago, Visitor User said:

How come the https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ site search only gives post office locations and not others like CVS/Walgreens?

USPS is a government agency (same as USCIS, DHS etc). Why would Department of State advertise commercial for-profit companies such as CVS or Walgreens?

Edited October 8, 2023 by OldUser