U.S. FEDERAL REQUIREMENT
USCIS I-765 Photo Rules for Applicants in the United States
What USCIS photo collection policy says for I-765 — Employment Authorization filed inside the United States, and when not to prepare your own photo.
Do not make a self-submitted secure-document photo.
Sources reviewed: October 11, 2026
What to prepare
Do not make a self-submitted secure-document photo.
For I-765 — Employment Authorization, USCIS may reuse an authorized biometrics-appointment photo collected within the prior 36 months, or require a new collection. Self-submitted photos are not used for the secure-document photo.
- The prior photo must have been collected by USCIS or an authorized entity at biometrics.
- Reuse within 36 months is discretionary, not guaranteed.
- Check the current form edition, category, and filing route for any separate filing-photo requirement.
Official laws, regulations, and agency instructions
Check your application
Instructions can depend on the exact application path. Confirm the agency’s current requirements before preparing a photo.
Open the photo checker