EAD Photo for Form I-765 (2 x 2 inches)

Size2 x 2 inches
BackgroundPlain white to off-white
Head height50–69% of the photo
GlassesNot allowed

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Add a photo for your EAD / Work Permit

Take a photo or choose oneOn a phone you can use your camera. JPEG, PNG or HEIC.

For the best result

Plain wallCleaner edges around hair
Face the lightA window or lamp, no side shadow
Neutral faceEyes open, look at the lens
No glassesHats and headphones off too
Arm's lengthHead and shoulders in frame

Your photo stays on your device. It is processed here in your browser — we don't upload it, and we can't see it.

About this photo

An EAD photo is the 2 x 2 inch colour photo that goes with Form I-765, the application for a work permit - the same form used for OPT and STEM OPT. The Form I-765 instructions (edition 08/21/25) still say "You must submit two identical color passport-style photographs", so you still need them, even though since 12 December 2025 the picture printed on the actual EAD card comes from a USCIS biometrics appointment rather than from the photo you send. Most people filing I-765 on or after that date should expect an appointment notice, unless USCIS already has a photo of you that is less than three years old.

Employment Authorization Document Photo (Form I-765) photo requirements

Employment Authorization Document Photo (Form I-765) photo specification
Photo size	Exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), square
How many	Two identical prints with Form I-765
Head height	1 to 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair
Eye height	1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches (28-35 mm) from the bottom edge of the photo
Background	White to off-white, plain and evenly lit
Pose	Full face, frontal view, both eyes open, neutral expression
Print quality	Colour, thin photo paper with a glossy finish, unmounted and unretouched
Labelling	Lightly write your name and A-Number (if any) on the back in pencil or felt pen
Online filing	If you file I-765 online, upload a scan or phone photo of the prints as PDF, JPG or JPEG, under 12 MB
Photo reuse	USCIS may reuse a photo it took at a biometrics appointment within the last 36 months for I-765; otherwise you will be scheduled for a new one

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

The Form I-765 page carries a live USCIS alert: photos must be unmounted and unretouched, and submitting mounted or retouched images "will delay the processing of your application and may prompt USCIS to require that you appear at an Applicant Support Center to verify your identity." Filters and beauty mode are a real, documented risk here.
OPT and STEM OPT applicants who filed on or after 12 December 2025 are being scheduled for biometrics appointments that previously did not happen for I-765. Watch your mail and your USCIS online account - missing the appointment can get the application denied as abandoned.
Unlike I-485 and N-400, Form I-765 does allow photo reuse. If USCIS photographed you at an Application Support Center within the last 36 months you may not get a new appointment at all - but you still send the printed photos, because the instructions still list them.
Do not staple the photos to the form or glue them to card. "Unmounted" means loose prints; put them in a small envelope or clip them without piercing the face.
Applying for an EAD renewal does not let you recycle the photo from your old application. Use a current photo that looks like you today.

Printing it for about 40¢

The 4×6 sheet this tool gives you holds several copies of your photo at exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Order it as an ordinary 4×6 photo print — about 19¢ at Walmart, 39¢ at Walgreens or 42¢ at CVS — then cut them out. That is the same print the store charges $7.64 to $16.99 for at the counter.

The one thing that goes wrong: letting the store’s website or kiosk crop, zoom or “fit” your image. That changes the photo’s physical size and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected. Always choose the option that prints the whole sheet at actual size.

Common questions

Do I still send two photos with Form I-765 in 2026?

Yes. The current Form I-765 instructions are the 08/21/25 edition and Required Documentation item C still says you must submit two identical colour passport-style photographs. As of 3 August 2026 USCIS has not published a newer edition, so include them.

If my EAD photo is taken at a biometrics appointment, why send photos at all?

The photo that is printed on the plastic EAD card now comes from the USCIS camera, not from your envelope. The mailed prints are still a required item in the instructions and USCIS uses them as part of the record, so leaving them out risks a rejection or a Request for Evidence.

Will I get a biometrics appointment for my OPT application?

Most I-765 applicants who filed on or after 12 December 2025 should expect one. If USCIS already collected your photo at an Application Support Center within the last 36 months, it may reuse that image instead and skip the appointment.

What size is an EAD photo?

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) square, in colour, on a white to off-white background. Your head should measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to the top of your hair, and your eyes should sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches above the bottom edge.

Can I print my EAD photos at Walgreens or CVS?

Yes, and it is the cheapest route. Download the free 4 x 6 sheet, upload it to the Walgreens or CVS photo site, and pick up one glossy 4 x 6 print that contains six 2 x 2 photos to cut out. Ask for glossy paper, since the instructions call for a glossy finish.

How much does an EAD photo cost?

The photo file is free here with no watermark. A single 4 x 6 drugstore print costs roughly $0.35 to $0.50 and gives you six photos - far less than the roughly $17 a drugstore passport-photo counter charges for two.

Can I wear my glasses for the EAD photo?

Take them off. The I-765 instructions do not mention glasses, but the standard is passport-style, glasses are banned across U.S. visa and passport photos, and the technician at your biometrics appointment will ask you to remove them. Hearing aids may be worn.

My photo is slightly retouched by my phone camera. Is that a problem?

It can be. USCIS explicitly warns that retouched images may delay processing and may force an identity-verification visit to an Application Support Center. Turn off beauty mode, portrait blur and any auto-enhance before taking the photo.

Other photos you can make free

Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.