head 50–69 %
Free: cropping, background replacement, check
14-day refund if the authority rejects the photo
SourceU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Verified
Quick answer: A USA form I-130 (spouse petition) photo must be 51 × 51 mm. White or off-white background; photo taken within 30 days of filing. Head occupies 50–69% of photo height. Neutral expression, glasses only if no glare. Last verified .
Requirements
| Format | 51 × 51 mmICAO 9303: 35 × 45 mm |
|---|---|
| Head height | 50–69% of photo heightICAO 9303: 70–80% |
| Background | White or off-white background; photo taken within 30 days of filing. Make photo background white — USA form I-130 (spouse petition) → |
| Pose | Full face, no noticeable tilt; face turned towards the lens. |
| Expression | Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open. |
| Glasses | Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. See full rules → |
| Lighting | No harsh shadows or overexposure. |
| Attire | Keep the original clothing and a visible shoulder line. |
| File format | JPEG · sRGB / 24-bit |
| Millimetres | 51 × 51 mm |
|---|---|
| Centimetres | 5.1 × 5.1 cm |
| Inches | 2 × 2″ |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 602 × 602 px |
| Pixels at 600 dpi | 1205 × 1205 px |
The photo for a Form I-130 spouse petition is described in the USCIS Instructions to Form I-130 (edition 04/01/24). A spouse petition is filed with two identical colour passport-style photographs of the petitioner and, if he or she is in the United States, of the spouse beneficiary, taken within 30 days of filing.
They are 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), full face and frontal, on a white to off-white background, printed on thin glossy paper, unmounted and unretouched. The head measures 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin (about 50–69 % of the frame) and the eyes sit 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the photo; the head is bare unless religious headwear is required, and the name and A-Number (if any) are printed lightly on the back.
The Instructions give no pixel or file-size limits.
Examples and mistakes
One compliant example next to the six most common rejection causes for USA form I-130 (spouse petition) applications. These are the differences that most often determine whether a document photo is accepted.
How to take it
Background: plain white
The tool puts in the required background. Stand half a metre from a plain light wall, face a window and shoot without flash — then there are no shadows on your face or on the wall.
Head: 50–69 % of the photo height
Camera at eye level, about a metre away; head and shoulders in the shot. The tool crops it to 51 × 51 mm.
Glasses only if no glare
If you wear glasses, check the shot: no glare on the lenses, eyes clearly visible.
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open
Look straight into the lens with your head level; keep hair away from your eyes and eyebrows.
An ordinary selfie will do: we fix the background, light and framing ourselves — to this document's rules. The preview is free.
Head straightHold the phone at eye level and your head straightens by itself.
Face uncoveredMove your hair away so your eyes and eyebrows show.
No glare on glassesStand so that no light reflects in the lenses.Printing and submission
| 10 × 15 cm · 4 × 6″ | 4 (2 × 2) |
|---|---|
| A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm | 20 (4 × 5) |
Print at 100% scale, borderless, and turn off fit-to-page so each photo keeps its exact size.
| Authority | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |
|---|---|
| Source | Form I-130 instructions: photographs for a spouse petition |
| Verified |
Questions
All requirements are in the table above. Format: 51 × 51 mm. Head height: 50–69%. White or off-white background; photo taken within 30 days of filing.
Yes. Use a flat white wall, natural daylight from a window in front of you, and the rear camera of a phone with a 3-second timer. The tool handles the crop, background normalisation and compliance check.
Eyes must be fully visible without strong reflections. Removing glasses for the photo eliminates the risk of glare causing rejection, especially in automated pre-screening systems.
Most document authorities require the photo to be taken within the last six months. Use a fresh photo even if the rules technically allow older ones — recency reduces the risk of appearance-mismatch rejection.
Anfas.Pro provides a 14-day full refund if the authority rejects the photo and you supply the rejection notice.
51 × 51 mm = 5.1 × 5.1 cm = 2 × 2 inches. At 300 dpi that is 602 × 602 pixels; at 600 dpi, 1205 × 1205 pixels.