EAD Card Photo [Online Tool]
Get your biometric photograph within 3 minutes, with your smartphone, comfortably from home.
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Snap the perfect biometric passport photo in under 3 minutes!
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Take or upload a photo
Use a photo you already have or take a new one. We'll double-check it and make sure it passes all compliance tests.
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Our AI system will crop, resize, and adjust the background of your image.
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One of our experts will carefully review your passport photo, providing you with feedback in under a minute!
Key benefits of using our passport photo tool
Get comfy at home, grab your phone, and snap a few pictures. End up with a result you’re 100% satisfied with!
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Professional support
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Once you place your order, our AI and human expert will verify your photo to ensure it's 100% compliant.
Passport photo-taking tips
Follow these guidelines to create the perfect passport picture.
Consider the distance
Keep your front-facing camera 16–20 inch (40–50 cm) away from the face. For rear cameras, keep a 4–6 foot (1–2 meter) distance.
Keep your head and body straight
Look directly into the camera and avoid tilting your body. Remember, portrait mode is unacceptable for passport photos.
Prepare good lighting
Take your passport photos in a daylight setting, like near a window on a sunny day. Shadows on your face or in the background are not permitted.
EAD Photo Size & Requirements
Size
2x2 in
Resolution
301 dpi
Is it suitable for online submission?
Yes
Is it printable?
Yes
Background Color
White
Image definition parameters
Head height: 1.29 in
Bottom of the Photo to the Eye Line: 1.18 in
Vule is a seasoned editor with a rich background in writing and editing, specializing in content related to passport photography. His skill lies in transforming complex information into clear, engaging narratives, making intricate topics accessible and relatable to a broad audience. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Vule ensures that every piece of content is not only factually accurate but also captivating and informative.
Jess is a highly experienced passport photo specialist, having meticulously reviewed over 400,000 passport photos throughout her career. She's known for her eye for detail and an extensive knowledge of international government regulations and specifications for passport and visa photos. Her expertise ensures that clients' photographs consistently meet rigorous global standards. Dżesika's dedication to maintaining exceptional quality has established her as a key and respected member of our team of experts.
Employment Authorization Document photo (EAD photo)
The EAD photo is an important element which, when correctly prepared, lets an applicant obtain this employment benefit. The Employment Authorization Document, also known as EAD or work permit, is a document issued by the USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which provides temporary employment authorization to non-citizens in the US If you want to know the specific USCIS photo requirements for EAD you will need to read this guide, that has been prepared especially for you to get to know how to take a proper photo at home, using just your phone.
With our tips and help your application is going to be easily approved.
EAD photo requirements
Nowadays you don’t have to go to a professional photographer to get your EAD card photo, you can simply use the PhotoAiD app and its tools and learn everything you need to know from our site on your own. So what are the most important EAD photo requirements that the USCIS demands from applicants?
General EAD photo requirements are as follows:
- Photo must be in color.
- It can’t be a selfie – ask someone else to take your photo or use a tripod.
- It has to be taken in front of a plain white, or off-white, background.
- The photo size must be 2 x 2 inches (51mmx51mm).
- It has to be a high resolution photo – not blurry, grainy, or pixelated.
- You must remove your glasses, headphones and any headwear.
- Your face must have a neutral expression.
Validity of the EAD photo
You must provide 2 (two) valid photos, which means that they have to be taken within 30 days of your application as the USCIS has to confirm your current appearance, so if you have changed your appearance in some kind of way, you should try to take a new and more suitably up-to-date EAD photo.
Photo quality
The photo must be in high resolution and not be digitally altered, or damaged in any way. Try not to make it blurry or pixelated as good quality is required. If you are scanning your photo it can’t have printer dots or any scratches. You must print the image on glossy or matte photo paper.
Size and position
The required EAD photo size is 2 x 2 inches (51mmx51mm) with the head centered and sized between 1 and 1.4 inches (25 and 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. The photo should be taken with a front-facing view and you should be directly looking into the camera, showing the entire face and forehead of a person. In addition, the photo has got to show the oval of the face, the jawline and temples.
Facial expression
Remember to have a neutral facial expression with both eyes open. You can’t laugh, have a big smile or show your teeth. When it comes to the Employment Authorization Document, the EAD application photo requirement is to not have your mouth open, but you are allowed to have a slightly natural smile, we don’t recommend it though, because if in any way you will change the neutral expression of your face, then the application might be rejected.
Glasses, head coverings and other items
Because your face must be exposed, you cannot wear sunglasses or even everyday glasses. Your clothing should be totally normal clothes that are worn on a daily basis, so it is forbidden to wear any kind of uniform or camouflage costume. You are also forbidden from wearing a hat, a cap or any other head covering. Headphones and wireless hands-free devices are forbidden as well.
Facial piercings are not allowed if they cover your face in any way. However, If you cannot remove your glasses or head covering for medical reasons, you should include a signed doctor’s statement which will verify your condition. Please note that in such a case your full face must be visible and your head covering cannot cast any shadows on your face.
Shadows, lighting and background
As you already know, the photo must be in color so that it shows the tone of your skin and the actual color of your hair and eyes. It is also recommended to take the photo in daylight as this is the best way to avoid the red eye effect. There cannot be any shadows in the background, or on your face and neck, so make sure to set up your photo session in front of a window in full daylight. In order to avoid shadows, keep your camera at the correct distance (about 1.2m away from you). No objects can be visible in the background, which should be neutral, white or off-white.
How to fulfill every single EAD photo requirement?
There are a lot of USCIS photo requirements for an EAD and we understand that it can be hard to fulfill them all. However, with our help and advice the whole process is going to be much easier! You just need to take a photo of yourself with your phone, upload the image to the PhotoAiD site that will take care of the rest.
How does it work?
Our tool allows you to take your EAD photo with your own phone at home. Just ask someone for help so that they can take a photo of you, prepare yourself according to the EAD photo requirements and done. Now upload the picture and in a few minutes you will receive your photo back, which will be ready to attach to your application. Exactly what kind of help can we offer?
- PhotoAiD will remove the existing background from the photo and replace it with the correct one, if necessary. The PhotoAiD tool gives your picture a white background in a professional way, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
- Our tool will also crop your photo to the required EAD photo size and prepare the frame, with which you will be able to print your photos and use them in the future.
- The photo checker also verifies the facial expression, the position of the head, color, lighting and other elements to let you know, in case of any mistakes, that you need to take another shot.
Get an Employment Authorization Document photo with your phone, upload it online and enjoy the perfectly prepared EAD photo waiting for you in your email inbox. Learn how to prepare and what mistakes to avoid.
The most common mistakes made with an EAD card photo
These simple mistakes can cause the rejection of your application when you are trying to get an Employment Authorization Document. Let’s see what not to do with your EAD photo:
- Taking an underexposed or overexposed photo, or one with shadows or the red eye effect,
- Submitting an old or damaged photo,
- Wearing glasses, head covering or other items,
- Having an opened mouth, closed eyes or a wide smile,
- Wearing clothes that are not allowed such as a uniform.
Remember that your photo cannot be out of date and it should be a recent photo to show your current appearance, taken within the last 30 days. It is important that you don’t forget about the correct size for your EAD photo: 2 x 2 inches (51mmx51mm). Another common mistake would be to apply filters to an image or to edit a photo through apps or computer programs, the photo must show your natural appearance, with no changes at all.
Discover other documents we support
Frequently asked questions
Those eligible for an EAD card are:
- J-2 dependents, meaning a spouse or unmarried child who is under 21 years of age of a person who holds a J-1 Visa.
- Foreign students who carry an F-1 visa or M-1 visa.
- Dependents, who are eligible, of employees of diplomatic missions, international organizations, or NATO,
- Family-based nonimmigrants.
The EAD allows the owner (non-citizen) to legally work in the United States.
The Employment Authorization Document is not the same as a Green Card and it does not guarantee any immigrant status to its owner.
The average processing time at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is 3-5 months, but most of the time it takes about 1.5-2 months to receive your EAD.
The application process for the EAD requires preparation and for you to mail in all of the following documentation:
- 2 (two) photos that meet the requirements,
- USCIS fee,
- form G-1145,
- form I-765,
- work permission letter,
- photocopy of passport,
- photocopy of DS-2019 documents,
- photocopy of electronic I-94 record,
- financial documentation,
- proof of marriage.
Receiving approval for your EAD is not enough to start working, because it does not prove anything to the employer.
You can renew your EAD as often as you like, as long as you are still eligible to do so.
You can renew your EAD as early as 4 (four) months before the expiration date of your current one, it is advised that you begin the renewal process as soon as possible to ensure that you have it renewed in time, in case of delay.
If you were approved for an EAD but still have not received your card in the mail, then you will need to contact the USCIS in order to find out the tracking number, so that you can see if it was delivered or not. If it was lost in the mail and the USPS (United States Postal Service) were responsible then you will be issued with a new one at no cost. However, if they deem it your responsibility you will be required to file for a lost EAD card and pay a processing fee.
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