Are photos necessary for stamping?

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ruxrux

Registered Users (C)
On my approval notice it doesn't say anything about photos, but I keep reading posts about ADIT photos for stamping.

Our approval notices say that we don't need to go to stamping unless we need to travel (we were at the interview in SJ). Since my wife does need to travel, I wonder - how come we don't need photos and everyone else needs them??? What if we show for PP stamping - will they say we need photos? They already have our photos which we supplied when applying for GC!
 
In our approval notice, it is mentioned that 2 photos are required for the stamping, and now they only accept front face photos instead of side face ones.

I think you need to go stamping because that is the time they take your
index finger print and signature to show on the greencard.

The photos you submitted before have been used for the first time AP and EAD.
 
ruxrux,

Your family was interviewed... aren't your passports already stamped? That's good enough for re-entry after travel outside the US.

The lady who took our interview just asked us to fill I-89s. She said they already had photos.

I don't understand why others have to carry photos... my theory is, since, in their case, the whole file does not come to the local office, it may be saving a step and time to have photos with their I-89s. In interview cases, the entire file is sitting at San Jose anyway. Just a theory.
 
We were interviewed, but not approved immediately - got RFE at interview. They took our fingerprints and did everything necessary so that we don't have to go to CIS again.

I also clearly saw our photos in our files at CIS so I don't know why I'd need them again.

Approval notices don't mention photos and I'm already sick as hell of the photo-taking. We did it at least 15 times already - every year for GC lottery, AP, EAD, then passport and now stamping.
 
rux:

I think they would need the photos .... might as well get it over with once and forever :)
CIS has everything on file .... they just don't have a way to retrieve it ;) -- I mean why should we send copies of all the damn stuff each time you want your EAD/AP renewed ?
After all if CIS gets too bored to actually pull stuff from the file, they can always issue an RFE asking you to submit the stuff again :)

OK - enough of my rant -- just get PP style photos and get the damn thing over with :)
 
When we went for stampping on Aug 30, we took both ADIT style and PP style photographs..., We were informed that the matter written on the approval notices is going to change..., I think USCIS has started changing the matter..., but now they are making mistakes..., may be USCIS would take time before they get it corrected. It is better to take TWO PP style photos....
 
They did not collect photos from me when I got my passport stamped (two weeks after the interview). Infact they told me that passport stamping is optional, your card processing will start immeditately ater you are approved.
I received welcome letters, but no card yet. online status changed to receeived ... from interview. Now it has changed to approved.
On Welcome letter there was a new WAC #. Case type was application to create permanent residence record...
 
The problem is the uncertainty in all your dealings with INS. For different types of cases they have different policies. It is best though to be prepared. Just because you don't want to find out that you need photographs and have to run out to the closest shop, that charges exhorbitant prices because they know you are in a rush.

It is best to just stop by your nearest Costco, take a couple of pictures. At worst case, you can use them again, the next time you apply for your citizenship in 5 years! :)
 
Here is the note from my lawer on related question:

"The appointment is for what the USCIS calls ADIT processing. The USCIS will take your current EAD card and Advance Parole document, two photos (the old ones are not good, you will need to take 2 news ones of the attached format), and the approval. They will then put a stamp in your passport that acts as your temporary "green card". This stamp is valid for one year and is used for work and travel authorization. Once you have the stamp in your passport you are an official permanent resident."
 
ruxrux said:
On my approval notice it doesn't say anything about photos, but I keep reading posts about ADIT photos for stamping.

They already have our photos which we supplied when applying for GC!
Click to expand...

You need to carry photos taken within 30 days. There is no harm in taking two photographs before going for stamping. If you are required to submitt photos at the time of stamping, you will be fine. Good luck!
 
peace_of_mind said:
When we went for stampping on Aug 30, we took both ADIT style and PP style photographs..., We were informed that the matter written on the approval notices is going to change..., I think USCIS has started changing the matter..., but now they are making mistakes..., may be USCIS would take time before they get it corrected. It is better to take TWO PP style photos....
Click to expand...

I am confused, which photos are now accepted at stamping, pasport style or ADIT style? Approval notice of definitely old format states ADIT photos...

please, clarify.
 
ND022202 said:
I am confused, which photos are now accepted at stamping, pasport style or ADIT style? Approval notice of definitely old format states ADIT photos...

please, clarify.
Click to expand...
PP style (front facing) is the only accepted format now.

I think USCIS has not upgraded (!) the systems that spit out the approval notices yet :)
 
Update: we went to SJ for stamping today. We were in at 12:50 (5 minutes late!), got a number and waited until 13:40, when the lady at window 13 called us. We did not need a photo, she just took our passports and stamped them in less than 2 minutes. She said that we already did everything necessary at the interview and that the card is on its way.
 
What is your online status?
My status changed to transfer back, then to approved. I received Welcome notice from service center. After two weeks, I received card, but the card came from NE (I wonder why not from KY).
Online status still says case approved .....
 
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