What USCIS accepts
- File types: PDF, JPG or JPEG. Some forms also accept TIF or TIFF.
- Size: no larger than 12MB per file.
- No passwords: files must not be encrypted or password-protected.
- File names: keep them simple: English letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores and periods.
These limits come from USCIS's online filing pages and can change, so always follow what the upload screen for your form says.
A PDF is over 12MB
Large PDFs are almost always scans: each page is a big photo. Open Compress PDF and choose Recommended. That keeps text sharp enough to read and usually cuts scanned files by more than half. If the file is still too big, try Strong, then open the result and zoom in to check that names, dates and numbers are still clear.
A very long document
If one document is too large even after compressing, split it. Use Split PDF to save it in parts (for example pages 1 to 20 and 21 to 40) and upload each part, with names like tax-return-part-1.pdf and tax-return-part-2.pdf.
Photos of documents from a phone
iPhone photos are often HEIC files, which USCIS does not take. Turn them into one PDF with HEIC to PDF, or use JPG to PDF for JPG photos. Put the pages of one document in a single PDF in the right order, rather than uploading each page as a separate photo.
A PDF with a password
Bank statements and pay stubs downloaded from a website sometimes open with a password. If you know the password, Unlock PDF saves a copy without it, which you can then upload.
Before you upload
- Open every file and check that each page is readable, upright and complete.
- Translate documents that are not in English, as USCIS requires a certified English translation.
- Keep the original, full-quality files in case you are asked for them later.