When you file a USCIS form online, you upload evidence along with it: birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, tax returns, bank statements, photos. The upload step checks each file, and a file that is too big, in the wrong format or password protected is refused or causes problems later.
Here are the rules from the USCIS page on filing forms online, and a way to prepare every evidence file on your own computer or phone. These are personal documents, so the tools below run in your browser and never upload them to us; the only place they go is your USCIS account.
The USCIS upload rules
From the uscis.gov page Tips for Filing Forms Online (checked on 10 October 2026). Check it again before you file, since USCIS can change the rules.
- Files must not be larger than 12 MB each.
- Files generally must be PDF, JPG or JPEG. Some forms also accept TIF or TIFF.
- Do not encrypt or password-protect your files.
- Every image must be clear, with all text readable. You can use a scanner or photograph each document.
- Documents in a foreign language need the original, a certified English translation and the translator's certificate.
- If passport-style photos are required, scan them or take a picture with your phone.
Fill the form in Adobe Reader, prepare the evidence anywhere
USCIS says its PDF forms are built for Adobe Acrobat Reader and that other PDF software can lose data, especially when you file by PDF upload. So complete and sign the USCIS form itself in Adobe Reader. This guide is about the evidence files, where any tool that produces a clean PDF or JPG is fine.
Step by step
Photograph or scan each document
Lay each page flat in daylight and capture it from directly above, or scan it. iPhone photos are often HEIC; convert them with HEIC to JPG.
Shrink the pages before you combine them
Phone photos are 3 to 5 MB each, so a ten page bank statement can pass 12 MB quickly. Open Compress Image, choose Target size and enter about 800 KB per page; text stays readable and the PDF stays far under the limit.
Put multi-page documents into one PDF
Turn the pages of one document into a single PDF, in order, with JPG to PDF. If some pages are already PDFs, join them with Merge PDF.
Remove passwords from statements
Banks often email password protected statements, which USCIS asks you not to upload. If you know the password, Unlock PDF saves an unprotected copy.
Keep each file to one document
Upload one document per file and name it clearly, for example passport-bio-page.pdf or 2025-tax-return.pdf. Reviewers can then find each piece of evidence quickly, and a problem with one file does not affect the others.
Common problems
- A scan saved at very high resolution, making a single page over 12 MB.
- HEIC photos from an iPhone, which are not on the accepted list.
- Password protected bank or payroll PDFs.
- Dark or angled phone photos where small print is unreadable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum file size for USCIS online evidence?
12 MB per file, according to the USCIS Tips for Filing Forms Online page.
Which file types does USCIS accept for evidence?
Generally PDF, JPG and JPEG. Some forms also accept TIF or TIFF. HEIC photos should be converted to JPG first.
Can I upload a password protected PDF to USCIS?
No. USCIS asks you not to encrypt or password-protect files. Remove the password from a copy first, for example with Unlock PDF if you know the password.
Are my documents uploaded to Drible?
No. HEIC to JPG, Compress Image, JPG to PDF, Merge PDF and Unlock PDF run in your browser, so your documents stay on your device until you upload them to USCIS.
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