What USCIS requires for uploaded evidence
When you file a form online, you upload your own evidence. According to the official USCIS page “Tips for Filing Forms Online”, checked in September 2026, each file must be PDF, JPG or JPEG (some forms also take TIF or TIFF), no file can be larger than 12 MB, and nothing may be encrypted or password-protected. Every image must be clear, with all text readable.
USCIS also asks for a certified English translation in addition to the original for foreign-language documents. If the upload screen for your specific form shows something different, follow the screen.
Why this page aims for 11,650 KB
A file that lands exactly on the limit can still be refused, depending on how the system counts megabytes. Aiming about 3% lower leaves a safety margin without costing you visible quality.
The engine only recompresses the photos inside the PDF. Any real text layer and vector graphics stay untouched and selectable. Phone scans of long documents, like bank statements, are usually what goes over the limit, and they're also what shrinks best. A PDF that's mostly real text shrinks very little; if it's still too big, it probably has a lot of pages, so split it at a logical point, such as by year.
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Immigration evidence is personal. ConvertirDocs compresses in your browser, so your file never leaves your device and nothing is stored. It's 100% free: no sign-up, no account, no email and no limit on how many files you compress.
Common mistakes and what to do if the upload is rejected
Don't squeeze a file until dates, seals or signatures blur; a readable file matters more than a tiny one. Don't upload only the translation, and don't mix different people's documents in one file.
If USCIS rejects a file, check the three published rules: an accepted format, 12 MB or less, and no password. A protected bank PDF can be opened with “Unlock PDF” if you know the password. If a PDF won't open even on your own computer, scan the original again instead of uploading a damaged file.