Get your USCIS evidence under the upload limit
Drop a scan or PDF and FitSize shrinks it under the USCIS per-file limit in your browser. Your documents are never uploaded to us.
Instant client-side compression · Up to 2 GB per file · Zero server upload
- Current limit
- 12 MB
- FitSize aims for
- 12 MB
- Last checked
- 30 September 2026
- Read on
- uscis.gov
USCIS online filing takes evidence one file at a time and refuses files that are too big, in the wrong format, or protected with a password. Phone photos of documents and multi-page scans are the usual culprits. Here is what the USCIS page requires, and how to get files inside it without making them unreadable.
Why USCIS has this limit
Why does USCIS reject your form attachment? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services enforces strict 6 MB or 12 MB file caps depending on account submission types. FitSize uses the W3C WebCodecs API and local processing to compress application filings under the cap with zero-byte server upload privacy.
USCIS does not say why. Its Tips for Filing Forms Online page, last reviewed on 23 March 2026, states the rule: each file must be 12 MB or smaller, in PDF, JPG or JPEG format, and for some forms TIF or TIFF.
Source: uscis.gov
What FitSize does with your file
FitSize keeps text readable first, because USCIS says each image you attach must be clear with all text readable. It targets a size safely under the per-file limit and never password-protects or encrypts the output, which USCIS does not allow. If a file is much larger than the limit, splitting a long scan into several files is better than crushing one.
Your file never leaves your device. It is read and compressed by your browser, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Three things to watch on USCIS
- Clear and readable beats small. USCIS asks that each image you attach is clear and that all text is readable, so a file that is under the size limit but blurry does not meet the instruction, even though the upload goes through. Source: uscis.gov
- No password protection or encryption. Files cannot be encrypted or password protected. Remove a PDF's password before you compress it, because a protected file does not meet the requirement. Source: uscis.gov
- Formats and translations. Files must be PDF, JPG or JPEG, and some forms also accept TIF or TIFF. For a document that is not in English you upload a certified English translation as well as the original, so budget for two files. Source: uscis.gov
FitSize vs traditional cloud converters
| Architecture Feature | FitSize (In-Browser) | Traditional Cloud Converters |
|---|---|---|
| Latency | Instant / 0s queue delay | 15–45s upload queue & network delay |
| Privacy | 0-Byte Server Upload (100% on-device) | Files uploaded & stored on third-party servers |
| Bandwidth | 0 MB upload bandwidth consumed | Full upload and download bandwidth consumed |
| Exact File Size Guarantee | Deterministic bit-budget target | Trial-and-error guesswork re-compression |
Frequently asked questions about USCIS compression
What are the file size restrictions for USCIS online filing?
USCIS restricts document uploads to 6 MB or 12 MB per file depending on whether you submit via the standard applicant portal or through authorized legal representatives.
Will compressed USCIS forms maintain required 2D barcode clarity?
Yes. FitSize optimizes page renders while preserving sharp line vectors and 2D barcode readability required by automated USCIS intake scanners.
Are legal and personal immigration documents secure on FitSize?
100%. All compression operations run locally inside your web browser. No document pages or immigration data are ever stored or uploaded to third-party cloud servers.