VisaPDF document guide
CEAC PDF Upload Size Limit: 2 MB or 4 MB?
By VisaPDF · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Conflicting size limits can send you through unnecessary rounds of compression. Identify your visa workflow and read the instructions beside the actual upload field before changing your document.
Why search results show different limits
The Department of State’s current immigrant visa scanning guidance lists a maximum of 4 MB per file. An older CEAC upload instruction PDF mentions 2 MB. These are not interchangeable instructions for every U.S. visa workflow. Use current guidance for your application and the limit displayed in the portal.
Prepare the document before shrinking it
The NVC guidance calls for readable color scans and says a multipage document should be uploaded as one file. Keep the necessary pages together and check their orientation. Follow the official instructions for your document; a file-size preset alone cannot establish compliance.
Compress locally with VisaPDF
On Mac, iPhone, or iPad, choose Compress and import your PDF. Select the matching size target or use a custom limit; do not automatically choose an older CEAC preset if your portal specifies a different limit. Process a copy and inspect the final file size. Your document is processed on your device rather than uploaded to a compression server.
A smaller PDF can still fail
Do not ZIP the document as a substitute for PDF compression. The current NVC guidance also excludes password-protected and modifiable PDFs. File size is only one check: confirm the format and document instructions as well. If the portal reports an error, record its exact wording rather than assuming that more compression is the answer.
Inspect the exported copy
Open the result, count the pages, and read fine print and stamps at a comfortable zoom. Preserve required color information. If stronger compression makes the scan unclear, return to the original and consider a better scan. VisaPDF does not guarantee portal acceptance or a visa outcome.
Common questions
Should I always compress a CEAC document below 2 MB?
No. Confirm your workflow and the current upload field. The current immigrant visa scanning guidance lists 4 MB per file.
Can I split a multipage document into separate uploads?
Do not assume so. NVC’s scanning guidance says to keep a multipage document as one file. Follow your document-specific instructions.
Official sources
Requirements can change. Check the official instructions and your upload field before submitting.