Tool guides
Prepare your US immigrant visa documents for CEAC
Where is the file processed?
Steps
- Choose the document type: Passport bio page, birth certificate, police certificate, marriage certificate, education certificate or translation. The type is used later in the file name.
- Add the document's pages: Photograph the pages with your phone, or pick photos, scans or existing PDFs. Add every page of this document in order, and don't mix in another document.
- Clean up the pages: Each page is cropped to the paper edges, straightened and its contrast adjusted so the text is clearer. Color documents stay in color.
- Compress and name the file: The document becomes one PDF compressed to 2 MB or less, named like Surname_GivenName_Birth-Certificate.pdf. You can edit the name.
- Download all, upload yourself: Repeat for your other documents, then download all the files together. You upload them to CEAC from your own account; we never upload anything or ask for your case number.
What it offers
One document, one file
All pages of a document go in one file, and each document gets its own file, as the CEAC file tips page asks.2 MB or less per file
Each file is compressed to the CEAC limit while keeping text and stamps readable. If that isn't possible, we tell you plainly instead of handing you a file that won't be accepted.Colors stay as they are
Color documents stay in color; the tool doesn't turn them black and white to save space.Clear file names
Names like Surname_GivenName_Birth-Certificate.pdf, so you can tell every file apart when uploading.Accepted formats, no ZIP
You get separate PDF files, never a ZIP archive, which CEAC doesn't accept. You can start from JPG photos or PDF files.Your documents stay on your device
All processing runs in your browser. We don't upload anything for you and never ask for your case number or CEAC login.
Limits
The tool runs on your device, so the largest file it can handle depends on your device's and browser's memory. Very large files can take longer on phones.
Frequently asked questions
What are CEAC's file requirements?
According to the CEAC file tips page: one file per document containing all its pages, in PDF, JPG or JPEG format, each file 2 MB or smaller, and ZIP files are not accepted. Source: https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Docs/Tips.aspx
My document has several pages. Do I upload each page separately?
No. All pages of one document go in a single file. Add them all here in order and you'll get one PDF.
What if the file is still over 2 MB?
The tool tells you clearly. Try removing blank pages or reshooting the pages in better light. CEAC advises splitting a document into several files only if it's still over 4 MB after compression; in that case the tool splits it and numbers the parts in order.
Should I convert documents to black and white to make them smaller?
No. The CEAC tips ask you to keep color documents in color. The tool compresses the pages while keeping colors and readability.
Do you upload the documents to my CEAC account?
No. The tool only prepares the files and downloads them to your device; you upload them yourself. We never ask for your case number, username or password, and you should be wary of any site or person who asks for them to “help”.
Is this tool affiliated with the embassy or the US government?
No. It's an independent tool by akkadX, not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government. Acceptance of your documents is up to the relevant US authorities and the consular officer, so always follow the instructions shown in your account.
Do my documents stay on my device? Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Everything runs in your browser and no document is sent to any server. It works in Safari or Chrome on your phone, though documents with many pages can take longer on phones with limited memory.