Your PDF is smaller than the upload limit, but the website still rejects it. Stop compressing for a moment. This troubleshooting checklist helps you separate a document problem from a submission problem.
01 Read the exact rejection message
Record the wording before changing anything. Look for a named requirement: file type, file count, password protection, filename, page count or an expired session. Treat these as checks, not a diagnosis: requirements differ by destination.
02 Confirm the file you actually selected
Put the intended PDF in a clearly named folder. Open that exact file and inspect its pages. Then select it again in the upload dialog. Keep the original and your submission copy separate so you do not accidentally choose an older version.
03 Compare every requirement
Check the instructions displayed on the current form. For example, the USCIS tip-evidence form lists both accepted formats and limits on file count and size. Those rules belong to that particular form; they should not be applied to every USCIS service or every website.
Do not assume a file is acceptable just because its filename ends in .pdf. Check whether your viewer can open it. If it cannot, use our PDF opening troubleshooting guide before trying another upload.
04 Run one controlled retry
Note which file you selected and what you changed. Re-select the verified copy and retry once. If the rejection repeats, keep the error message and contact the destination’s support team. Ask which requirement failed rather than submitting many altered versions.
05 Avoid changes that miss the problem
Do not delete required pages, remove security settings without permission or repeatedly degrade the document to chase an unexplained error. If the message specifically confirms excess size, switch to our upload-size guide.
Final checklist
- Exact error recorded.
- Correct copy selected and opened.
- Current destination requirements checked.
- Required pages still present.
- Support contacted if the reason remains unclear.
Browse related document guides.
Reference
USCIS: Tip Evidence Form — an example of destination-specific requirements, not a universal PDF upload standard.