NVC document upload failed in CEAC: the file rules that fix it

The official file rules, from CEAC's own tips page

CEAC's document upload tips page sets out the rules: each individual file must be no larger than 2 MB, zipped files are not accepted, and the acceptable file types are .jpg, .jpeg, and .pdf. Scan each document as its own separate file, and if a document has multiple pages, scan all the pages together into a single file. If that multi-page file exceeds the size cap, compress it first; only split a document into multiple smaller files as a last resort.

Two rules people miss: if a document is in color, scan it in color rather than black and white, and scan both the front and back of any document that has stamps, seals, or writing on the back. A certified translation should be combined with the original foreign-language document in a single file.

Uploaded is not submitted

A document showing 'Uploaded' in CEAC is not yet visible to NVC. The tips page is explicit that after uploading you must click the Submit Documents button in both the Affidavit of Support and Civil Documents screens. A case that sits for weeks with everything uploaded but never submitted is a common self-inflicted delay.

When a compliant file still fails

CEAC has an acknowledged, ongoing upload problem that the State Department lists on its official troubleshooting page, most visibly as the Invalid Image Detected error. The official workaround is to save the completed document as a PDF, save it again or print it to PDF so the file is flattened, and re-upload. The full walkthrough, including what to do about the related 'requested URL was rejected' access error, is in our guide at /guides/ceac-invalid-image-detected.

If nothing gets through, do not keep retrying into a deadline. The troubleshooting page directs applicants who cannot resolve an error to the NVC public inquiry form at nvc.state.gov/inquiry.

Frequently asked questions