Modifiable or editable PDFs

[BenNomad 88]

Hi everyone,

I've read the threads about needing to print out, hand sign and rescan the i-864 form as a PDF, but what about other documents like translations? For example, I have PDF files from a translation agency that are editable in Adobe Acrobat (meaning I can select "Edit PDF" and all the text fields become editable). I'm assuming the NVC will reject those kinds of PDFs. I can restrict editing in Adobe Acrobat, though. The document will be openable and readable, but editing will require a password. Will the NVC reject it for being "password-protected" if I do that? 

 

Is it best to print out all the PDF translations and rescan as new PDFs? 

 

Thanks

[Crazy Cat 41,855]

Yes, they will reject any document which requires a password to open.  

Edited May 20, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[BenNomad 88]

9 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes, they will reject any document which requires a password to open.  

They would not need a password to open and read the document, only to edit. I don't have a printer or scanner, and the nearest copy center is a 30-min taxi ride away, which is why I'm wondering if anyone tried sending docs with restricted editing.

[Volli 31]

You could use an online PDF resize tool. Upload your editable PDF and download the resized PDF with a size of your choice. Maybe this tool also eliminates the editable feature of your PDF. Search for 'iLovePDF' for example.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Volli

[Crazy Cat 41,855]

1 hour ago, BenNomad said:

They would not need a password to open and read the document, only to edit. I don't have a printer or scanner, and the nearest copy center is a 30-min taxi ride away, which is why I'm wondering if anyone tried sending docs with restricted editing.

I see no reason why NVC would want to edit your I-864.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Mike E 11,739]

4 hours ago, BenNomad said:

Is it best to print out all the PDF translations and rescan as new PDFs

I would do  “print to PDF” and submit that.

[BenNomad 88]

Thanks for the suggestions. Makes me think the key here is to send image-based PDFs, like what you get when you scan a document and save as PDF, because they can't be "modified" the way a form-based PDF can. Another way to avoid printing and rescanning would be to open a PDF in Photoshop (if you have it), save out as an image file and then re-convert to PDF.

[Mike E 11,739]

12 minutes ago, BenNomad said:

because they can't be "modified" the way a form-based PDF can

Oh, give me any one of these image based PDFs, and with Mac Preview I can modify it with impunity.

[BenNomad 88]

17 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Oh, give me any one of these image based PDFs, and with Mac Preview I can modify it with impunity.

Sure, there's no question of that, but NVC says they won't accept "modifiable" PDFs. What's their basis for acceptance or rejection? Everyone says printing and rescanning works, so I'm guessing their system is looking for image-based PDFs. 

[ZRomper 42]

21 hours ago, BenNomad said:

Sure, there's no question of that, but NVC says they won't accept "modifiable" PDFs. What's their basis for acceptance or rejection? Everyone says printing and rescanning works, so I'm guessing their system is looking for image-based PDFs. 

By "modifiable" NVC simply means they don't want people downloading their forms like I-864, clicking into the modifiable fields like First Name, Last...etc. plugging in values and slapping on a digital signature and sending it to them. They do NOT mean modifiable through special PDF editing applications like FoxitPDF or Adobe PDF editor. It just means you print it out, rescan it through your phone for instance and send back the resulting PDF which becomes non-modifiable because you can no longer click into the fields using in regular read mode and change those values (since like you said it's now an image), plus it forces you to sign the document.

KISS principle applies here.

Edited May 21, 2023 by ZRomper

[BenNomad 88]

On 5/21/2023 at 3:30 PM, ZRomper said:

By "modifiable" NVC simply means they don't want people downloading their forms like I-864, clicking into the modifiable fields like First Name, Last...etc. plugging in values and slapping on a digital signature and sending it to them. They do NOT mean modifiable through special PDF editing applications like FoxitPDF or Adobe PDF editor. It just means you print it out, rescan it through your phone for instance and send back the resulting PDF which becomes non-modifiable because you can no longer click into the fields using in regular read mode and change those values (since like you said it's now an image), plus it forces you to sign the document.

KISS principle applies here.

That makes sense. Thanks for the reply. I printed out the i-864, hand signed and rescanned it. I left all the other PDF docs just as they were sent to me from the translators. Got everything submitted and now we're waiting for review!