Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
#1
Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
This version appears to have active content that checks the program being used to open it: when I try to open it using Preview on a Mac I see the following text:
"To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer. You can upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For further support, go to www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html"
Apparently Mac users are not expected to apply for natz...
"To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer. You can upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For further support, go to www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html"
Apparently Mac users are not expected to apply for natz...
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
#3
Passport Collector
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Princeton, NJ
Posts: 725
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
I have done a lot of work with PDF files and I can say that the PDF files created by USCIS have been very poorly made. Some files have embedded fonts and some don't, some require different versions of Acrobat then others, some have been secured and some not, many of the fields are misaligned, some can be saved and some not and there are numerous incompatibilities like the one with apple preview. It's relatively easy to improve upon them by creating much more compatible files, with smaller size and make sure that fonts are always embedded - but I suppose this is too much to ask from USCIS. I could easily create improved and compatible versions of these files myself if many people would be interested - but thats unlikely.
This version appears to have active content that checks the program being used to open it: when I try to open it using Preview on a Mac I see the following text:
"To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer. You can upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For further support, go to www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html"
Apparently Mac users are not expected to apply for natz...
"To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer. You can upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For further support, go to www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html"
Apparently Mac users are not expected to apply for natz...
Last edited by dreamercon; Feb 27th 2011 at 6:12 pm.
#4
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
You could always send away for the paper versions. USCIS will mail them to you. You fill this kind in with a "pen".
#5
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 25
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
Now a days we can submit online application, which is a faster process compared to sending an email...whats your opinion?
#6
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
Really do you expect government programmers to analyze the information in the HTTP User-Agent header to determine which type of operating system the user is running on?
#8
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
And I don't want them promoting Adobe.
#10
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
No idea what their particular reason for checking the reader software is. There is no reason I can think of that a publicly-accessible government form should contain DRM, nor should it use the latest bleeding-edge standard if there is not widespread adoption of that standard. And it should certainly never promote a commercial software vendor.
At least, I suppose, it matches the mindless architecture of their website.
#11
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
No, but the default PDF app for Macs is Preview, which is fully PDF compliant. USCIS are deliberately choosing to require Acrobat. I agree with FB's comment above.
#12
Passport Collector
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Princeton, NJ
Posts: 725
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
Preview is not fully PDF compliant. I wish it was - but its not - and I have reported tens of bugs to Apple about Preview alone. Now that doesn't mean that USCIS could not create more compatible PDF files with minimum effort - that would be really easy, I could do that myself in just a few minutes.
There are many more issues involving USCIS forms and Preview - for example, almost all USCIS forms have a barcode at the bottom - but this barcode is not visible when using preview. You can see it with Acrobat Reader though.
There are many more issues involving USCIS forms and Preview - for example, almost all USCIS forms have a barcode at the bottom - but this barcode is not visible when using preview. You can see it with Acrobat Reader though.
#13
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
Rene
#14
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 25
Re: Problem with N-400 PDF on USCIS web site
I know we cannot submit application online. But we can fill the application online instead of filling in hard copy. I felt its easier to fill online and finally we can take print out of application and send it to USCIS.