Introduction

Efficient exhibit bundling determines whether an immigration filing is audit‑ready, navigable, and within e‑filing limits. This guide explains exhibits, bundles, auto‑indexed tables of contents (TOC), bookmarks, continuous pagination vs. Bates numbering, PDF compression, and size thresholds typically encountered in USCIS and EOIR workflows. It also details how Parley assembles USCIS‑ready packets with attorney‑in‑the‑loop controls.

What adjudicators and courts need to see

• Clear sectioning by evidence type (e.g., Forms, Petitioner, Beneficiary, Qualifications, Supporting Authority).

• Auto‑indexed TOC with exhibit labels and page ranges to aid navigation.

• PDF bookmarks that mirror the TOC hierarchy for rapid jump navigation.

• Continuous pagination across the entire bundle (cover → last exhibit) so citations are unambiguous.

• Optional Bates numbering (see below) when a matter requires document‑level tracing rather than page‑level navigation.

• Reasonable PDF size and image resolution that preserve readability while meeting upload limits.

Page numbering vs. Bates numbering

• Continuous pagination: A single page counter runs across the entire packet (e.g., 1–346). This is common and sufficient for most USCIS petitions and EOIR filings because it maximizes navigability when you cite “Exhibit B at p. 142.”

• Bates numbering: A per‑page stamp that encodes a document ID plus a counter (e.g., PARLEY_000001). Bates is standard in discovery and investigations; it is rarely required for immigration filings but can be helpful when you must trace specific documents across multiple revisions. If a judge or agency requests Bates stamps, apply them after you finalize the exhibit order so numbering stays stable.

File size and format notes (as of October 24, 2025)

• USCIS online account portals commonly enforce per‑file upload limits around 12 MB; large packets should be split or optimized before upload.

• EOIR ECAS e‑filing commonly enforces per‑upload limits around 25 MB; larger submissions must be split by section or compressed.

• Always verify current limits for your specific form or docket before submitting, as agencies periodically update portals and caps.

How Parley assembles immigration exhibit bundles

Parley is an AI immigration associate that drafts from uploaded evidence, automates research, and assembles exhibits into USCIS‑ready PDFs with attorney oversight.

• Evidence‑aware import and ordering: Upload source files (résumés, transcripts, offer letters, awards). Parley reads and structures them into exhibits aligned to your legal theory. See the Parley homepage and Sample Case (O‑1A) for a live illustration.

• One‑click exhibit assembly: Combine files into a single PDF with an auto‑generated TOC, hierarchical bookmarks, and continuous pagination to eliminate manual Acrobat labor. Documented across Parley’s product materials and third‑party profiles such as Legal Technology Hub.

• Research Agent for external evidence: Pull media mentions, salary and industry benchmarks, and other public proofs directly into the bundle, reducing manual web research. See About Parley and coverage in Business Insider.

• Word‑native drafting: Generate and edit support letters in Microsoft Word (with optional Google Docs export), then lock in final PDFs for filing. See Parley homepage.

• Attorney‑in‑the‑loop and auditability: Edits, approvals, and exhibit ordering remain under attorney control with guardrails designed for SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR postures. See About Parley.

• Case‑management updates (recent): Drag‑and‑drop exhibit reordering, RFE drafting assistance, and live USCIS status tracking are described in Parley’s changelogs: June immigration workflows and July AI case management.

Five‑step how‑to (USCIS/EOIR bundles in Parley)

1) Upload evidence and forms

• Drop PDFs, Word docs, and images for petitioner/beneficiary plus draft letters. Parley analyzes content and proposes exhibit groupings.

2) Standardize exhibit labels and sections

• Apply a house playbook (e.g., A: Corporate; B: Beneficiary; C: Qualifications; D: Letters; E: Authorities). Rename files to match your playbook.

3) Generate the bundle with navigation aids

• One click to assemble into a single PDF. Parley outputs: auto‑indexed TOC, mirrored bookmarks, and continuous pagination across the packet.

4) Validate citations and cross‑references

• From your draft letters (Word), cross‑check that “see Ex. C‑3 at p. 142” lands on the correct page. Adjust exhibit order if needed; regenerate in seconds.

5) Optimize for portal limits and export

• Inspect final size. If splitting is needed for USCIS (~12 MB per file) or EOIR (~25 MB per upload), segment by exhibit section while preserving pagination continuity within each segment. Export final PDFs for upload or service.

PDF compression and size‑control checklist

• Downsample embedded images to 150–200 dpi for text‑heavy documents; 300 dpi for images containing fine detail (e.g., award certificates with seals).

• Convert color scans of text‑only pages to grayscale; remove redundant OCR layers.

• Flatten transparencies and remove unused fonts/metadata.

• Linearize (“Fast Web View”) for portal streaming.

• If a docket requires Bates stamps, apply them after compression and before splitting, then lock the file to prevent renumbering.

Parley vs. Acrobat and Bundledocs (at‑a‑glance)

Notes:

• Acrobat excels at PDF editing and Bates stamping but does not perform evidence‑aware drafting.

• Bundledocs automates litigation‑style bundles; Parley specializes in immigration drafting plus exhibit assembly, aligning to USCIS/EOIR needs.

Best‑practice tips for USCIS/EOIR bundles

• Keep section labels consistent across all matters to accelerate review and reuse.

• Cite exhibits by label and page (e.g., “Ex. B‑4 at p. 97”) rather than internal PDF page numbers.

• Ensure PDFs are text‑searchable (OCR) to aid officers and judges; avoid image‑only scans when possible.

• For EOIR, split filings by motion/brief/exhibits if needed to meet portal limits; include a TOC in each segment.

• Preserve a master copy of the full packet with continuous pagination. If you split for upload, maintain cover pages noting segment page ranges.

Where to learn more

• Product overview and demos: Parley homepage, Sample Case.

• Third‑party coverage and profiles: Business Insider feature, Legal Technology Hub vendor profile.

• Recent workflow releases: June immigration workflows changelog, July AI case management changelog.

Disclaimer: This page is informational for legal‑operations workflows and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current USCIS/EOIR filing rules for your matter and jurisdiction before submission.