Can not open pdf document

Try printing it and using a pen. You can then scan it back in. This is making the assumption you have the facilities to do this.

Is it possible the file is corrupt? Did you try re-downloading it from its original source?

It looks to me like it's using "features" only available in the adobe reader. I would go with Chris' idea.

Here's my question: how do you print a PDF without software that can interpret what it's supposed to look like? If I was to print this file as I see it, I wouldn't get whatever form it's supposed to be, just the error message that is visible.

I saw that message when trying to file my taxes electronically this year. Instead, I just opted to do it the old fashioned pen-and-paper way.

Using qpdf to change the PDF's version helps nothing; pdfedit asks for a password to open the file; pdfmod produces this error:

$ pdfmod n-400.pdf 
[1 Debug 17:36:16.915] Starting PdfMod 0.9.1
[1 Debug 17:36:16.921] Initializing i18n catalog from /usr/share/locale/
[1 Debug 17:36:16.969] Loaded custom AccelMap from ~/.config/pdfmod/gtk_accel_map
[1 Debug 17:36:16.982] Cache directory set to ~/.cache/pdfmod
[1 Debug 17:36:17.335] Loaded n-400.pdf
[3 Warn  17:36:17.480] Caught an exception - PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfReaderException: Cannot handle iref streams. The current implementation of PDFsharp cannot handle this PDF feature introduced with Acrobat 6. (in `PdfSharp')
  at PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.Parser.ReadXRefTableAndTrailer (PdfSharp.Pdf.PdfReferenceTable xrefTable) [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.Parser.ReadTrailer () [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfReader.Open (System.IO.Stream stream, System.String password, PdfDocumentOpenMode openmode, PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfPasswordProvider passwordProvider) [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfReader.Open (System.String path, System.String password, PdfDocumentOpenMode openmode, PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfPasswordProvider provider) [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfReader.Open (System.String path, PdfDocumentOpenMode openmode, PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfPasswordProvider provider) [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfMod.Pdf.Document.Load (System.String uri, PdfSharp.Pdf.IO.PdfPasswordProvider passwordProvider, Boolean isAlreadyTmp) [0x00000] in :0 
  at PdfMod.Gui.Client+c__AnonStorey10.<>m__1C () [0x00000] in :0 
[3 Error 17:36:17.481] Erro ao Carregar Documento - Ocorreu um erro ao carregar ~/Downloads/n-400.pdf

I never seen this before. I didn't know about this restriction from Adobe.

But I found this:

Certain PDF files (dynamic XFA forms) created in Adobe LiveCycle can only be opened in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat. When you try to open these files in an alternative PDF viewer, then you will see this error message.

Unfortunately, it's not easy remove this message and modify the PDF so that it can be opened in alternative PDF viewers. The person who created the original form must re-create the form using options that do not restrict which PDF viewers can open and display the file.

Adobe has made the decision that since very few non-Adobe products support these special PDF files, that it is better to show this message -- and require the user to download Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat -- than it is to let the PDF viewer try to render the document.

We strongly disagree with this decision that Adobe has made and will work to try to convince them to reverse this bad policy, which just causes needless confusion for users of PDF.

http://www.quickpdflibrary.com/faq/if-this-message-is-not-eventually-replaced-by-the-proper-contents-of-the-document.php

From my experience that message means that the file is not an old-fashioned AcroForms PDF, but actually an XFA form created by Adobe's LiveCycle Designer. Most PDF renderers outside of Acrobat can't render these XFA forms. To get pdf.js to render this type of form, XFA standard support would have to be implemented.

https://github.com/mozilla/pdf.js/issues/1773
http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/xml/index_arch.html

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acroforms#AcroForms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XML_Forms_Architecture
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14265
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56913

pdfinfo n-400.pdf

Title:          Appication for Naturalization
Author:         USCIS
Creator:        Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES 9.0
Producer:       Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES 9.0
CreationDate:   Thu Nov 15 16:21:11 2007
ModDate:        Mon Mar 26 15:01:27 2012
Tagged:         yes
Pages:          1
Encrypted:      yes (print:yes copy:no change:no addNotes:no)
Page size:      612 x 792 pts (letter)
File size:      115265 bytes
Optimized:      no
PDF version:    1.7

OK,

Here is what you need to do. Contact the agency to which has produced this file and request a standards compliant version. You may actually find that they will even post it alongside this other version. I have had success in the past where issues like this have cropped up. I would estimate the success rate is 1 or 2 out of 100. This might sound bad however that is still worth it if you have the time and energy to pursue it. And considering the difficulty at getting through to the right people thats really not bad at all.

The more people who make these requests the more likely they will comply. If you can find legislation that requires them to produce standards compliant documents try pointing them to the specific legislation in your request. If they resound or do not follow through within a reasonable amount of time try calling, faxing, etc. Be persistent. There very well could be others running into this same problem. Particularly where these types of issues are concerned. In fact it is almost a certainty others are running into them.

Whenever I send a document that I type in LibreOffice in PDF format, I make sure to not only use a font under an open license, but also save in PDF/A-1 to keep tight with standards.

The issue sometimes is opening complex ones that require digital signatures that Evince cannot handle. Do I use the non-free Acrobat, even if its only version 9 from the Canonical parter repository? Do I bite the bullet and find Acrobat on a Windows or Mac machine? Those types of questions get brought up if this is a really really important document that you need to sign and its for a proposal, legal document, or any other form that needs your signature.

It sucks that the PDFs created by these programs are not always sticking to the standards. Its hard to change the habits of people and the default settings of Adobe applications don't help either.

About Sr.Quiliro Ordóñez

It is real nice to help out other people in this forum able to translate documents, but If you feel that you have the right to criticize other governments and their citizens freely. Then You are subject to others criticism and opinions.

My opinions

In One of your statements, You indicated: "Please do not betray your country of birth by accepting this"

I believe the person in question is trying to better himself by adopting another country terms and laws for a better future for himself and family.

Knowing this, as you indicated in your signature, that you are from Ecuador, South America region and landlocked country, rich on Oil but yet consider a high poverty and income inequality among your indigenous people.

Yet, one of largest producer of coca plant leafs, for which then is process by the "Zapateros" illegally in making the coca paste, better known as "Cocaine." Yet your borders and streets are riddle with beggars, thieves, prostitution, child slavery, gangs, and government corruption. Who will want to live in Ecuador?

Im not saying: That all Ecuadorian are bad people, but let me remind you, In the United States there is a large, very large population of Ecuadorian living very content and flourishing economically.

Well, What, I’m trying to say to you: Always look a your own House first! before rambling "mierda ideologica y nacionalista", Ideological and nationalist crap!

Respectfully

jodiendo