USCIS Certified Translation Services

A guide to USCIS certified translation

When you need a certified translation for USCIS

You need one whenever you file a document that is not in English. That applies to every USCIS filing: Form I-130 and I-485 for family-based green cards, Form I-129F for a fiancé(e) visa, Form I-751 to remove conditions, Form N-400 for naturalization and Form I-589 for asylum. It also applies to evidence you send in response to a Request for Evidence (RFE).

The documents USCIS most often needs translated are:

• Civil records. Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, and adoption records.
• Police and court records. Police certificates, court judgments and military records.
• Education and employment records. Diplomas, transcripts and employment letters for work-based petitions.
• Financial records. Bank statements, tax returns and pay stubs used as evidence of support or a genuine marriage.

See every document we translate

Does USCIS have approved translators?

No. USCIS does not approve, license or certify translators, and it keeps no list of approved translation services. A “USCIS certified translation” is a translation that carries the certification 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) asks for: the translator states that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate the language into English.

Any translation company that advertises itself as “USCIS approved” is describing that certification, not a government approval. ImmiTranslate is a corporate member of the American Translators Association, and every USCIS translation we deliver includes the signed and stamped certification.

Can you translate your own documents for USCIS?

The regulation does not say who may translate, only that the translator must certify their competence and the accuracy of the translation. In practice, a translation prepared by the applicant, the petitioner or a relative is easier for an officer to question, because the translator has a stake in the outcome. Immigration attorneys generally recommend an independent translator for that reason.

How to get a USCIS certified translation online

• 1. Upload your documents. A scan or a clear phone photo of each page is enough. You do not need to mail us your originals.
• 2. Choose a certified translation. USCIS does not ask for notarization, so the standard certified translation is the right choice for a USCIS filing.
• 3. Review your translation. Check the names, dates and spellings in the draft before it is finalized.
• 4. File it. Upload the PDF with an online filing, or print it and send it with a copy of the original document in a paper filing.