USCIS Certified Translation
Professional English translations for foreign-language documents submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Upload birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, transcripts and other immigration documents online and receive a clear quote before ordering.
What does USCIS require for foreign-language documents?
Under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), a foreign-language document submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by a full English translation. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Full English translation
The translation should cover the complete foreign-language document rather than selected extracts.
Complete and accurate
The translator certifies that the English translation is complete and accurately reflects the source document.
Translator competence
The certification also states that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English.
What is a USCIS certified translation?
“USCIS certified translation” is commonly used to describe an English translation accompanied by the translator’s certification. USCIS does not certify the translation itself; the translator provides the certification required for the translated document.
This is different from a sworn-translation system used in some European countries. For a USCIS filing, the key issue is meeting the translation requirements applicable to the U.S. immigration submission.
Documents commonly translated for USCIS
USCIS filings can involve civil-status, academic, employment, financial and legal evidence. The documents required depend on the specific immigration benefit and filing.
Birth certificates
Birth records may be used to document identity, parentage, age or family relationships.
Marriage certificates
Marriage records may support petitions or applications involving a spouse or family relationship.
Divorce and civil-status records
Divorce judgments, civil registry extracts and other records may be relevant where prior civil status must be documented.
Diplomas and transcripts
Academic records may be included in employment, education or qualification-related immigration filings.
Employment documents
Employment letters, contracts, certificates and other records may be used to document professional history.
Police and court records
Police certificates, court documents and related legal records may be part of an immigration case.
Financial documents
Bank statements and other financial records may appear in selected immigration or sponsorship-related filings.
Other supporting evidence
Letters, certificates, declarations and other foreign-language evidence may also require English translation.
Birth certificate translation for USCIS
Birth certificates are among the most common civil-status documents submitted in U.S. immigration cases. A translation should include the complete visible content of the source document, including relevant stamps, seals, annotations and registry information.
If the birth record includes multiple pages or an attached certification, send the complete document set for review.
Marriage certificate translation for USCIS
Marriage certificates may be used in family-based immigration filings and other cases where a marital relationship or civil status must be documented. The translation should cover the complete source record submitted with the filing.
Diploma, transcript and employment document translation for USCIS
Employment-based and qualification-related immigration filings may include foreign academic records or employment documents. Translation should preserve names of institutions, qualifications, dates, titles and other relevant information from the source.
Diplomas
Degree certificates, graduation documents and other academic credentials.
Academic transcripts
Course lists, grades, credits, academic records and supporting education documents.
Employment evidence
Employment certificates, reference letters, contracts and professional records.
Why complete document translation matters for USCIS
USCIS requires a full English translation of a submitted foreign-language document. Omitting sections, figures, entries or attachments can make the translated evidence incomplete for the filing.
Send the full source document rather than isolated screenshots whenever possible. This helps the translator identify headings, stamps, tables, signatures, handwritten notes and other visible content in context.
Translator certification for USCIS
The certification accompanying the translation should state that the English translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English.
The certification should also be clearly connected with the document or document set it accompanies so that the translated evidence can be identified.
USCIS translation requirements are not universal
A translation prepared for USCIS should follow USCIS requirements. Another U.S. agency, court, university, embassy or foreign authority may use different terminology or require a different certification format.
USCIS filing
Follow the current USCIS form, filing and translation instructions applicable to the case.
Other U.S. institutions
Courts, universities or other agencies may define their own document-translation requirements.
Foreign authorities
Sworn, notarized, apostilled or other formal translation routes may apply outside the USCIS context.
How to order USCIS certified translation online
Upload the complete foreign-language documents, identify the source language and tell us that the translation is intended for a USCIS filing.
Upload documents
Send clear scans, photos or PDFs of all pages requiring translation.
Receive the quote
We review the language pair, page count, readability and deadline.
Translation and certification
The document is translated into English and accompanied by the relevant translator certification.
Receive the files
The completed translation is delivered in the agreed format for your filing workflow.
What affects USCIS translation cost?
The quote depends on the source language, document type, number of pages, amount of text, readability, formatting complexity and deadline.
Upload the complete document package so the scope can be assessed before work begins.
Related certified and immigration translation services
Use the dedicated pages below when your USCIS filing includes specific civil-status, academic, financial or legal documents.
USCIS Certified Translation — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about foreign-language documents, English translations and translator certification for USCIS filings.
What is a USCIS certified translation?
The term commonly refers to a full English translation accompanied by a translator certification stating that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English.
Does USCIS require foreign-language documents to be translated into English?
When a foreign-language document is submitted to USCIS, it must be accompanied by a full English translation meeting the applicable certification requirements.
What must the translator certify?
The translator must certify that the English translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Can birth certificates be translated for USCIS?
Yes. Birth certificates are commonly translated when they form part of a USCIS filing.
Can marriage certificates be translated for USCIS?
Yes. Marriage certificates and related civil-status documents can be translated when required as evidence in the filing.
Can diplomas and transcripts be translated for USCIS?
Yes. Foreign academic documents can be translated when they are submitted as part of an immigration petition or application.
Should stamps and seals be included in the translation?
Relevant visible text, including stamps, seals and annotations, should be addressed as part of the complete translation of the submitted document.
Can I order USCIS translation online?
Yes. Upload clear scans, photos or PDFs, identify the source language and tell us that the translation is intended for USCIS.
Is USCIS translation the same as sworn translation?
Not necessarily. Sworn translation is a legal translation system used in some countries, while USCIS applies its own requirements to foreign-language evidence submitted in U.S. immigration filings.
How do I request a USCIS translation quote?
Upload the complete source document through the online quote form and include the source language, deadline and any case-specific USCIS instruction or notice relevant to the document.
Upload your USCIS documents and get a translation quote
Send birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic records, employment documents or other foreign-language evidence. We will review the source files and prepare a clear quote before work begins.