USCIS requires that any document submitted to them in a foreign language be accompanied by a translation. The translation should be a word-for-word translation, and summary translations are not permitted. It is not required that you use a professional to translate the documents. No license or professional certification of any kind is required. However, it is recommended that you use a professional translation service to avoid errors and so that your documents are formatted correctly.
For each document that you submit (regardless of page numbers), you should include the English translation first, followed by a “certificate of translation” and the document in its original language. These three items should be presented to USCIS in that order for every individual document.
A “certificate of translation” is nothing more than a statement from the translator indicating that they are fluent in both languages, competent to translate the document, and that the translation is, in fact, a true translation of the original. It will be signed and dated by the translator, and it will contain the translator’s contact information. You can download a certificate of translation that we have used for many years with USCIS here.
DOWNLOAD A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION BELOW
