USCIS Translation Guidelines

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The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has specific guidelines for the translation of documents that are submitted as part of various immigration processes. 

• Certification Requirement: All translations submitted to the USCIS must be certified. This means that the translator or translation company must provide a signed statement declaring that the translation is accurate and complete, and that they are competent to translate from the original language to English.

• Professional Translation Standards: The translator must be fluent in both English and the language of the original document. The USCIS does not necessarily require that the translator be 'certified', but they must be competent and proficient in both languages.

• Complete and Accurate Translations: Translations should be exact and include everything that is on the original document. This includes all text, signatures, dates, stamps, and seals. Inaccuracies or omissions can lead to the rejection of the document by USCIS.

• Format Consistency: The translated document should mirror the format of the original as closely as possible. This includes the placement of stamps, signatures, and other non-text elements.

• Handling Non-Translatable Elements: If there are elements in the original document that cannot be translated (like stamps or seals with illegible text), these should be noted in the translation.

• Retention of Original Documents: Applicants should keep their original documents. USCIS may ask for them to verify the translation.

• Translator Information: The certification statement must include the translator’s name, signature, address, and date of certification.

These guidelines are critical for ensuring that your translated documents are accepted by USCIS without any issues.

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