What Are the USCIS Translation Requirements? The Ultimate Guide to Complete USCIS Document Translation
Filling immigration paperwork requires close attention to details since the tiniest mistakes lead to delays, rejections, and in some cases disqualifications. One area where applicants often fail is document translation.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clear that all non-English documents must be translated into English and accompanied by a translation certificate. If your translation doesn’t meet USCIS requirements, your application could be delayed with a request for evidence (RFE) or rejected outright.
This article breaks down the specific translation requirements USCIS enforces and what each one means for you.
Top 4 USCIS Translation Requirements
USCIS officers are trained to look for specific things when evaluating translated material during processing. Here are some of the standard elements they look for when reviewing a translated document.
1. All Foreign Language Documents Must Be Translated to English
Since English is the national language of the United States, it only makes sense for the USCIS to mandate that all documents be translated into English. This is not just a request but rather a documented rule under the USCIS regulations.
The USCIS cannot review documents submitted in foreign languages. On top of this being a regulatory requirement, the organization wants to standardize applications, avoid liabilities, and speed up the review process. If they hired internal translators, they would have to shoulder the liability.
2. The Translation Must Be Complete and Accurate
The USCIS uses the word “complete” to describe how immigration documents must be during submissions. In this context, this word means that there should be no omissions, translations must be verbatim, and have consistent formatting. When a document ticks all these boxes, it’s said to be complete and accurate.
Incomplete USCIS translations often lead to requests for evidence (RFEs) notices that ask the applicant to clarify missing or unclear details in paperwork. To avoid these, immigration attorneys and individuals applying for U.S immigration work with certified translators for accurate translations.
Translation certificates are a legal requirement. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, any document submitted in a foreign language must be accompanied by a complete English translation and a certification from the translator.
3. Translations Must Include a Certification Statement
Documents such as birth, marriage, and academic certificates contain sensitive details that, if mistranslated, could wrongly represent an applicant seeking a visa, green card, or asylum in the US.
To avoid such instances, these documents are translated by an experienced translator who guarantees 100% accuracy. By including a signed certification, the translator declares that the translation is complete and accurate.
The translator provides a written statement that declares the completeness and accuracy of the translation.
A translation statement will typically look like this:
“I [name] certify that I am competent to translate from [language] into English and that the translation is accurate and complete”.
The translation statement should also include a signature, date, and contact details of the translator. This information helps USCIS file the documents appropriately and follow up with the translator if needed.
4. The Translator Must Be Competent
The specificity and technicality of academic material need to be intact regardless of the language they are translated into. Automated translations can easily lead to lost context if they fail to consider some aspects in translations. The consequences of such blunders are felt across the field and passed on to industries.
Certified academic translators understand terminology, historical contexts, relevance, and other nuances machines miss. This makes them indispensable in academic translations.
Common Mistakes That Violate USCIS Requirements
Translations can violate the strict USCIS requirements in several ways, by mistake or intentionally. Either way, the penalties are the same. Let’s explore some of the common mistakes.
- Failing to provide full translations: For a translation to qualify as complete, it must have everything translated word for word. Submitting translations with summaries or paraphrased sections is against the requirements.
- Omitting non-translatable elements: If documents have untranslatable elements such as stamps, translators use square brackets to represent them.
- Changing the original document layout: The document format is also used to verify the accuracy and authenticity of the document. All translated documents must retain the format and layout of the original document.
- Not using U.S formatting: USCIS expects all translated documents to use US conventions such as date formats, currency, placeholders, and other elements that are not common everywhere.
Meeting all USCIS translation requirements helps your application move forward without unnecessary delays. Get a quote for certified USCIS translations if you want to avoid risking RFEs, delays, or rejections.
Risks of Incomplete or Inaccurate USCIS Translations
Submitting incomplete or inaccurate translations to USCIS can seriously affect your application. The agency treats translation issues as missing or incorrect evidence, which often triggers a Request for Evidence (RFE). This means your case is paused until you respond, delaying the entire process by weeks or even months.
In some situations, especially when the errors involve critical documents like birth or marriage certificates, USCIS may deny the application outright. A mistranslation or omission can lead officers to misunderstand key facts, like your relationship status, country of origin, or educational background.
These problems waste time and can cost you money, too. You’ll likely need to pay a professional to redo the translation, possibly refile your application, or even hire a lawyer to fix the issue.
Even if you think a translation is “good enough,” USCIS expects precise, word-for-word accuracy and full formatting. Anything less puts your application at risk. The safest route is always using a qualified translator who knows precisely what USCIS requires and how to present it properly.
Get Professional USCIS Translations
Looking for a USCIS-certified translation that meets every requirement? Skip the guesswork and let professionals handle it for you. The Language Doctors provide accurate, word-for-word translations accompanied by a signed certification, exactly as expected by the USCIS.
Our translators are experienced in immigration documents and understand the high standards involved. You get fast turnaround, strict formatting, and zero risk of delays or rejections due to translation errors. Contact us for a free quote now.