Translating Documents for USCIS: How To Get It Right

Anyone who isn’t originally from the U.S. but intends to travel must pass through certain procedures. These include applications and identity verifications that involve lots of paperwork. However, to avoid hassle, translating documents for USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) is necessary.

As the Federal body in charge of immigration, USCIS mandates translating foreign-language documents into English. The USCIS approves or denies travel requests depending on how well applicants meet its criteria. 

Keep reading to learn about USCIS immigration translation!

Can I Translate My Own Documents for USCIS?

Yes, you can translate your documents for USCIS, but is it advisable? The question, “Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?” is common. Most people ask this because hiring a professional translator is expensive.

But the focus should be on whether or not it’s worth the try. Some people don’t want to spend much cash or disclose confidential information. Moreover, they better understand their documents in the source language, so they’ll do a good job replicating them.

You can attempt self-translation if you understand the target language. But even if you don’t, you can produce a good English language translation with the help of language translation apps. Simply upload or copy and paste a digital copy of your document on the app to get an instant translation. 

You can then review and edit the result or get someone else to help. Remember, the translation of documents for immigration requires compliance with all USCIS guidelines. Wrong spelling, formatting, punctuation, loss of context, and more can ruin your efforts. Since translation apps aren’t 100% accurate, hiring a professional is better. 

6 Tips for Translating Documents for USCIS 

You’ll need guidance to translate your legal documents, such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and divorce certificates. Since the USCIS has strict guidelines, it’ll help to know them so you can comply. 

Here are six tips for translating immigration documents:

1. Ensure the proper spelling of names and locations appears correctly.
2. Find and use the best translation apps and compare their results, checking for correctness with a language dictionary.
3. Translate stamps and seals through vivid descriptions.
4. Use a grammar, punctuation, and spell check tool to edit your English translation.
5. Use the American date format in academic transcripts and other documents.
6. Apply the correct currency symbols in your bank statement and financial record translation.

Adhering to these tips will help you get a near-perfect translation. However, although self-translation is cost-effective, it’s time-consuming and energy-consuming. Hence, it’s advisable to contact a well-trained professional translator.

But even if you hire a translator, you must review the translation and confirm all personally identifiable information.

How To Get a USCIS Certified Translation 

According to the USCIS, all translations of foreign language documents must come with a genuine certification. To get a USCIS-certified translation, you need a competent translator. 

However, if you engage in self-translation, you’ll have to pay a translator to certify your translation. No translator will agree to certify an incorrect translation, as doing so would put their reputation on the line. 

That’s because a certification statement confirms accuracy and correctness. The certification statement validates what the USCIS mandates. 

Here are six important factors of a certification statement:

1. The certifier’s full name.
2. A statement that the certifier is a competent source and target language translator.
3. An attestation that the translation is complete and correct.
4. The certifier’s signature.
5. The certifier’s official address.
6. The date of certification.

Although some certified translators notarize their certification letters, it isn’t necessary. A regular certification attached to your translation and a clear photocopy of the original document will do.

Getting USCIS Translation Services 

There are different kinds of USCIS translation services. You can choose any option, depending on your preference. However, you must carefully select, as your choice greatly affects translation quality — for example, machine translations, which are rapid and cost-effective. 

But remember that the rush amounts to nothing if accuracy is lacking. Though machine translations are highly reliable and can handle voluminous jobs, they have shortcomings. 

These tools fail to understand cultural nuances and colloquial expressions. As their database is finite, they often make contextual mistakes. Additionally, they cannot localize translations through correct rendition of dates and terms with cultural significance. 

It’s easy to navigate any freelance platform and search for a professional translator in your preferred language pair. Choosing a freelancer requires selecting a professional with a rate that fits your budget. However, you must ensure the translator has the necessary qualifications.

Among all translation options, the USCIS language plan is less explored as people are unaware of it. This plan aims to help applicants with limited English Proficiency (LEPS) in complex naturalization cases. Therefore, USCIS translation and transcription services aren’t available to everyone. You can contact USCIS to learn more about this service. 

Translation of documents for immigration is a sensitive task, so some individuals prefer hiring formal companies. These translation agencies have a handpicked selection of translators handling formal projects. 

The involvement of a formal agency means that you’ll have someone to hold liable for any errors. But a translation agency like Rapid Translate is usually thorough and well known for delivering the highest quality renditions. 

How To Find USCIS Translation Services Near Me

Immigration applications require the translation of several documents. Sometimes, after submission, the USCIS may request for evidence, necessitating another set of translations. 

Therefore, this increases the cost of mailing documents, especially when your translator is in another state or country. Corrections may also occur, leading to back-and-forth exchanges. 

Because of the possible challenges, you might prefer to use USCIS translation services near you. But, you must get a service that delivers high-quality translations. Regardless of location, you can always find a nearby translation service specializing in immigration translations. All you have to do is ask around for recommendations.

If your friends can’t help, you can visit your district court and ask for the contact of a translator. Alternatively, you can search online. It’s advisable to check for credible sources like the American Translators Association’s (ATA) directory. 

The ATA’s language services directory allows users to input their location alongside target and source document languages. You can then filter search results by proximity to find certified English translators closest to you.

The Rate of Immigration Translation Services 

Immigration translation is more intense than regular specialized translations. As such, specially trained language experts handle all kinds of immigration processes. The major advantage of patronizing such language professionals is that you can be 99% certain of acceptance. 

However, you must note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing immigration translation services. Each service you opt for has its own way of charging. Citing upwork as an example, freelance immigration translators charge hourly rates ranging from $15 to $40 per hour. 

Note that you may find costlier or less expensive options. It all depends on your preferred choice of translator. Translation companies charge per page. Some companies structure a page as an A4 sheet containing 250 words. On average, translation agencies charge $30 per page, depending on the document’s complexity. 

Factors like language pair, subject of specialization, and type of translation also affect the price. Also, note that some translators set their prices on a per-word basis. Depending on their expertise, they often charge between $0.10 and $0.40 per word.

However, one unique and free service is a language translation app. While you may consider this, it’s not advisable to depend on AI translation for formal purposes like translating birth certificates. 

Generally, you must exercise caution when procuring translations for personal documents. Remember that quality should be your watchword. Don’t waste money on a poor translation, as USCIS application fees are already expensive.

FAQ

We’ve covered the major aspects of USCIS document translations, so let’s review the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Get the Best Translation for USCIS From Rapid Translate

Most people struggle to find suitable translation services that meet their needs. Some services promise the best but deliver below expectations. However, this is too big of a risk when translating documents for USCIS.

Rather than struggling to join the bandwagon of those making risky attempts, hop over to Rapid Translate. We’re the best because we always get it right on the first try. 

Moreover, we have a valid USCIS acceptance guarantee, so you have nothing to worry about. Try Rapid Translate for an exceptional and affordable USCIS translation today!