USCIS Translation Services: How To Get Reliable Providers

When submitting your immigration application, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires supporting documents. If your supporting documents are in a foreign language, you’ll need to translate them. But how can you get USCIS translation services?

You can get these translation services from agencies, individual translators, or freelancers. Preferably, work with professionals with experience in creating translations for immigration. 

Read this article if you’re unsure how to get these services!

What Are USCIS Translation Services?

USCIS translation services comply with the agency’s requirements. They are useful when sending an application to the agency, mostly for immigration or citizenship.

The USCIS requires that non-English documents must come with their full English translations. But not just that, you must get their certified translations. This means the translations must come with certification statements or certificates of translation accuracy.

These certificates indicate that your translations are complete, accurate, and meet legal requirements. They also carry the translator’s name, address, and signature, showing their qualifications for the task.

If your documents do not meet these requirements, your application to the USCIS may not pull through. If not, there may be delays or requests for additional documents. 

Overall, USCIS translations comply with the agency’s stipulations, increasing the chances of getting your applications approved. Working with people who understand and stick to these requirements is important to your application.

This way, you’ll have peace of mind and understanding that your documents are solid. This type of translation is equally important to immigration applicants and lawyers. For both, there is a higher level of confidence that there will be no rejections due to issues with the documents.

When Do You Need USCIS Translation Service?

You’ll need USCIS translation services when submitting documents in foreign languages while applying to the agency. Remember that the USCIS requires full English language translations alongside the original documents. 

Hence, your best bet is a translation provider experienced in the immigration field. But you’ll need this service if any of the following documents are in any language other than English:

1. For birth certificates: If your birth certificate is originally in any language other than English, you must translate it for the USCIS. You’ll need this translation for your green card and citizenship applications since both require proof of birth.
2. Marriage certificates: Your marriage certificate is important if you’re applying for family-based entry into the U.S. If it is not in English, you must translate it before sending it to the USCIS. 
3. Divorce decrees: When applying for spousal visas or adjustment of status, the USCIS requires an English translation of your divorce decrees. You must get a certified translation of this document if you have it in another language. 
4. Academic documents: When entering the U.S. to further your studies, the USCIS requires translations of your academic records. These include diplomas, academic transcripts, and degrees.
5. Employment records: If your immigration application requires evidence of employment, you’ll need to translate your employment records if they’re in another language. This helps to show your qualifications and experience. 
6. Court records and legal documents: If you have legal proceedings in the U.S., you may need to translate your court records for the USCIS. Also, other non-English legal documents required for your application must come with their certified English versions.

Again, all translations for the USCIS must have their certification statements attesting to their accuracy, completeness, and authenticity.

The Requirements for USCIS Translations

To improve your chances of getting approval from the USCIS, you must understand and stick to their translation requirements. Since most experienced translators have mastered these requirements, working with one like Rapid Translate gives you extra points.

Still, here are the requirements when sending translated documents to this agency:

1. Accuracy and completeness: The USCIS requires full and accurate translations of the original document. To prevent misrepresentations, these translations must carry stamps, signatures, phrases, and seals. 
2. Certifications: Translators must provide certification statements for USCIS translations. These statements show the translator’s qualifications, the document’s accuracy and completeness, and the translator’s contact information.
3. Formatting and legibility: When translating documents for the USCIS, always maintain the original document’s formatting on the translated version. The typing should also be as clear as possible. Remember that the agency compares both documents to verify their authenticity.
4. No self-translation: Even if you understand the target and source languages, you cannot translate your documents for the USCIS. This is to avoid conflict of interest and misrepresentation. Instead, employ another professional to work on your document. 
5. No extra information: Your translated document should only contain the information in the original document. Resist the urge to addadditionala comments or interpretations since the agency compares both documents when vetting. 
6. Multiple document translation: When submittingvariouse documents, each should have a different certified translation. Your translator should review each document separately, even when you use them in the same application, to ensure proper care. 

If your translations do not meet these requirements, the USCIS requests further evidence. This could lead to delays or even denials. Hence, always ensure your translator sticks to these stipulations to improve your chances of approval.

How To Get USCIS-Certified Translation Services

To get USCIS-certified translation services, hire a certified translator or a translation agency with good experience in the field. Still, do your homework to ensure they can provide fool-proof translations that boost your chances of approval. Here are your options.

1. Hire a Certified Translation Agency

The quality of your translations depends heavily on the agency you hire to work on your documents. That is why you must closely evaluate and choose a company with a clean record for your translation needs.

The USCIS requires certified and accurate translations during the immigration process. Hence, the agency must provide translations with certification statements to verify their validity. You can contact an agency based on recommendations from family and friends.

You can also check for agencies online. But always do your background checks before committing to one. When choosing an agency, look at customer reviews, testimonials, and how it is set up.

If you do not want to risk it, you can also look for nearby certified translation agencies. Look through business listings to find companies in your area. 

2. Hire an Independent Translator

Consider hiring an independent professional translator to render documents for your USCIS application. Many certified professionals work independently and offer translations across different fields. 

To find one, search the American Translators Association (ATA) directory, which contains a list of all ATA-accredited translators. You can search the directory for translators based on language, location, and specialization. 

Another viable option is hiring freelance translators for your USCIS translations. You can contact these professionals via freelancer platforms and social media. Again, ensure that you vet them properly and are legit before striking a deal with them. 

After completing your translation tasks, it is also necessary to proofread the translated versions to ensure accuracy. In this case, contact professionals in the field and have them glance through the materials to determine their quality.

Do You Need Notarized Translations for the USCIS?

No, you do not need notarized translations when submitting documents to the USCIS. While this subject often stirs some confusion, the agency insists that applicants must only bring documents alongside their certification statements.

However, people often notarize their translations to add an extra layer of authentication. Notarized translations include statements from notaries verifying the identity of the certified translator. 

These statements do not reinforce the accuracy of translated documents. Instead, they show that the translator is who they say they are. Consider notarization to be a seal, telling institutions to trust the document’s authenticity.

You may need to notarize translations submitted to other organizations and institutions. Again, it isn’t mandatory to send immigration applications to the U.S.

FAQ

Now that we’ve discussed translation services for the USCIS, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about them!

Get USCIS Approved Translation Services From Rapid Translate

Are you seeking an agency to provide high-quality translation for your immigration documents? Look no further because Rapid Translate offers top-tier USCIS-approved translation services with a 100% acceptance rate.

The agency’s services are available in over 60 languages worldwide. You can send your order and conveniently receive the translated versions online from home. Yet, our document translation services are not limited to immigration.

You can also get legal, medical, and business translations. While this agency only charges $27.99 per page, it delivers on translation projects within 24 hours. Its customer service team is available 24/7 to address any concerns. 

Get your USCIS translation services from Rapid Translate today!