Documents greatly hinders cross-border activities as nations have different official languages. Even within countries, dialect differs. Although English is a widely recognized language, not everybody speaks it. So, foreigners will need a complete and accurate, certified English translation when dealing with American agencies and institutions.
However, a foreign citizen conducting international affairs may not know the difference between a standard and a certified translation. It’ll also be difficult to predict the documents requiring certification. So, this post explains certified English translations and discusses how and where to get them.
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Understanding Certified Versions of English Translations
Certified and standard translations differ, but both share the primary aim of breaking communication barriers. However, what do standard and certified documents entail?
Standard vs. Certified Translations
A standard translation means to render words or text from one dialect into another without observing strict formalities. You can use standard translations for blog posts, product descriptions, manuals, and personal documents to reach a wider audience.
A certified rendition, on the other hand, refers to a quality translation of a source document. In this case, the conversion is word for word without any interpretation, addition, or subtraction.
Translators issue these translations with certification letters for quality assurance.
Because of the associated legalities, certified translations have more acceptance and official value.
On the other hand, standard translations aren’t acceptable for official and certain institutional uses. So, opt for certified translations if you’re uncertain about which to use.
Misconceptions and Facts About Certified Translations
Many people don’t fully understand certified or sworn translations. As a result, there are several postulations regarding them.
You might have heard someone say certified statements are solely for official and legal translations, but that’s untrue.
A certification statement can accompany medical, academic, professional, and business papers. The contents of a certification statement include the translator’s name, signature, certifications, and dates. It also identifies the translated document & language and contains a certificate of translation accuracy.
While sworn translations increase the chances of acceptance for certain applications, it’s not a total guarantee.
Another wrong assumption is that only government agencies can issue sworn translations. However, you can get these high-quality translations from licensed companies and freelancers. They sometimes offer 24-hour delivery which comes in handy when you are in a hurry.
When working with freelancers, always ask about their certifications. It takes more than a bilingual person to provide a certified document translation. So, you must transact with an accredited translator.
You can go to a notary public to legally acknowledge the translator’s identity. If translations are strange, ask questions and seek answers from reliable sources.
The Importance of a Certified English Translator
To translate an original document, you must hire a certified English translator. A certified translator has official recognition from a professional licensing body, having passed the necessary tests.
Their certification is the distinguishing factor that allows professional translators to issue certified statements. So, obtaining sworn renditions of your source documents is impossible without a certified translator.
Accredited English translators are significant in the industry as they confirm the correctness of documents. They possess distinctive abilities to study and understand the international demands of government agencies of different nations.
Their knowledge provides insight for producing translations that fulfill all certification requirements. Therefore, working with a certified English translator simplifies application procedures.
Certified translators deliver premium-quality articles with wide recognition and a high acceptance rate.
They have excellent reputations, so their jobs hold a high regard. You can deal directly with an accredited freelancer or access a professional translator through a private translation company.
Certified English Translation USCIS
USCIS is short for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The USCIS is the USA’s federal government body that handles immigration. This office processes visitation, relocation, and residency applications from foreigners.
It also receives and scrutinizes asylum, refugee applications, and visa petitions. The USCIS has one core principle regarding applications and petitions from non-English speaking countries. Applicants must submit all original documents together with their certified American English translations.
These include vaccination, birth or marriage certificates, academic documents, divorce papers, etc.
Submitting your documents in a foreign language without an English version can result in rejection.
Additionally, certified English Translation USCIS documents must follow a specific format in correspondence with the agency’s guidelines. Therefore, you need an expert translation service with experience translating USCIS documents.
Remember to do your research before hiring a translator. Also, ensure you follow all instructions to the core.
Certified English Translation of Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is a crucial personal document. You also need a copy of your passport, visa, or other immigration applications. Even academic institutions and employers sometimes ask candidates to submit their birth certificates.
It also serves as proof of identification when applying for a Social Security Number. Several other American organizations may also direct individuals to submit birth certificates as part of certain processes’ requirements.
But as a foreigner, you can’t submit your certificate in your native language as it’ll weaken your chances of success. The receiving party will likely be unable to understand your native language. Hence, a certified English translation of birth certificate is compulsory for many international dealings and applications.
But before submitting a certified translation English certificate, here are things to look out for:
- Ensure you spell your name, date, gender, place of birth, and all other information correctly.
- Confirm that all seals, stamps, and signatures appear on the certified translation.
- Crosscheck the formatting of the translation to ensure that it tallies with that of the original copy.
Don’t forget to submit translations with their original copies so the receiver can conduct all necessary verification. But if you deal with a proficient translator, you won’t have cause to worry as they stick to stipulated guidelines.
How To Get a Certified English Translation Near Me
Several professional translation services, including private agencies, corporate members, government workers, and freelancers, can transliterate documents. Additionally, there are online websites for contacting translation companies.
But if you prefer physical appointments, you’ll wonder, “How do I get a certified English translation near me?”
The first is to seek word-of-mouth referrals from family, friends, trusted acquaintances, and colleagues.
You can also use Google or any other search engine to find a nearby translation agency. Another option is to use freelance platforms to connect with professionals. You can adjust the location filter to find translators in a suitable proximity. But remember to confirm it with any freelance language expert.
Finally, you can find a translator from the American Translators Association (ATA) website. ATA‘s language service directory contains a list of certified translators in various language pairs and their contact details. They’re well-known for delivering high-quality translations.
Professional Translation Service Fees
Certified accurate translations cost more than regular ones because of the processes involved.
However, a specific price is hard to state as the fee fluctuates depending on several factors. They include:
- The complexity of documents.
- The quantity/ number of documents.
- Rush translations and same-hour delivery (cost more).
- Special requirements (from a notary public, for example).
- The source and target language combination.
RapidTranslate is a perfect example of an agency that proofreads, edits, and reviews translations for free. We prioritize detailing and accuracy, which gives our renditions global acceptance.
Our translators handle all kinds of common documents and even legal documents with swift delivery. We prioritize the quality of every certified English translation, so your certificates are safe with us.
You can explore the power of seamless trans-border communication with us. When relocating to America, visiting, or sending applications, you can contact us for the best renditions. So, if you’re interested in our services, place your order now.
