If you’re considering a move to the United States of America, you must submit a USCIS-certified translation of your birth certificate. In the case of enrolling your foreign-born child at school, applying for a visa, social security number, passport, or another type of identification document, you will need to provide a USCIS-certified translation of the documents.

What Are USCIS Translation Requirements?

A birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other legal document translation that USCIS requires must be accompanied by an official certificate. Also, any document for immigration or citizenship must be an official translation.

Translation services that are certified by USCIS will provide the translated document and a certified document certifying that a certified translator was responsible for the translation and that the translation is a true and exact version of the document originally.

According to the USCIS Policy Manual – “Any documents submitted to support the application should contain a complete translation in English. Furthermore, there must be a written confirmation by the translator that his or her translation was accurate and precise, and attesting to their proficiency as a translator.”

Suppose you do not deliver either the document you have translated or the translation certificate. There could be delays in obtaining your visa, or the application may be denied completely. The file or request could be rejected if any errors are found in the translation. That’s why it’s better to rely on an experienced translator with the appropriate credentials.

USCIS Approved Translation

A USCIS certified translation of your birth certificate must contain the following details:

  • Full Name (First and Last)
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth
  • Parents’ Full Names
  • The seal is proof of the authenticity of the office in which it was issued.

In essence, you’ll need to give a photocopy of the original document and an authenticated translation in English. The translation should include every part of the original document, including signatures, dashes, or stamps. It should also be visually in the same format. If the official seal appears in the lower right corner of the original, the translated version must include it. If any text in the document is unclear, the document must be noted as “illegible.”

Notarization

The USCIS copies of birth certificates, as well as other documents, need to be authenticated. However, they don’t necessarily need the requirement of notarization. Its requirement is possible in the case of documents coming from overseas. However, it is not required to support documents needed to support immigrant visas, residency applications, or citizenship.

Translations Should Be According To the Rules

As stated earlier, it is not advisable to provide documents that don’t meet the requirements of the USCIS. In doing so, you could face delays and even more expensive costs. Make sure you know the latest requirements when it comes to birth certificate translation by USCIS. Also, ensure that the translation service meets those requirements.