Certified English Document Translation for the United States

A USCIS-certified translation is an English translation of a foreign-language document that complies with the requirements of 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), the federal regulation governing document submissions to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The regulation requires that any document in a foreign language be accompanied by a full English translation along with a signed certification from the translator. This Certificate of Translation Accuracy (also called a translator's affidavit) must state that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English and that the translation is complete and accurate. It must include the translator's printed name, signature, address, and the date. USCIS does not require the translator to hold any specific credential or certification, but the quality and formatting of the translation and certification are scrutinized by adjudicating officers.

No, USCIS does not require notarized translations. The USCIS Policy Manual and 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) specifically state that a certified translation with a proper translator affidavit is sufficient. Notarization is not required and does not add legal weight to the translation in the USCIS context. However, some immigration attorneys recommend notarized translations as an extra layer of authentication, and some applicants prefer the added formality. DoVisa provides both certified-only and notarized certified translations. For other US contexts such as state court filings, family law proceedings, professional licensing, and state agency submissions, notarization may be required. We recommend checking with the specific receiving institution or your attorney to determine whether notarization is needed for your particular use case.

DoVisa's US certified translation pricing uses a per-page structure with volume discounts for larger orders. Pricing varies based on language pair, document length, and processing speed. Express and rush service options are available for urgent deadlines. Notarization and apostille processing are additional services quoted separately — apostille fees vary by state. USPS Priority Mail shipping within the US is included at no extra charge. Upload your documents on our order page to receive an instant, detailed quote before translation begins — no hidden fees or surprise charges.

A certified translation includes the translator's signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy (affidavit) attesting to the completeness and accuracy of the translation and the translator's competence in both languages. This is the standard required by USCIS and most federal agencies. A notarized translation is a certified translation where the translator's signature on the affidavit has been additionally witnessed and sealed by a state-commissioned notary public. The notary verifies the translator's identity and that the signature was made voluntarily, but the notary does not verify or attest to the translation's accuracy. Notarized translations are required by many state courts, some state agencies, and as a prerequisite for apostille issuance. When in doubt, obtaining a notarized translation covers both certified-only and notarized requirements.

Technically, USCIS does not prohibit self-translation, but it strongly discourages it and many immigration attorneys advise against it. The regulation requires the translator to certify that they are competent to translate and that the translation is accurate. If you translate your own documents, USCIS adjudicators may question the objectivity and accuracy of the translation, potentially resulting in a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for a professional translation. Self-translations also lack the professional formatting, standardized certification language, and quality review that USCIS officers are accustomed to seeing. For these reasons, DoVisa strongly recommends using a professional translation service for any USCIS filing. The cost of a professional translation is minimal compared to the delay and complications an RFE can cause to your immigration case timeline.

DoVisa translates documents from over 80 languages into English for US immigration, legal, academic, and business purposes. Our most-requested language pairs include Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, French, Tagalog, Farsi/Persian, Japanese, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Turkish, Urdu, Bengali, Haitian Creole, and Amharic. We also cover less commonly requested languages including Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, Swahili, Somali, Tigrinya, Pashto, Dari, and many others. If your language is not listed, contact us for availability. We can source qualified translators for virtually any world language with adequate lead time.

Standard delivery is 2-4 business days for most document types. Single-page vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates) typically complete in 2 business days. Multi-page documents and complex legal filings may require 3-4 business days. Express 24-hour service is available for documents up to 3 pages. Same-day rush service is available for single-page documents when ordered before 9:00 AM EST — ideal for clients facing imminent USCIS interview dates or court deadlines. Large projects (20+ pages) receive custom timelines. If you also require notarization, add 1 business day. Apostille processing time varies by state: some offer same-day service (New York, Virginia), while others take 1-3 weeks (California, Texas). We factor all steps into your delivery estimate so you know exactly when to expect your completed documents.

Yes. USCIS certified translation standards under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) are federal regulations that apply uniformly across all USCIS field offices, service centers, and asylum offices nationwide. Whether your case is filed at the Nebraska Service Center, transferred to the Texas Service Center, or adjudicated at a local field office, the same translation requirements apply. Our translations are formatted to meet the federal standard, not any office-specific variation. If your case involves a National Visa Center (NVC) processing step for consular cases, or if you file at a USCIS international field office, the same certified translation format is accepted. DoVisa translations have been successfully used in cases processed at every USCIS service center and dozens of field offices across the country.

Yes, DoVisa provides English-to-foreign-language translations for US-originated documents being sent abroad. Common scenarios include translating US birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders, academic transcripts, and corporate documents for use in foreign countries. These translations are certified by a translator competent in the target language and can be notarized and apostilled for international recognition. For example, a US birth certificate translated into Spanish for use in Mexico, or a US court order translated into Chinese for enforcement in China, would be certified, notarized by a US notary, and apostilled by the appropriate Secretary of State for Hague Convention compliance.

If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) related to your translation, DoVisa provides a free revision and reissuance to address the specific concerns raised. RFEs related to translations are uncommon when using our USCIS-formatted certification, but they can occur if the adjudicator requests additional information such as the translator's qualifications or a clarification on a specific term. We respond to RFE-related revision requests within 24 hours. If USCIS rejects the translation outright due to an error attributable to DoVisa, we provide a full refund of the translation fee. Our current USCIS acceptance rate is 99.2% across all filings. Please note that our guarantee covers translation quality and certification formatting. Denials based on the underlying immigration case merits or the content of the original document are outside our guarantee scope.

An apostille is only needed if your US certified translation will be used in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. If the translation is for use within the United States (USCIS, US courts, US universities, state agencies), no apostille is needed. For international use, the apostille authenticates the notary's seal on the notarized translation, creating a chain of authentication recognized by all Convention member countries. The apostille is issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the notary is commissioned. DoVisa handles the complete apostille chain: we arrange notarization in the appropriate state, submit the apostille application, and ship the apostilled document to you or directly to the foreign authority.

Yes, DoVisa certified translations are regularly used in US federal and state courts. For federal court proceedings, translations must meet the requirements of the Federal Rules of Evidence, particularly Rules 604 (interpreters) and 901 (authentication). Our certified and notarized translations satisfy these evidentiary standards. For state courts, requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally require certified translations with a translator's attestation. Many states additionally require notarization. Our legal translation team is experienced with court filing requirements across all 50 states and can format translations to meet specific court clerk expectations. We also provide expert translator declarations and can arrange for our translators to provide testimony regarding their qualifications and methodology if challenged during proceedings.

We accept documents in PDF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF formats. For best results, scan your documents at 300 DPI or higher to ensure all text, stamps, and seals are clearly legible. If using a smartphone camera, photograph the document in good lighting on a flat, contrasting surface, ensuring all four corners are visible and text is in focus. For multi-page documents, please upload all pages in a single PDF file or as sequentially numbered image files. Both sides of double-sided documents (such as ID cards) should be captured. If any upload is unclear, our intake team will contact you within 2 hours to request a rescan before translation begins. Clear source documents are essential for producing an accurate certified translation, so taking an extra moment to ensure scan quality saves time in the overall process.

Yes, DoVisa offers bundled translation packages for the most common US immigration scenarios at discounted rates. Our I-130 Family Petition Package covers birth certificate, marriage certificate, and divorce decree translations. The I-485 Adjustment Package adds police clearance certificates and adoption documents as needed. The N-400 Naturalization Package includes all standard naturalization supporting documents. The K-1 Fiance Visa Package covers birth certificate, police clearance, divorce documentation, and proof of relationship documents. Each package applies automatic volume pricing and includes USPS Priority Mail shipping. Custom packages can be created for complex cases involving multiple beneficiaries or extensive documentary evidence. Contact us with your specific form number and we will provide a comprehensive quote covering all documents that typically need translation for that filing type.