Immigration Translation for Attorneys and Nonprofits
Certified translation of whole immigration packets for attorneys, accredited representatives and nonprofits, for USCIS, immigration court and consulates.
Reviewed by Murat Saymaz, Global Certified Translations · Facts checked 4 November 2026
The short answer
Every foreign-language document in an immigration filing needs a certified English translation: for USCIS under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), for immigration court under 8 CFR 1003.33, and for consular processing with the civil documents the State Department lists by country. For firms, the hard part is a whole packet with names spelled the same way on every page, delivered before an RFE deadline.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Foreign-language documents submitted to USCIS need a full English translation certified as complete and accurate by a translator competent in both languages. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Foreign-language documents offered to an immigration court need an English translation and a translator's signed certification. | 8 CFR 1003.33 |
| Where a primary record does not exist or cannot be obtained, secondary evidence or affidavits may be submitted, with proof the record is unavailable. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(2) |
| Immigration court filings must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. | EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual, ch. 2.3 |
| The State Department lists, country by country, which civil documents are available and acceptable for visa applications. | US Department of State, Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country |
Working with a firm or nonprofit
Immigration practices send us the same kinds of documents every week: birth, marriage and divorce records, police certificates, school records, bank and tax records, and, for asylum and waivers, letters, medical records and country evidence. What a firm needs beyond a correct translation is predictability: the same format on every file, names spelled the same way across the packet, and dates you can plan an RFE response around.
Names across a packet
A client's name may appear in five scripts and ten spellings across a family's documents. Transliteration rules differ by country and by decade, and a mismatch between a birth certificate translation and a passport invites questions. We use the passport spelling for every person named, apply it consistently across all documents in the order, and add the transliterated form in brackets where the original spelling differs, so an officer can see both. Send passport copies with the order.
Deadlines
RFE and NOID response windows are fixed, and immigration court filing deadlines before a hearing are strict. Standard turnaround is 24 hours for most civil records. For large packets, tell us the filing date and we schedule the documents in the order you need them, with the critical ones first.
Nonprofits and accredited representatives
Legal services nonprofits and DOJ-accredited representatives often handle asylum and family cases with tight budgets. Each file is priced on its own by word count; most civil records are one page. Ask us about recurring arrangements for regular volume.
What we check before delivery
- Every page, stamp, seal, margin note and handwritten entry is translated or described.
- Dates are written with the month in words.
- Names match the passport copies provided.
- The certificate names the document, the languages and the translator, and is signed.
Translation problems that cause RFEs
- Partial translations. A translated summary or "relevant parts only" does not meet the full-translation rule.
- Missing pages. The back of a birth certificate, an annotation page or an apostille left untranslated.
- No competence statement. The certificate must say the translator is competent in both languages, not only that the translation is accurate.
- Name mismatches between documents, or between a document and the passport, with no explanation.
- Unreadable copies. A translation of a blurred scan with guesses in it. Ask the client for a better copy first.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not give legal advice, prepare forms, or represent clients. We provide interpreters for USCIS interviews in Spanish, Russian and Turkish only, not for immigration court hearings.
Documents we translate for this
Birth Certificate translation
Certified birth certificate translation accepted by USCIS, courts and universities, with the certificate of accuracy included.
Marriage Certificate translation
Certified marriage certificate translation for USCIS spousal petitions, name changes and consular filings.
Police Certificate translation
Certified translation of FBI background checks for use abroad, and of foreign police certificates for USCIS and the NVC.
Divorce Decree translation
Certified divorce decree translation for USCIS, remarriage, name changes and recognition of a divorce abroad.
Bank Statement translation
Certified translation of foreign bank statements as evidence of assets for the I-864 affidavit of support, visas, courts and lenders.
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Can you translate country-condition evidence for asylum cases?
Yes: news articles, reports and letters. For long reports, ask whether excerpts are enough; anything you file must be translated in full.
What should the translator's certificate say for USCIS?
That the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English and that the translation is complete and accurate, with the translator's name, signature and date. Ours say exactly that.
Do USCIS translations need to be notarized?
No. 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires a translator's certification of completeness, accuracy and competence. Notarization is not required.
Can you keep names consistent across a whole family's documents?
Yes. Send passport copies with the order and we use those spellings throughout, noting different spellings in the originals in brackets.
Do you work with nonprofits?
Yes. Pricing is per file by word count; ask about regular arrangements if you send cases every month.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
Ready to send your documents?
Upload them for an instant word count and price.
Get an Instant Quote