Translation for Immigrant Visa Applications (NVC)
Certified translations of birth, marriage, police and court records for immigrant visa applicants processing through the National Visa Center and a US consulate.
Reviewed by Murat Saymaz, Global Certified Translations · Facts checked 4 November 2026
The short answer
Immigrant visa applicants upload civil documents to the National Visa Center and bring originals to the consular interview. The State Department's country-by-country civil documents list says which records are available and acceptable. Documents not in English, or not in the language of the country where you apply, need certified translations. The sponsor's file goes through USCIS rules (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)).
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 |
|---|---|
| The State Department lists, for each country, which birth, marriage, divorce, police and court records are available, who issues them, and what is acceptable. | US Department of State, Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country |
| Immigrant visa applicants must present specified documents, including birth records, police certificates and court records, at the interview. | 22 CFR 42.65 |
| The petition stage before USCIS requires certified English translations of any foreign-language document filed. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Most family-based immigrants need an Affidavit of Support from the sponsor, with supporting financial evidence. | USCIS, Form I-864 |
| Where a required record cannot be obtained, secondary evidence may be accepted, with proof the record is unavailable. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(2) |
Two stages, two sets of rules
A family or employment immigrant visa starts with a petition to USCIS and ends at a US embassy or consulate abroad. At the USCIS stage, the petitioner's evidence (for example, the marriage certificate for a spouse petition) needs certified English translations under USCIS rules. At the consular stage, the applicant uploads civil documents to the National Visa Center and brings originals to the interview; documents not in English, or not in the language of the country where the interview takes place, need certified translations.
Check the country list first
The State Department's civil documents page for each country says which documents exist there, which office issues them, which version is acceptable (long form, short form, a specific certificate), and which are unavailable. It is the most useful single page for an immigrant visa applicant. Translate the version the list asks for: a translation of the wrong certificate is wasted money, because the consulate will ask for the right one.
Documents usually translated
- Birth certificate of the applicant (and of children travelling with them).
- Marriage certificate, and divorce or death certificates ending earlier marriages.
- Police certificates from countries where the applicant lived, as the country list requires.
- Court and prison records, if there was any conviction.
- Military records, where the country list asks for them.
- Adoption records, for adopted children.
Interview day
Bring the originals, the certified translations and copies. If the consulate is in a country whose language is the language of the document (a Mexican birth certificate at the consulate in Ciudad Juárez), a translation may not be needed for the interview itself; but documents uploaded to the NVC are reviewed in the US, so translate anything not in English for that step unless the instructions say otherwise.
The sponsor's side
The financial sponsor's Form I-864 is supported by US tax transcripts and pay records, usually in English already. If a joint sponsor or household member has foreign income documents, those need certified translations too.
When a document is unavailable
The civil documents list also says when a document is "unavailable" in a country or a region, and what to provide instead. If you cannot get a required record, ask the issuing office for a written statement that it does not exist, translate that statement, and follow the secondary-evidence rules your case allows. A translation cannot replace a missing document, but it can make a substitute document usable.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not complete DS-260 forms, book interviews, advise on eligibility, or obtain documents from foreign registries for you.
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.
Adoption Documents translation
Certified translation of foreign adoption decrees, birth records, consents and home studies for intercountry adoption, USCIS and re-adoption in a US court.
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
Do I need translations for documents in Spanish if I interview in Mexico?
Documents in the official language of the interview country may not need translation for the interview. Documents uploaded to the NVC are reviewed in English, so check your instructions.
Do NVC documents need certified translations?
Documents not in English, or not in the official language of the country where you will be interviewed, need certified translations. Check the instructions for your case.
Which version of my birth certificate should I translate?
The one the State Department's civil documents list for your country says is acceptable. Some countries require a long-form or specific certificate.
Do I need my police certificate translated?
If it is not in English, yes. Police certificates are listed by country on the State Department's civil documents page.
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.
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