Whether you are immigrating to the United States, or seeking a green card or a work permit, you will become familiar with the USCIS. If you are coming from a country where the official language is not English, you will also likely need to translate documents to English. In today’s article, we break down everything you need to know about certified translations for the USCIS and some frequently asked questions.
What is the USCIS?
USCIS stands for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. Some of the processes it handles include: citizenship, immigration, employment eligibility, etc.
What are the requirements for a USCIS certified translation?
Any documents in a foreign language will need to be translated to English before submitting to the USCIS. Each translation will need to be accompanied by a certification, which is a statement from the translator. You will need to submit the original foreign document plus the translation. The most commonly requested documents are birth certificate translations, marriage certificate translations, divorce certificate translations, and translation of academic degrees and credentials.
According to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations on Aliens and Nationality 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3),
Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
If I am bilingual, can I translate my own documents for the USCIS?
This is a very frequent question, and a valid one. Many people who are applying to live or work in this country are already bilingual, so it would seem logical to translate their own documents. However, the answer is no. This would be considered a conflict of interest and unethical, even if you are a certified translator. Since the documents concern you, it could affect the translations and will be viewed as a conflict of interest. A professional translator who is familiar with these kinds of requests can provide you with the certified translation.
If you have documents in a foreign language and are applying for any process with the USCIS, make sure to identify which documents need translation and have them translated in advance. Providing no translation or a poor translation (such as Google translate) can cause delays in your application. It’s best to have everything ready in advance to ensure the process runs smoothly and avoid any unnecessary stress or delays.
If you have any other questions about USCIS translations, you can always contact us at info@cshtranslation.com.