Document Preparation
Getting Documents Translated
If any of your documents are not in English, you'll need to include a certified English translation alongside each one. This applies to your I-130, I-485, I-864, and any supporting documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and the like.
Who can do the translation?
Anybody who is competent in both languages can do it, including you or your spouse. You don't need a professional agency or a certified translator. USCIS requires the translator to certify their competence in writing, but there is no requirement that it be a third party.
What the translator must write and sign
The person doing the translation must sign their name at the bottom and include this statement:
"I certify that I am competent to translate (put foreign language name here) to English, and that this is a complete and correct translation."
No notarization needed. The statement above plus the translator's signature is all USCIS requires.
A few things to keep in mind
- Submit the original document alongside the translation. Don't send the translation by itself.
- Translate everything on the page, including stamps, seals, and any handwritten notes.
- A missing or incomplete translation is one of the most common reasons USCIS sends a Request for Evidence. That adds months to your case.
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