Immigration · USCIS
Certified translations for USCIS applications
Submit foreign-language evidence to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with a complete English translation and the required translator certification. JukeLingo translates and formats birth certificates, marriage records, divorce decrees, police records, and other USCIS evidence.
- Complete, word-for-word translation
- Certification page prepared for signature
- Standard $16.99 · Express under 1 hour
What USCIS requires — the short answer
USCIS requires that any document in a foreign language be accompanied by a full English translation, together with the translator's certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from that language into English (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)).
Notarization is not part of the federal requirement — the signed certification is what the regulation asks for. The translator does not need a government license or any 'USCIS approval'; no such approval exists. They need to be competent in both languages and willing to certify their work.
JukeLingo delivers the complete English translation plus a certification page prepared for signature. On Standard and Express, a bilingual person you trust signs it; on Pro, a JukeLingo translator signs.
Documents USCIS commonly asks to have translated
Any document you submit that isn't in English needs a certified English translation — the same rule for every form. These are the documents we translate most for USCIS filings:
- Birth certificateThe most-requested civil document — required evidence in I-485, I-130, and most family-based filings.
- Marriage certificateSpousal petitions and name-change evidence. Translate every stamp and marginal note.
- Divorce decreeProves eligibility to remarry or petition. USCIS expects the full decree, not a summary.
- Police recordFor naturalization and consular cases — include 'no record found' pages too.
- Court documentsDispositions, custody orders, and criminal records — translated in full, captions included.
- Passport pagesBiographical pages and stamps when your filing calls for them.
- Vaccination recordSupporting material around the I-693 medical exam and civil-surgeon review.
- Bank statementsFinancial evidence for I-864 affidavits of support.
- DiplomaEducation evidence in employment-based petitions.
- Adoption recordsAdoption decrees and registry entries for family-based filings.
- Military recordsService records requested in some naturalization and status cases.
- Death certificateEvidence of a prior spouse's death or eligibility events.
How it works
Upload your document
Snap a photo or upload a PDF. You'll see the page count and exact price before paying.
We translate everything
Every word, stamp, seal, and handwritten note — nothing summarized, illegible text marked as illegible.
Download your translation
Standard within 24 hours, Express in under 1 hour, Pro within 24 hours with the translator's signature.
Sign and file
Ready-to-Sign orders: your bilingual signer signs the prepared certification page. Pro orders arrive already signed.
What you receive
The deliverable is built for filing: the complete English translation of your document plus the certification page.
- Complete English translation
The full document — stamps, seals, annotations, and the reverse side — laid out to mirror the original's structure.
- Prepared certification page
The certification statement aligned with 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3), pre-filled with the language pair and date, ready for signature.
- Certification ID and consistent formatting
Each delivery carries a certification ID and running headers so pages stay traceable in a thick filing packet.
- Digital delivery
Download, print, sign, and file. Include a copy of the original-language document with your submission.
See a sample deliverable
A fictional Spanish birth certificate, translated the way we translate every USCIS document: the complete text, stamps and seals labeled, unreadable text marked — and the certification page attached. Download the full sample to see every page exactly as customers receive them.
ACTA DE NACIMIENTO
Registro Civil de la República de Costaverde
Oficina de Villaflor del Valle
Nombre completo: Lucía Ramírez Ejemplo
Fecha de nacimiento: 12 de marzo de 1994
Lugar de nacimiento: Villaflor del Valle, Provincia de Modelo
Padre: Andrés Ramírez Ficticio
Madre: Carmen Ejemplo Invención
[Sello circular: Registro Civil]
[Firma: Registrador civil]
Civil Registry of the Republic of Costaverde
Certificate No.: RC-1994-EJ-0312
Full name: Lucía Ramírez Ejemplo
Date of birth: March 12, 1994
Place of birth: Villaflor del Valle, Province of Modelo
Father: Andrés Ramírez Ficticio
Mother: Carmen Ejemplo Invención
Date of registration: March 19, 1994
[Round seal: Civil Registry — Office of Villaflor del Valle] · [Signature: Civil Registrar] · one word in the reverse-side legend marked [illegible]
I, the undersigned, certify that I am competent to translate from Spanish to English, and that the above translation of the attached document titled “Birth Certificate (Sample)” is, to the best of my knowledge and ability, a true, accurate, and complete translation of the original document.
Certification ID: JL-SAMPLE00-20260802 · Every real order carries its own certification ID
Sample document — all names, places, numbers, and records are fictional.
Who may translate for USCIS?
Anyone who is competent in both languages and signs the certification may translate for USCIS — including a friend, colleague, or family member. There is no federal translator license and no 'USCIS-approved translator' list.
The regulation asks for two things from the translator: a certification that the translation is complete and accurate, and a certification that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. Officers evaluate whether that certification is credible on its face.
Translating your own documents is widely discouraged. USCIS guidance doesn't name a prohibition, but a self-interested certification invites scrutiny — a bilingual friend, relative, or professional signing on your behalf is the safer route.
This is exactly how JukeLingo's two tracks work. On Standard and Express (Ready-to-Sign), we produce the translation and the pre-filled certification page, and your bilingual signer reviews and signs. On Pro, a JukeLingo translator reviews the translation and signs the certification themselves — the right choice when nobody around you can attest to both languages.
Translate everything: stamps, seals, and illegible text
USCIS expects the entire document translated — stamps, seals, marginal notes, signature blocks, and the reverse side included — with genuinely unreadable text marked as illegible rather than guessed.
A summary or extract is one of the most common reasons a filing draws a translation-related Request for Evidence. The certification says the translation is complete; if visible elements of the source document have no counterpart in the English version, that claim doesn't hold up.
Every JukeLingo translation covers the full document: official stamps and seals are translated and labeled as stamps and seals, handwritten annotations are rendered, and anything genuinely unreadable is marked as illegible. Our pipeline specifically flags documents where critical fields — names, dates of birth — sit next to illegible text, so those never ship without review.
Names, transliteration, and dates
A certified translation carries names and dates over exactly as the source document shows them. Transliteration — rewriting a name from one script into another — should stay consistent with your other filing documents wherever the source allows.
Names written in non-Latin scripts (Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, and others) have to be transliterated into English letters, and more than one spelling is often defensible. What matters to USCIS is consistency: if your passport says one spelling and your birth certificate translation says another, expect questions about identity.
Dates are preserved in the form the document gives them, with the format made unambiguous in English. The translation never 'fixes' errors in the original — if your birth certificate misspells a name, the translation faithfully reproduces the misspelling; explaining the discrepancy to USCIS is a separate cover-letter matter, often with an attorney's help.
Should the translation match the original layout?
USCIS requires completeness and accuracy, not a pixel-perfect copy — but a translation whose structure corresponds to the original makes the officer's side-by-side review straightforward.
JukeLingo translations mirror the source document's structure: sections appear in the order the original presents them, labeled fields stay labeled, tables keep their rows, and stamps and seals are noted where they appear. The goal is that anyone holding the original and the translation together can trace every element without hunting.
Translation-related RFEs — and how to avoid them
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is USCIS's letter asking you to fix or supplement your filing before a decision. Translation-related RFEs typically cite a missing translation, a partial or summary translation, or a missing or defective certification.
The common triggers are avoidable: a foreign-language document submitted with no English translation at all; a translation that skips stamps, seals, or a second page; a certification missing the competence statement or the translator's signature; or grade-school-quality translation that the officer can't rely on.
If you receive one, the fix is usually direct: obtain a complete certified translation of the document cited, and respond within the RFE's deadline with the corrected translation and certification attached.
Prevention is cheaper than cure — a complete translation with a properly worded, signed certification the first time removes the translation from the officer's list of things to question.
Form-specific notes: I-485, N-400, I-130, and others
The translation rule is identical for every USCIS form. What changes from form to form is which documents you're likely to be translating.
I-485 (adjustment of status)
Green-card applications lean on civil documents: birth certificates above all, plus marriage certificates, divorce decrees from prior marriages, and court or police records where the history calls for them. The birth certificate should be the full version issued by the civil registry — translate the whole document, including the registrar's annotations.
N-400 (naturalization)
Naturalization filings commonly need translated marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and any court dispositions. If your basis involves a spouse's status, that spouse's documents may need translating too.
I-130 (family petition)
Relationship evidence drives the I-130: birth certificates establishing parent-child links and marriage certificates establishing spousal ones. Where records were issued in different countries over time, each foreign-language document needs its own certified translation.
I-765 and DACA
Work-authorization and DACA requests translate identity and eligibility evidence — birth certificates, school records, and in some categories financial documents. The same complete-translation-plus-certification format applies.
I-751 and I-129F
Removing conditions on residence (I-751) leans on marriage and relationship evidence; fiancé(e) petitions (I-129F) commonly translate birth certificates, divorce decrees, and relationship documents. These lists are typical evidence, not complete checklists — always read the instructions for your specific form.
Certified vs. notarized — which does USCIS want?
These two get confused constantly. A certified translation is what USCIS asks for; notarization is a separate step some other authorities add.
| Certified translation | Notarized translation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A complete translation plus a signed statement that it is accurate and that the translator is competent in both languages. | The same certification signed in front of a notary public. The notary verifies the signer's identity — not the translation's accuracy. |
| What USCIS asks for | This is the federal requirement for foreign-language documents (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)). | Not required by USCIS. Notarizing adds nothing to a USCIS filing. |
| When you'd need it | Every document in your filing that isn't in English. | Some state agencies and foreign authorities require it — check the receiving authority's instructions, not USCIS's. |
An apostille is different again: it authenticates the origin of certain public documents for international use under the Hague Convention. It doesn't translate anything and doesn't replace the translator certification — most USCIS filings don't involve one, but follow your form's instructions rather than assuming. Our travel and consular guide covers apostilles in depth.
Check your USCIS translation requirements
Pick your filing and document type. The certification rule is the same for every form — this tells you what it means for your document and who can sign.
Common USCIS translation mistakes
Most translation problems USCIS flags come from a short list of avoidable errors:
Summarizing instead of translating
An abstract or 'extract translation' of a long document doesn't satisfy the completeness certification. Translate the whole document.
Skipping stamps, seals, and the back side
Registrar stamps and reverse-side annotations are part of the document. If it's visible on the source, it belongs in the translation.
A defective certification
The certification must say the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent — and it must be signed. Missing pieces are an easy RFE.
Guessing at illegible text
Unreadable text should be marked as illegible. Guessing puts words in the record that the source doesn't support.
'Fixing' the source document
The translation must be faithful — even to errors. Correcting a misspelled name in translation creates a mismatch with the original.
Forgetting the original-language copy
USCIS wants the foreign-language document and its English translation together. Submit a copy of the original alongside the certified translation.
How JukeLingo quality control works
Every order runs through a layered pipeline: complete-document translation, automated completeness and formatting checks, and flagging rules that route edge cases — illegible critical fields, a source language that doesn't match what you told us — to human review before anything is delivered.
Pro orders add a human layer: a JukeLingo translator reviews the translation, applies corrections, and signs the certification personally. Pro orders are covered by the Pro Translation Guarantee — if USCIS rejects a Pro translation because of an error in our work within 60 days, we correct it or refund the translation cost. Details in our refund policy.
- Full-document translation — never summaries
- Automated completeness checks on every order
- Edge cases held for human review before delivery
- Pro orders reviewed and signed by a JukeLingo translator
- Pro Translation Guarantee: 60 days, translation-related rejections
Which plan for a USCIS filing?
All three plans deliver the same complete translation and certification page. The choice comes down to who signs and how fast you need it.
- Standard · $16.99 · 24 hours
Most filers: Standard
You have a bilingual friend or family member who can sign the certification, and your filing isn't due tomorrow.
Choose Standard - Express · $32.99 · Under 1 hour
Deadline pressure: Express
Same deliverable, delivered in under an hour — for biometrics-week scrambles and RFE response deadlines.
Choose Express - Pro · $39.99 · 24 hours
No bilingual signer: Pro
A JukeLingo translator certifies and signs, and the order is covered by the Pro Translation Guarantee.
Choose Pro
Pricing is per page — the exact total shows before you pay, and the certification page is always included at no extra charge.
Choose your delivery speed and signer.
Ready-to-Sign is the most affordable option when you have a qualified bilingual signer. Choose Pro when you want a designated JukeLingo translator to review and sign the certification.
Volume discounts apply automatically at 2, 3, and 5+ documents.
- Full English translation
- Prepared certification page
- Professionally formatted for official use
- Everything included with Standard
- Translation begins immediately
- Priority processing
- Best for urgent deadlines
- Full English translation
- Signed certification with timestamp
- Best when you do not have a bilingual signer
- Covered by the Pro Translation Guarantee
USCIS translation FAQ
Does USCIS require certified translations?
Yes. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), any foreign-language document in a filing must come with a full English translation and the translator's signed certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate.
Does a USCIS translation need to be notarized?
No. The federal rule asks for a signed certification, not a notarized one. Notarization matters for some state agencies and foreign authorities, but it adds nothing to a USCIS filing.
Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?
It's discouraged. The regulation doesn't name a prohibition, but certifying your own translation is self-interested and invites scrutiny. A bilingual friend or family member can sign instead — or on JukeLingo Pro, our translator signs.
Who signs the certification with JukeLingo?
On Standard and Express (Ready-to-Sign), a bilingual person you choose reviews the translation and signs the prepared certification page. On Pro, a JukeLingo translator reviews and signs it.
How much does a USCIS certified translation cost?
Standard is $16.99 per page, ready within 24 hours. Express (under 1 hour) is $32.99 per page, and Pro (translator-signed) is $39.99 per page. You see the exact total before paying, and the certification page is always included.
How fast will I get my translation?
Standard and Pro are ready within 24 hours; Express is ready in under 1 hour. Most Express orders arrive much faster.
What if USCIS rejects the translation?
Pro orders carry the Pro Translation Guarantee: if USCIS rejects a Pro translation because of an error in our work within 60 days, we correct it or refund the translation cost. See our refund policy for the details and eligibility.
Do I send USCIS my original document?
Generally you submit a copy of the original-language document together with its certified translation. Only send originals when the instructions for your specific form ask for them — and be prepared to show originals if asked at an interview.
Do stamps and seals need to be translated?
Yes. Stamps, seals, registrar annotations, and handwritten notes are part of the document, and USCIS expects the entire document translated. JukeLingo translates them and labels each as a stamp, seal, or annotation so the officer can match them to the original.
Does USCIS require an apostille?
An apostille authenticates the origin of certain public documents for international use — it does not translate anything and does not replace the translator certification USCIS requires. Most USCIS filings don't call for one, but follow your form's instructions rather than assuming either way.
Can USCIS reject a machine translation?
A raw machine translation with no competent person certifying it is a common trigger for Requests for Evidence — the certification is what makes a translation usable. Every JukeLingo order ships as a complete, USCIS-formatted translation reviewed by a human signer (yours on Ready-to-Sign, ours on Pro) before the certification page is signed.
What if part of my document is unreadable?
Genuinely unreadable text should be marked as illegible in the translation, never guessed. If a critical field like a name or date of birth is illegible, get a better scan or a fresh copy of the document before filing — our pipeline flags those cases for review instead of shipping them silently.
Ready to check translation off your USCIS list?
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The guidance on this page is compiled from the official resources below. Requirements change — the receiving authority's current instructions always control.
- 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) — translation requirement — the federal regulation quoted throughout this page
- USCIS Policy Manual — USCIS's own adjudication guidance
- USCIS forms and instructions — per-form evidence checklists
Last reviewed 2026-08-17 · Reviewed by the JukeLingo translation operations team against the cited official sources