USCIS requires a full English translation of every foreign-language document you file, plus a signed statement from the translator that the translation is complete and accurate and that he or she is competent to translate the language. That is the whole rule. It comes from 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), and it applies to birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates, divorce decrees, school records and anything else in another language that goes into a benefit request.
The rule does not require a notary, a translation agency, a government license or a special “USCIS-approved” translator. Nor does it set a fee. Many translation vendors sell those extras as if they were mandatory, and applicants pay for them. What the rule does require is specific, and a translation that misses any of it can draw a Request for Evidence or, in some cases, a denial.
This guide covers the rule as written, what the USCIS Policy Manual adds, what the current form instructions say the certification must contain, and three complete sample certification statements you can copy and adapt. It also lists the mistakes that most often get translations rejected.
It applies to any filing where you submit evidence to USCIS, including the I-485, the I-130, the N-400 and employment-based petitions. If you are building a marriage-based case, pair it with our marriage-based green card document checklist.
The stakes are practical. USCIS says that when required initial evidence is missing or does not show eligibility, it may deny a request outright without sending an RFE first. A foreign-language document with no proper translation is evidence that USCIS cannot read, and the burden of proof sits entirely on the applicant.
Everything below was checked against the regulation text, the USCIS Policy Manual (Volume 1, Part E, Chapter 6, Section E) and the current I-485, I-130 and N-400 instructions in November 2026. Rules for the Department of State, consulates and the National Visa Center are separate and are not covered here.
Know exactly what the rule requires
The regulation has two requirements and nothing else. First, a full English translation of the whole document. Second, the translator’s certification, which must say the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
The Policy Manual repeats this and adds one hard line: “A summary of a document prepared by a translator is unacceptable.” Its footnote cites the 1994 rulemaking, 59 FR 1455, in which the agency rejected requests to allow extracts or partial translations because a full translation is needed to analyze the document.
| Item | Required? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full English translation | Yes | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Statement: complete and accurate | Yes | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Statement: translator is competent | Yes | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Signature, printed name, date, contact details | Yes | Form instructions |
| Notary stamp | No | Not in the rule |
| Agency letterhead or translator license | No | Not in the rule |
| Summary or partial translation | Not accepted | Policy Manual |
Regulation: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Policy: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part E, Chapter 6 (Evidence), Section E, Translations. Practical details: the “Translations” paragraph in the instructions for each form.
Choose who translates
The regulation does not say who may translate. The only test is the one the translator certifies: competence in both the foreign language and English. That leaves you three realistic options, and all of them satisfy the rule if the certification is complete.
- A professional translator or translation agency (most common, easiest to defend)
- A bilingual friend or relative who is fluent in both languages and is not the person filing
- The applicant or petitioner, if fluent in both languages (allowed by the text of the rule, but see the warning below)
The rule does not bar self-translation, but a certification signed by the person who benefits from the case gives an adjudicator less reason to trust it. If a document carries real weight, such as the marriage certificate in a spouse case, use someone with no stake in the outcome. This is a practical judgment, not a USCIS prohibition.
The Policy Manual also notes that when there is doubt about whether a translation is accurate, the officer can ask the translator to confirm it. Use a translator who is willing to answer for their work, and keep their contact details on every certification.
Translate everything on the page
A full translation covers every word that appears on the document, not just the fields you think matter. That includes headings, printed form text, handwritten entries, margin notes, stamps, seals, signatures with printed titles, and registry numbers. Where text is illegible or a seal cannot be read, the translator should mark it, for example [illegible] or [seal: name of issuing office].
Ask the translator to follow the layout of the original so the officer can compare the two side by side. Dates are a common trap. A date like 04/05/1993 reads differently in different countries, so write dates unambiguously, for example 4 May 1993, and keep the translator’s reading consistent across all your documents.
Names need extra care. Spell every name exactly as it appears on your passport, and make sure the transliteration matches across the I-485, the I-130 and each supporting document. A mismatch invites questions about identity, which is the kind of problem our guide to proving your legal name covers. The regulation also allows USCIS to ask for the native form of a name when a document uses an anglicized version (8 CFR 103.2(a)(5)).
- Every printed and handwritten line is translated
- Stamps, seals and marginal notes are described or translated
- Names match the passport spelling
- Dates are written unambiguously (day, month name, year)
- The layout follows the original so each line can be compared
- Illegible parts are marked, not guessed
Add the translator certification
The certification is the part USCIS checks first. The current I-485, I-130 and N-400 instructions say the translator must sign a certification that the English translation is complete and accurate and that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. They add that the certification must include the translator’s signature, printed name, the signature date and the translator’s contact information.
- Statement that the translation is complete and accurate
- Statement that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English
- Identification of the document translated (type, name on it, issuing authority, date)
- Translator’s signature
- Translator’s printed name and the date signed
- Translator’s contact information (address, plus phone or email)
Below are three complete statements. Each one covers all six items. Replace every item in square brackets, attach the certification to the translation (or print it at the end of the same document), and have the translator sign by hand or with a valid e-signature. Keep the language plain; USCIS does not require specific wording.
The penalty-of-perjury sentence in Sample 3 is optional. The regulation does not ask for it, but it adds weight when the translator is a family member rather than a professional. Use it only if the translator is comfortable swearing to it.
Put the package together
For each foreign-language document, submit three things together: a legible photocopy of the original, the full English translation, and the signed certification. The form instructions tell applicants to submit legible photocopies unless an original is specifically requested, and they warn that USCIS or the Immigration Court may destroy original documents that were submitted when not required.
Keep each translation next to its original so the officer does not have to hunt for the match. If you are filing many documents, label them in order and add a simple index sheet. One certification can cover several documents from the same translator, as in Sample 3, as long as it names each one.
- Photocopy of the original foreign-language document
- Complete English translation, same page order
- Signed and dated certification with contact details
- Each set labeled or tabbed in the same order as the form instructions
- Your own complete copy of everything you file
- No original documents unless USCIS asked for them
If USCIS questions the translation
A translation problem usually shows up as a Request for Evidence asking for a proper translation or certification. Respond by the deadline with a complete replacement, not a patch: a full translation, a corrected certification and the original copy again. Our guide to responding to a USCIS RFE walks through the deadline and packet rules, and the top RFE reasons list shows where translation gaps sit among the common triggers.
Do not wait for an RFE. USCIS has discretion to deny without one, and recent guidance on immediate denials for missing evidence makes a clean first filing more important. If you are also filing medical evidence, see our note on submitting Form I-693 with Form I-485, since that is another piece that has to be right the first time.
Common mistakes that get translations rejected
Summaries, extracts and “relevant fields only” translations are not accepted. Translate the whole page, front and back, including stamps and notes.
Saying the translation is accurate is not enough. The certification must also say the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
The form instructions ask for the translator’s signature, printed name, signature date and contact information. A typed name with no signature, or no way to reach the translator, is incomplete.
A notary confirms who signed, not that the translation is accurate. A notarized page with no accuracy and competence statement still does not meet 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).
A spelling that differs from the passport, or an ambiguous date such as 04/05/1993, creates identity questions. Use passport spellings and write out the month.
USCIS needs the foreign-language document next to its translation. Always include a legible photocopy, never only the English version.
Submit photocopies unless USCIS asks for the original. Unneeded originals may be destroyed after receipt.
The rule allows it, but an interested party certifying their own marriage certificate gives the officer less reason to rely on it. Use an independent translator for documents that carry the case.
After the translation is ready
Once your translations and certifications are done, the rest of the case runs on the usual evidence rules. For a marriage case, the translated certificates support the relationship evidence described in our guide to bona fide marriage evidence. For any filing, check the current form edition and the “Translations” paragraph again before mailing, since USCIS updates instructions and editions on its own schedule.
One final point on cost. Because the rule requires only a competent, willing translator and a signed certification, you should not pay extra for notarization, apostilles on the translation or “USCIS-approved” stamps. Pay for accuracy and a complete certification, then use the sample statements above as your template.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USCIS require a certified translation?
Yes. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), every foreign-language document must come with a full English translation and the translator’s certification that it is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Does a USCIS translation have to be notarized?
No. The regulation requires a certification from the translator, not a notary stamp. A notary only confirms who signed, so a notarized page without the accuracy and competence statement still does not meet the rule.
Who can translate documents for USCIS?
The rule names no required license or agency. The translator must be competent in both the foreign language and English and must sign the certification. A professional is safest, since a translation signed by the applicant may be trusted less.
What must a USCIS translator certification include?
It must state the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The I-485, I-130 and N-400 instructions add the translator’s signature, printed name, date and contact information.
Can I submit a summary or partial translation to USCIS?
No. The USCIS Policy Manual says a summary of a document prepared by a translator is unacceptable. The whole document must be translated, including stamps, seals, handwritten notes and the back of the page.
Do I send the original document or a copy with the translation?
Send a legible photocopy of the foreign-language document with the English translation and certification. The form instructions say to submit photocopies unless USCIS requests an original, and unneeded originals may be destroyed.
Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?
The regulation does not forbid it if you are fluent in both languages and sign the certification. Using an independent translator for key documents, such as a marriage certificate, is wiser because it gives the officer less reason to doubt it.
What happens if my USCIS translation is wrong or incomplete?
USCIS may send a Request for Evidence asking for a proper translation, or deny the request without an RFE when required evidence is missing. Respond by the deadline with a full translation and corrected certification.
