For documents submitted to USCIS, foreign-language text needs a full English translation certified as complete and accurate, together with the translator’s certification of competence in the language pair. The general rule does not impose notarisation or ISO certification. Check the instructions for your particular filing as well.

This guide concerns USCIS filings. A US consulate, a university and a state court may apply different instructions. Before ordering, identify the organisation receiving your documents, rather than relying only on the destination country.

What does the certification need to establish?

The core requirements come from 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). The certification must establish completeness, accuracy and the translator’s competence to translate into English. A decorative seal or an agency logo cannot replace those statements. See this USCIS decision reproducing the translation rule.

When requesting a quote, ask who will certify the work and how the certification will identify the translated document. Keep the translation, its certification and the corresponding source scan together so that each part can be matched during preparation of the application.

Is notarisation necessary?

Notarisation is not a general requirement in the rule cited above. A translator’s declaration and a notarised affidavit are different things. If you receive a separate request for an affidavit, share the actual request with your provider before ordering an additional service.

Who can translate the document?

The cited rule specifies competence rather than membership of a named professional body. It does not itself establish a blanket ban on applicants or relatives. Do not infer permission for every situation from that alone: check the filing instructions and any individual request. Using an experienced independent translator can also make review and accountability easier.

Preparing an Indian birth or marriage certificate

  • Scan the whole page, including its edges, reverse side where relevant, registration details and marginal notes.
  • Provide a sharper image if a seal or handwritten entry cannot be read.
  • Share passport spellings as a reference for transliteration; flag differences instead of asking the translator to silently change the record.
  • Identify which version is current if you hold both an older certificate and a reissued copy.

For example, a certificate may include an English heading but Marathi entries and a Marathi stamp. Do not assume the heading makes the complete record an English document. Have the provider assess the full page.

What to check before submission

  1. Match every source page to the delivered translation.
  2. Check names, dates, document numbers and the relationship between entries.
  3. Confirm that unclear source text has been raised rather than guessed.
  4. Check that the certification addresses both the translation and competence.
  5. Follow the filing instructions for scans, copies and originals.

How Wordsmith can help

Send the source document and the USCIS request or filing instructions when asking about immigration translation. For individual records, see birth-certificate translation and marriage-certificate translation. We can assess the language, legibility, certification scope and delivery requirement before quoting.