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If you’re planning on immigrating to the USA for work or study, you need to get an accurate and complete translation of all your documents, so it is accepted by the United States Certified Immigration Service (USCIS).
The documents define who you are, your qualifications, and your experiences. The USCIS needs a US-English translation of your source documents to confirm your identity and approve your immigration status.
Before diving into the 7 tips of USCIS certified translation, you need to know what is certified translation. When your documents are translated along with a certificate of translation, under the seal of a renowned translation agency, it is known as certified translation.
The Code of Federal Regulations states,
“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.”
You can obtain online certified translation services as well as contact translation agencies in person to get your important documents translated accurately and be provided with a certificate of translation.
The USCIS process is long, but simple if all rules are followed accordingly. Any mistake along the way can complicate the process, make it stressful, and can consume your precious time. Therefore, to help you out, here are 7 tips for USCIS Certified translation:
In This Post:
- 1. Make sure the Translator is a Native US English Speaker
- 2. Check if the agency holds ISO 17100 Translation Services Certification
- 3. Identify Individual Document Requirements
- 4. Be Organized and Research the USCIS Procedures
- 5. Find the Right Translating Agency
- 6. Documents Need to Be Translated Entirely
- 7. Review all Documents Before Submitting them to the USCIS
- Conclusion
1. Make sure the Translator is a Native US English Speaker
When choosing a translating agency for the purpose of obtaining their certified translation services, you need to make sure the translators on board are actual native US English speakers. While a non-native fluent English speaker may translate the document, it is recommended that you choose a native speaker, since they are more familiar with their language complexities, and grammar.
Make sure your documents are accurately translated to easily gain the trust of the USCIS and make the whole immigration process go smoothly. Submitting inaccurate documents will only delay the process and make it more complicated and stressful.
2. Check if the agency holds ISO 17100 Translation Services Certification
Focus on quality control and check if the translation agency holds the ISO 17100 translation services certification to determine if the translation agency is right for you. Read up on their USCIS acceptance rate and look for a money-back guarantee, so you can be assured to have your money back if the agency fails to hold its promise.
Translation agencies that offer money-back guarantees on non-acceptance of documents assure their customers that their translation is 100% accurate and will be accepted by the USCIS.
3. Identify Individual Document Requirements
USCIS officials clearly define what documents you need to submit and what they should include. You need to make sure your source documents include everything they require. Most commonly they require the following things,
- Birth certificate
- Marital status certificates
- Academic documents
- Job certificates
- Death certificates
- Financial Statements
Have your official documents, and the translated documents on hand with you at all times. When submitting the documents, make sure you submit the certified translated documents along with the certification, as well as a copy of the official source documents to the USCIS.
4. Be Organized and Research the USCIS Procedures
Understand the USCIS procedures to know what they need and how you can be accepted. Be organized, gather everything you need, learn from people who have gone through the same procedures, and identify why they were accepted or rejected. Familiarize yourself with the process to ensure a streamlined, stress-free immigration process.
5. Find the Right Translating Agency
Translation company offer confidentiality and refund guarantee in case the documents are not translated accurately and are rejected by the USCIS. Your documents are important, and they need to remain confidential to guarantee the safety of your identity. So make sure you find the right translating agency to work with that guarantees 100% confidentiality of documents, and offers an acceptance guarantee as well to help you save time and money.
Also, check for their delivery times and notify the translation agency of your deadlines for submitted documents. You wouldn’t want to waste time by not having the translated documents ready when the time for submission comes and being assigned a later date.
6. Documents Need to Be Translated Entirely
Documents need to be translated entirely which means, the text including the format and visual need to be translated and copied to ensure acceptance. Any signatures, stamps, footnotes, seals, and dashes need to be copied to the translation document, while the text needs to be typed accurately.
Incomplete translations, handwritten documents, and documents that are not formatted accurately will be rejected immediately and make the immigration process complicated for the applicant.
7. Review all Documents Before Submitting them to the USCIS
Do not just hand over the translated documents to the USCIS after receiving them from your translator. Be cautious and check each page to see if it is formatted, and translated accurately. Anything missing can potentially complicate your immigration process.
Ask for revisions where needed. You can also get a second opinion from someone who has already gone through the USCIS procedures to determine if the documents are ready to submit or require any changes.
Conclusion
Accurate translation of documents for the purpose of facilitating your move to the US can be challenging, as the USCIS has stringent procedures in place. But working with the right translation agency can help you ease the process and understand what they need to approve your entry.
With a certified translation done right with proper formatting, typed text by a Native US English speaker, and a certificate of translation, you will have more confidence when handing over your application and increase your chances of being accepted.
We hope this article helped you learn about USCIS translation and benefit from the tips we provided. Feel free to share with friends and family who are planning to immigrate to the US to help them out.