Official documents submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that are not in English require an accurate rendering into English, accompanied by a signed statement attesting to the translator’s competence and the translation’s completeness and accuracy. This attestation, often called a certification, makes the translation suitable for official purposes within USCIS. As an illustration, a birth certificate in Spanish must be translated into English, with the translator providing a signed statement verifying its accurate conversion.
The use of properly rendered and certified documents is crucial for the successful processing of immigration applications, petitions, and other submissions. These translations provide USCIS officers with a clear and reliable understanding of the original document’s contents, facilitating fair and efficient adjudication. Historically, inaccurate or poorly translated documents have caused delays in processing, requests for additional evidence, and even denials of applications. Therefore, the emphasis on accurate and properly certified translations is a long-standing procedural requirement.
