No. The translator must be independent of the petitioner and beneficiary. USCIS routinely rejects self-translated documents, even when the translation itself is technically accurate.
Why USCIS rejects self-translation
8 CFR §103.2(b)(3) requires the translator to certify that they are 'competent to translate from the foreign language into English.' USCIS interprets 'competent' to require both technical competency (you can actually translate) and procedural independence (you have no personal stake in the outcome).
If you translate your own birth certificate for your I-130, USCIS sees a translator with a direct interest in the case being approved. That's not 'competent' under the regulation, even if your English is perfect.
Who counts as 'independent'?
Anyone who is not the petitioner, beneficiary, attorney of record, or close family member of those parties. A friend, a co-worker, or a professional translation service are all acceptable.
In practice, USCIS only consistently accepts translations from professional translation services with established certification language and a track record of competent translators. Friends and co-workers are technically allowed but lead to RFEs in a meaningful share of cases.
What 'competent translator' actually means
USCIS doesn't require translators to hold a specific certification (no ATA membership requirement, no court-certified credential). The bar is 'competent to translate from the foreign language into English' — but the translator must be willing to sign that statement under penalty of perjury.
Self-translation routinely fails not on language ability but on the implicit conflict of interest: USCIS officers know that someone translating their own document has every incentive to phrase ambiguous text favorably.
Key takeaways
- Self-translation is routinely rejected by USCIS.
- The regulation requires the translator to be 'competent' — interpreted to include independence from the petitioner and beneficiary.
- A friend or co-worker is technically allowed but leads to RFEs more often than a professional service.
- The cost of a professional translation is almost always less than the cost of an RFE delay.