Do I need to translate the home study from the foreign country?

Certified Translation

Adoption Record Translation for USCIS

Certified translation of foreign adoption decrees and supporting records for IR-3, IR-4, and Hague filings.

USCIS Accepted

Submit your adoption records for certified translation

Upload, pay, and we begin immediately. USCIS-accepted, next business day.

International adoption files are among the most heavily scrutinized USCIS filings. The adoption decree, the home study, the birth parents' relinquishment, and the country's central authority approval all have to line up — and any translation inconsistency between them can stall the case for months.

We translate adoption documents with extra attention to names, dates, and legal terminology so the IR-3, IR-4, or Hague filing reads cleanly to the USCIS officer and the U.S. consular officer who issues the visa.

What USCIS uses it for

IR-3 (full and final adoption abroad), IR-4 (adoption to be completed in the U.S.), Hague Convention adoptions (I-800 / I-800A), and re-adoption proceedings in U.S. state courts.

What we translate

Final adoption decrees from foreign courts
Birth parent relinquishment or termination of parental rights
Central authority approvals (Hague Article 23 certificates)
Home study reports issued in foreign jurisdictions
Amended birth certificates issued post-adoption

8 CFR §103.2(b)(3)

What USCIS requires for a foreign-language document

Full English translation
Every word, stamp, seal, and marginal note on the foreign document must be rendered into English — not summarized.
Signed Certificate of Accuracy
The translator certifies, in writing, that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the source language to English.
Original visible alongside translation
USCIS expects the certified English translation to be submitted together with a legible copy of the original foreign-language document.
Independent translator
The translator cannot be the applicant or beneficiary. Self-translations are routinely rejected, even when accurate.

Why these translations get rejected

Child's pre-adoption name not preserved

USCIS needs to see the child's original birth name as it appeared before adoption — not only the new adopted name. Removing it creates gaps in the documentary chain.

Frequently asked questions

If your home study was prepared in a language other than English, yes. Home studies are central evidence for both Hague and non-Hague adoption filings.

USCIS Accepted