Certified Translation

Birth Certificate Translation for USCIS

USCIS-accepted English translation of foreign birth certificates for I-130, I-485, N-400, and consular processing.

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Your foreign birth certificate is the single most important civil document USCIS asks for. It proves your identity, your parentage, and — for nearly every immigration benefit — your eligibility to apply at all. If the original is in any language other than English, USCIS requires a complete, certified English translation submitted together with a copy of the original.

We translate your birth certificate word-for-word, including every stamp, seal, registrar's name, and marginal note, then attach a signed Certificate of Accuracy. The format matches what USCIS officers see thousands of times per day, which is exactly why it gets accepted on first review.

What USCIS uses it for

I-130 (family petitions), I-485 (adjustment of status / green card), N-400 (naturalization), I-589 (asylum), DS-260 (consular processing), and CRBA / passport applications at U.S. embassies. If you're sponsoring a child, parent, or sibling, their birth certificate proves the qualifying relationship.

What we translate

  • Long-form birth certificates — the version USCIS actually wants
  • Short-form extracts, when the long-form isn't available
  • Re-issued or amended certificates with annotations in the margins
  • Hospital certificates of live birth (used when civil registry records were lost)
  • Late-registered births and judicial declarations of birth
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

Summary instead of word-for-word

USCIS rejects translations that paraphrase or skip text — even small things like the registrar's seal text or marginal stamps. A summary fails 8 CFR §103.2(b)(3).

Missing Certificate of Accuracy

A translation without a signed translator certification is treated as if no translation was submitted. Many free or AI translations skip this entirely.

Short-form when long-form exists

Some countries issue both. USCIS often issues an RFE (USCIS case pause) asking for the long-form when only the short was submitted.

Self-translation by the applicant

Translators must be independent of the petitioner and beneficiary. A birth certificate translated by you, your spouse, or your sponsor is not accepted.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Department of State applies the same translation standard at consular interviews (DS-260, IR-1, K-1, etc.). A certified English translation is required even if the consular officer speaks your native language.
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