Do I need to translate the entire family book?

Yes — every page that contains entries (you, your spouse, any children) must be translated, including blank pages between entries when they appear in the original. Partial translations of family books are a common rejection reason.

My marriage certificate has a divorce annotation from a previous marriage. Should that be translated?

Yes. Every stamp, note, and marginal entry must appear in the translation. Hiding a prior marriage by omitting the annotation can lead to a fraud finding, which is far worse than the prior divorce itself.

Certified Translation

Marriage Certificate Translation for USCIS

Certified English translation of foreign marriage records for spousal visa, adjustment of status, and naturalization filings.

USCIS Accepted

Submit your marriage certificate for certified translation

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

Get Your Certified Translation

USCIS scrutinizes marriage certificates more closely than almost any other civil document, because spousal petitions are the single largest category of immigration fraud they screen for. A bad translation here doesn't just delay your case — it can trigger an interview, an RFE (USCIS case pause), or a Notice of Intent to Deny.

We translate every line of your foreign marriage certificate, including the witness names, registrar's seal, and any later annotations (such as divorce or amendment notes), so the officer reviewing your I-130 or I-485 sees the same complete record they'd see in the original.

What USCIS uses it for

I-130 (spousal petition), I-485 (adjustment of status), K-1 follow-on filings, I-751 (removal of conditions), N-400 (when claiming citizenship through marriage), and consular IR-1 / CR-1 visa processing.

What we translate

Civil marriage certificates
Religious marriage certificates accompanied by civil registration
Marriage certificates with later annotations (rectifications, divorce notes)
Marriage extracts and family books that include marriage entries
Apostilled or legalized marriage certificates from Hague countries

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

Religious-only certificate without civil record

USCIS recognizes the marriage that is legally valid in the country where it occurred. In most countries that means the civil record. A translated church certificate alone is usually not enough.

Missing annotations or marginal notes

If your country adds divorce or amendment notes to the original certificate years later, those notes must be translated too. Skipping them looks like concealment and triggers an RFE (USCIS case pause).

Inconsistent name spellings

The certified translation must spell names exactly as they appear on the source document, even if you now spell your name differently in English. Mismatches between your I-130 and the translation cause delays.

Frequently asked questions

USCIS generally needs proof of a marriage that is legally valid where it occurred. Most countries require civil registration for legal recognition. If only a religious certificate exists, you may need a delayed civil registration or a court declaration before USCIS will accept the marriage as valid.

USCIS Accepted