USCIS

USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) is the federal agency that administers lawful immigration to the United States. For language services, USCIS specifies that any document submitted in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation (8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)).

The USCIS certified-translation standard requires:

• A complete English translation of the source document.
• A signed and dated certification from the translator stating that the translation is complete and accurate.
• The translator's name and credentials.

USCIS does not require ATA certification or notarization for translations submitted with most immigration applications, but many practitioners prefer ATA-certified translators because they are recognized as the US professional standard. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) if a translation is incomplete, lacks certification, or appears unreliable — RFEs are responded to by re-issuing a corrected translation with updated certification.