Do you need a certified translation for reasons of immigration to the United States? If you know someone who is bilingual and is willing to help, you could certainly save some money.
Despite the fact that the United States as a whole has no official language, and that Spanish is far and away the second most widely spoken language – with over 40 million native speakers of the language in the country - documentation in Spanish which is to be submitted for immigration reasons must be translated into English. As opposed to the United Kingdom, a certified translation by a bilingual person, rather than a professional translator, is often sufficient. This relaxed attitude has the potential to save those applying to emigrate to the “Land of the Free” a significant amount of money.
It should be borne in mind that certain types of documents, such as academic or work qualifications may sometimes have to be translated by a professional certified translator. At times it may even be necessary to obtain an Apostille of the Hague Convention.
For most documents however, including those related to immigration procedures, these measures will not be necessary. The American authorities’ view is that it is often acceptable to have a certified translation carried out by a bilingual person who is not a professional, let alone accredited, translator. In addition, the signature of a notary is NOT required.
Who can carry out a certified translation and how it should be done?
• Any person who is a friend or acquaintance of the person applying to immigration to the United States (not a family member) who is fluent in the language of the original document as well as English.
• They must translate the document word for word. This means that a summary of the text they are translating is not enough; it must be a complete and accurate translation.
If it is to be handwritten, the translation must be done on a blank sheet of paper, in legible script and in black ink. If a computer is available, the translator should use it for reasons of practicality and neatness.
• At the end of the translation, the following model letter should be inserted, on the same page, certifying that the person who translated it is fluent in both English and the source language, and that they have carried out the translation competently.
Sample letter to be placed at the end of the translation to in order to certify it.
I certify that I am competent to translate from Spanish to English and that the above [eg] Marriage Certificate of Ramon Sanchez and María Mendoza is a correct and true translation to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signed: Marcus James [Signature]
Address: 154 Bedford Avenue, NY NY 11249
Phone number: 917 31 83 78
Date: 5 September 2019
Notes on this letter of certification
• Obviously, the names of the people appearing in the document will vary, the above marriage certificate has been used as an example for demonstrative purposes.
• Next to the word “Signed”, the translator should print or type their name as well as sign. Although a signature is not strictly required on certified translations in the UK, it is essential in the United States. You don’t want the translation to be rejected for such a minor detail!
• The correct address and telephone number of the person who did the translation must be listed. It is unlikely that they will be contact, but there is always a possibility that the official working on the case may want to verify some point relating to the translation.
Second example of sample letter to be placed at the end of the translation to in order to certify it.
I, Marcus James, certify that I am fluent in the English and Spanish languages and that the above document is an accurate translation of the original document.
Signed: Marcus James [Signature]
Address: 154 Bedford Avenue, NY NY 11249
Phone number: 917 31 83 78
Date: 5 September 2019
Together with the translation that has been certified in this way, a legible photocopy of the original document that has been translated must be sent. Include both sides of all documents.
Examples of documents for which this type of translation is sufficient.
• Certificates of widowhood, divorce or annulment of marriage
• Marriage certificate
• Affidavits on the good moral character of a migrant, which are recommended to be included in waiver applications when the applicant has previously been deported from the Unites States.
Tips on Certified Translations for Immigration Procedures
All non-English language documents sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must be accompanied by a certified translation into English.
However, for applications made at consulates, a certified translation is not always necessary. It will depend on the policy of the individual consulate in question, so it is advisable to consult their website in order to find out the specific requirements in your case.
If you choose a professional translator, you should also include some type of certification on the translation they carry out, for example by following the examples above in this article. A profession translator should be familiar with what is required and will be able to include this for you in their work. If not, feel free to point them in the direction of this article for guidance.
Finally, remember that these translations do not need to be signed by a notary. Although this is required in many countries, the United States is not one of them. The American immigration requirements are notoriously stringent and complex, so at least you can save yourself some money thanks to this aspect of the procedure.
If you find yourself in the situation described in this article, hopefully you know someone who can carry out your certified translations for free. However, if that’s not the case, please get in touch. We offer immaculate quality certified translations at the lowest prices, guaranteed. This means that we promise to beat any other lower quote that you might receive. What more could you ask for?! As ever, thanks for reading.
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