Why USCIS Requires a Certified Birth Certificate Translation
USCIS operates under the federal regulation at 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), which requires that every document submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a complete English translation. The translator must certify that they are competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate and complete.
Birth certificates are almost always issued in a foreign language when the applicant was born outside the United States. Even a birth certificate issued in a US territory like Puerto Rico may need translation if it is in Spanish. USCIS will not accept machine translations, unverified translations, or translations without a signed certification statement.
What USCIS Requires for Birth Certificate Translations
Complete Translation
The entire document must be translated — including all stamps, seals, official notations, marginalia, and header/footer text. A translation that omits any portion of the original document will be considered incomplete. Partial translations are a common cause of USCIS rejection.
Certification Statement
The translator must attach a signed statement declaring: (1) their competence in both the source and target languages, and (2) that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge. The statement must include the translator's printed name, signature, date, and contact information or business address.
No Notarization Required
USCIS does not require birth certificate translations to be notarized. The translator's own certification is sufficient under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). You do not need to take your translation to a notary public, and paying for notarization does not make a translation more valid in USCIS's eyes.
Common Problems That Get Birth Certificate Translations Rejected
- Missing stamps or seals: The raised seal, ink stamps, or authentication marks on the original must appear in the translation
- Incomplete translation: All fields, including blanks and "N/A" notations, must be reflected
- Machine translation without certification: Google Translate outputs are not acceptable
- Missing certification statement: The translator's signed declaration must be physically attached
- Translator is the applicant: The applicant cannot translate their own documents
- Wrong format: The translation should mirror the layout of the original certificate where possible
USCIS officers compare translations against the original documents. Using a format that mirrors the original certificate layout makes the review faster and reduces the chance of a Request for Evidence (RFE).
Do You Need an Apostille on a Foreign Birth Certificate for USCIS?
No. USCIS does not require foreign birth certificates to carry an apostille or consular legalization when submitted to a US immigration application. The apostille is required only when a document is being authenticated for use in another country — for example, when a US citizen submits a US birth certificate abroad. For USCIS purposes, a properly certified translation alongside the original birth certificate is all that is required.
Get Your Birth Certificate Translated
Official Translations provides USCIS-accepted certified translations of birth certificates from all languages. Every translation includes a complete certification statement and is formatted for direct submission with your immigration application.
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