Translation for U.S. Immigration

U.S. Immigration information and certified translation requirement of immigration documents in foreign language

Certified translation of immigration documents, immigration forms, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Services - INS) offices, Green Card Lottery Program, and immigration appointment online

We are a translation agency. We do not provide any legal advice to our clients.

We simply wanted to put together some information that you may find helpful in your immigration application from the viewpoint of having your immigration documents translated as required by the immigration offices.

Translation of your documents for the U.S. Immigration

We can help you in translating and certifying your documents for the U.S. Immigration offices that require translation "certified by translator."

Some applicants misunderstand this requirement and ask for a licensed, notarized translation or translation made by a licensed translator. The correct term is "certified translation."

The USCIS website has the following requirement for translation of immigration documents:

§ 1003.33 Translation of documents.

"Any foreign language document offered by a party in a proceeding shall be accompanied by an English language translation and a certification signed by the translator that must be printed legibly or typed. Such certification must include a statement that the translator is competent to translate the document, and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's abilities."

We certify our translation in a format created by the USCIS as required above. There is no mention of "certified translator" "notarization" or "notarized translation" in the statement above.

U.S. Immigration forms

Immigration Application and Immigration Forms are for immigrants to work and stay in the United States of America (USA).

First, read the Immigration Forms provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service - INS) and make sure that the immigration documents that you have reflect the most recent Laws, Regulations and Guides. You can get most immigration forms "free" from the U.S. Immigration.

Check the U.S. Department of Homeland Security site for immigration forms and fees if you are asked by a non-government entity to pay for these "free" immigration forms.

Remember that only website addresses ending with ".gov" are official government sites and that others, including ours, are not government websites. Most frequently forms used are:

Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Form 1-130 Petition for Alien Relative
Form I-131 Application for Travel Document
Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé
Form DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application
Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change nonimmigrant Status

Immigration appointment online

Avoid waiting in the lines by getting your appointment at Immigration appointment online (InfoPass) to see a U.S. immigration officer.

Immigration documents in foreign languages

Make yourself familiar with immigration law and regulations by visiting Federal Citizen Information Center designed for immigrants speaking in Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Contact the nearest USCIS field office to obtain the immigration forms and submit your immigration application after you fill them out.

Green Card Lottery Program

The U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery program (DV or Green Card Lottery) provides 50,000 permanent residence visas (green cards) to immigrants and their families to reside and work in the United States of America permanently.

Under the new application process for the DV2006 Program, you need to file the green card lottery (Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery) form online (electronically). There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. Take your time and read the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program instructions by the U.S. Department of State before you spend your money for offers made by non-government or commercial entities.

Immigration terms

Duration of Status (D/S) - Notation on I-94 authorizing the person until completion of educational program.
Employment Authorization Card - Issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for working in the U.S.
Family letter - Issued for family dependents.
I-20 - Certificate of Eligibility issued by U.S. schools to international students.
I-94 card - Also know as Arrival / Departure Record that states how long you can stay in the United States.
Immigration status - States how long you can stay in the U.S. on I-94 form as F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, B-1, and B-2.
Naturalization - Becoming a U.S. citizen after being a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Permanent Resident Alien - Any person who is not a citizen of the U.S. but allowed to reside legally.
Refugee - A person who flees his or her own country due to risk of prosecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
US entry visa - Non-immigrant visa issued by U.S. embassy or consulate