The United States is a country of immigrants. According to census reports from the World Population Review, around 20% of the country’s population is of foreign descent. Moreover, the most recent survey revealed that foreign-born residents make up more than 40% of Silicon Valley’s most famous tech hub in the US. Many non-native English speakers are arriving in the country as professionals or students to pursue their dreams. If you’re looking to make a life for yourself in the land of liberty and opportunity, this article is for you.

This post focuses on the importance of translation services certified by the USCIS (the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service). To help you understand this better, we also provide a quick overview of the US immigration process and why you may need certified translations.

 A Glance at the US Immigration Process

The process of immigrating to the United States is complex, lengthy, and requires careful planning. A successful application requires the following:

  • A complete understanding of the country’s immigration law
  • The petition of a sponsoring employer or family member
  • Supporting evidence
  • Properly filled out forms
  • Multiple government forms
  • An appointment at the USCIS for biometrics collection

While the list is long and daunting, many individuals have completed the process.

Immigrating to the United States is an important decision that can change a person’s life and future. Even though the United States is the world’s largest economy, the immigration process can be complicated due to strict regulations and requirements.

Though it isn’t required, the process can be made more accessible by finding a good immigration lawyer. If you go this route and hire legal assistance, choose someone with plenty of experience working with clients from your country. This helps ensure they can help you understand all the procedures and requirements, including those specific to your country of residence.

Once you have your requirements and legal assistance, the next step is to look for a reputable USCIS-certified translation service.

Everything You Need to Know About USCIS-Certified Translation Services

Getting certified translation services requires careful screening to ensure they have the necessary skills and certification. Couple that with the strict guidelines and the green card application process, and you have quite a journey ahead of you.

USCIS-certified translation services remain an essential part of the process. It ensures that your application is handled and dutifully filed so you can start living in the USA without complications.

What is USCIS?

Before looking for a translation service, let’s first understand the USCIS and its role in the immigration process.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has been abbreviated as USCIS since 2003. It is a department of Homeland Security that resulted from the merger of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and immigration-related elements of the Department of Justice. The USCIS is responsible for fulfilling the immigration-related functions previously handled by INS, except for those related to enforcement and inspections.

Generally speaking, the USCIS is the United States federal government’s principal office in charge of immigration. They have offices throughout the country. The USCIS is responsible for a wide range of immigration-related services, including administering and adjudicating citizenship, naturalization, residency, and other benefits. It was created during the Immigration and Naturalization Services restructuring in 1996. The USCIS also supports the government’s foreign offices through international organizations such as the Hague Convention.

USCIS Certified Translation Service: Why Do You Need One?

The complexities of language can mean that even the slightest word change can alter the tone or meaning of a sentence. The translation goes beyond having words and phrases “directly” translated from one language to another. While certain elements can be directly translated, translation is often more complex.

The translation must take into account the context, usage, local dialect, and other nuances that can affect the meaning of a word, including accidental connotations that can change how a message is understood. These intricacies are why certified translations are required for documents related to immigration.

A USCIS-certified translation is a legal translation done by an authorized Department of Homeland Security translator. USCIS-certified translations are mandatory for applicants, especially when applying for a USC visa or study abroad program. This is because a USCIS-certified translation guarantees a higher level of accuracy in terms of credibility and compliance with federal regulations that ensure the safety and security of civic documents.

Since the state needs a certain degree of quality assurance for documents to be approved, only certified translation services are trusted for documents, applications, and records submitted to USCIS. Meeting the USCIS-certified translation requirement is, therefore, an essential step in ensuring the success of your application.

Once you decide to file your application, the USCIS will ask you to submit a list of requirements. This includes, but isn’t limited to, the following documents:

  • Academic transcripts
  • Adoption papers
  • Birth certificates
  • Death certificates
  • Financial statements
  • Legal transcripts
  • Marriage and divorce documents
  • Medical records
  • Passports and visas
  • Police records
  • Other documents required by USCIS

To ensure the credibility of the translation service you hire, they must have a valid ISO 17100 or ISO 9001 certification based on USCIS guidelines. This is crucial in ensuring that the service you pay for is a certified and legitimate translator authorized to process your documents.

Putting It All Together

Applying for immigration requires much time and energy from the applicant. A successful application entails patience, care, and attention to detail. Applicants must have reliable guidance to obtain a visa or green card.

To many, hiring the services of a USCIS-certified translator may seem like an extra expense. However, a certified translator will significantly assist your petition to move forward for applications that include documents and information in multiple languages.