Translation fundamentals:
As part of every process in every immigration and travel process (travel visa), you need to submit official documents. You need to submit these documents as proof of your eligibility. You must provide a certified translation of any document not written in English. Certified translators only assure of the translation’s accuracy (a birth certificate is translated as a birth certificate). The immigration authority also wants to know of the authenticity of the original document. This authentication comes with an Apostille certificate.

Apostille certificate:
“An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Secretary of State. The Apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the other countries who are members of The Hague Apostille Convention.” For more information, download the booklet “The ABCs of Apostilles, How to ensure that your public documents will be recognised abroad” << link to download/landing page)

Basic documents to be translated into English
Any document that the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia government requires for a visa or a green card application must be translated into English — whether that document applies to other people or entities (schools, companies). This is also true for the relative seeking the same authorization (visa or permanent residency). Some examples include:
Birth certificate (this is the most common document needing translation)
Marriage certificate
Divorce papers (if you were previously married)
Police records
Bank statements
NOTE: It isn’t necessary to translate your passport into English. Always ask your Imminet Customer Service representative if you’re not sure whether a document needs to be translated. You can also check the official government website help pages.
IMPORTANT: Imminent has noticed an increase in RFEs (Requests for Evidence) on multilingual documents which can delay applications by several months, even though multilingual documents contain English.

A document written in a foreign language must be translated into English by a qualified translator.

A certified translator can be anyone who is proficient in both English and the document’s original language (such as Mandarin or Spanish). (See below for more information.)
If you can certify you are truly competent in both languages, you or your relative can act as your own translator under current laws. However, the decision to accept a certified English translation is always at the discretion of the immigration officer reviewing your documents. To avoid any delays or complications with your application, it is wise to seek the help of a professional translation service or a friend or family member with such experience.
Some U.S. embassies and consulates only accept translators from certain agencies. For instance, the U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece, will only accept translations from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Be sure to check the specific requirements of the U.S. embassy or consulate in your area before enlisting a service.)

Is the translation to be typed or can it be handwritten?
Type the translation itself. The translation must also be accompanied by a certification letter from the translator (see below for more details). In spite of the fact that that certification letter is technically allowed to be written by hand, it’s better to type it up – nobody wants a delay in their visa or permanent residency (green card) application because of poor-quality documents.

Is the translation required to be notarized?
Official government rules do not require a translation to be notarized.

When do translations need to be done?
The majority of supporting documents, as well as any necessary translations, are submitted with the initial visa or permanent residency (green card) application. However, you may need to submit your documents at other stages of the application process, such as if the government sends extra questions through a request for evidence (RFE). You will also bring original copies of your documentation, including translations, when you attend the visa or permanent residency (green card( interview.

What is the cost of a translation?
If you don’t have a friend or family member doing your translation for free, the price will depend on your location, the service provider, and the number and complexity of documents. For professional translation services, however, $20-40 per page is not uncommon in the United States (Imminet also offers ).
An Imminet immigration caseworker will review your application and answer all of your questions. Learn more about Imminet, or apply today.

How do you get a certified translation of a document that is not in English?
You’ll need to submit documentation to support your application for a visa or permanent residency (green card). You must provide a certified translation of any supporting document not written in English. This guide explains how to obtain and submit a certified translation for immigration purposes.

What Does “Certified” Mean?
There is no need to panic! Although the government requires a translated document to be “certified,” it does not require the person translating it to be credentialed in translation services. The translator does not have to be a professional, just proficient in English and the language in which your document was originally written.

An English translation must be accompanied by a formal letter stating that the translator:
They are qualified to translate the document since they are proficient in both English and the original language.
The translator translated the document accurately and completely to the best of their abilities.

The letter must also include the following information about the translator:
Full name
Address
Signature
The date they wrote the letter
Please submit this certification letter along with the translations and photocopies of the untranslated documents.

Sample certification letter
Translator certification
The undersigned, [full name], certifies that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the enclosed document titled [name of document].

Signature
[Date]
[Translator’s Full Name]
[Translator’s Address]

In order to ensure accuracy and avoid complications with your visa or permanent residency (green card) application, it is usually best to hire a reputable and professional translator, preferably one who is familiar with translating documents for immigration purposes (Imminet is a preferred provider for translations in many languages).