Key points
- Documents submitted to USCIS must include a full English translation with the translator’s certification of accuracy and competence.
- International student and scholar offices, HR, admissions, and student health each receive foreign-language records, often the same documents.
- Credential evaluation services and student health centers set their own translation requirements, so check them before ordering.
- A named provider with certified translation, a second-linguist review, and secure file handling saves scholars and staff time.
Universities handle foreign-language records at several points: admission, scholar and postdoc onboarding, HR, immunization compliance, and immigration filings. For anything submitted to USCIS, federal rules require a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate. Many international offices make this easy by naming one vetted provider for certified translation.
Where foreign-language records come up on campus
| Office | Typical documents | What is usually needed |
|---|---|---|
| International student and scholar services | Diplomas, transcripts, birth and marriage certificates for visa and immigration steps | Certified English translation for anything filed with USCIS |
| Human resources (international hires and postdocs) | Degree records, civil records for benefits enrollment, prior employment letters | Certified translation, so records can be relied on and filed |
| Admissions and graduate schools | Transcripts, diplomas, recommendation letters | English translations; credential evaluators set their own rules |
| Student health | Immunization and vaccination records | An English translation, per each school’s own policy |
What USCIS requires
Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), any document containing a foreign language that is submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, along with the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate from that language into English. A summary or partial translation does not meet the rule: stamps, seals, and handwritten notes need to be translated too.
Our certified translations include a signed certificate of accuracy. If USCIS rejects a translation because of an error in our work, we correct and re-certify it at no charge.
How to set up a preferred translation provider
- Certification: every translation comes with a signed certificate of accuracy, with notarization or apostille available when a receiving office asks for it.
- Quality process: translation and review by two linguists under ISO 17100.
- Security: records move through an encrypted portal under an ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security system, not open email.
- Turnaround: short documents, one to three pages, usually within 24 to 48 hours, so scholars can meet filing and start dates.
- Coverage: the languages your scholars actually bring. We work in 250+ languages.
- Visibility: list the provider on the pages scholars and staff already use, such as international scholar onboarding, HR new-hire pages, and student health immunization pages.
Interpreting for international students, scholars, and families
The same offices often need interpreters for orientation sessions, family meetings, and accessibility. We provide on-site interpreting, phone and video interpreting, and ASL interpreting and CART captioning for campus events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USCIS require certified translations?
Yes. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), foreign-language documents submitted to USCIS must include a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate, with a certification that the translator is competent to translate the language.
Can a bilingual staff member translate scholars’ documents?
The rule requires a complete translation and the translator’s certification of competence and accuracy. Most offices avoid asking staff to take on that responsibility and refer scholars to a professional provider instead.
Do immunization records need a certified translation?
Requirements vary by school. Most student health centers ask for an English translation, and some specify certified translation, so check your own policy before ordering.
Do you translate transcripts with grades and course titles?
Yes. We translate the full transcript, including grades, course titles, stamps, and seals, with a signed certificate of accuracy. Credential evaluators may also require their own evaluation, which is a separate step.
How quickly can a scholar get a certified translation?
Short documents of one to three pages are usually ready within 24 to 48 hours. Longer records are quoted with a confirmed delivery date.
Can you arrange notarization or an apostille?
Yes. We arrange notarization and apostille when the receiving office requires them.
