Should I Translate My Marriage Certificate for Immigration?
Marriage is a happy life event. But it also involves a fair amount of paperwork, as do most significant life events. It’s crucial to know that your marriage certificate may need to be translated, whether you’re marrying abroad or intend to immigrate afterward.
This article explains why you may need to translate your marriage certificate. Below are further details regarding this subject, including answers to queries like the cost of the translation process.
What Is A Marriage Certificate?
A marriage certificate is a legally binding document that certifies a couple has wed. Contrast it with a marriage license, which you get in the United States before your wedding ceremony to authorize your intention to marry.
The usual information on a marriage certificate is the time and place of the union, the names, birthplaces, and marital status of both couples, as well as the names of the witnesses, the date and site of the parents’ weddings.
Why Is a Marriage Certificate Translation Necessary?
The following are the most typical justifications for needing a translated version of your marriage certificate:
- You will require the translation to register your marriage in the U.S. if you reside there but are married abroad and the marriage certificate is issued in another language.
- This translation is necessary for immigration purposes. If you move to the U.S. after marriage, you will require a certified marriage certificate translation and want to present it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- In some nations, obtaining a passport or visa requires providing duplicates of your marriage certificate. You will need a translation if the language of your marriage certificate differs from the nation’s official language.
- You might need to translate your marriage certificate to relocate to another nation.
What Else Can I Do with My Translated Marriage Certificate?
Marriage certificates or licenses are necessary when proving the union of two people. Examples include:
- Applying for social assistance payments or immigration.
- Opening joint bank accounts
- Claiming a spouse’s life insurance
- Claiming a spouse’s last name
- Applying for government benefits that a spouse receives
Short Documents Agencies Can Translate Within 24 Hours
Here is a small list that includes a few of the crucial legal papers RushTranslate can swiftly translate for you.
- Green cards
- Passports
- Foreign birth certificates
- Employment records
- Diplomas
- Divorce decrees
- Marriage certificates
- Medical records
- School transcripts
- International adoption documents
Official USCIS Translation Requirements
For every document that isn’t in English, USCIS demands certified translations. The translator must confirm that the translation is accurate to the best of their ability and that they have followed all USCIS requirements before certifying it.
The preferred certification form by USCIS includes the translator’s name, address, signature, and the date and time of certification. A company must also sign and stamp the accuracy certificate if the company performed the translation. Each page of the translation must bear a stamp and a similar signature.
Many translation agencies specialize in creating certified translations and can quickly deliver papers that meet or surpass USCIS translation criteria. For instance, they will examine your paperwork, add a statement vouching for the accuracy of the translation, and, if necessary, have these papers notarized.
What Is the Cost of a USCIS-Certified Immigration Translation?
When using RushTranslate or other translation service providers that ImmigrationHelp has reviewed and recommends, you may anticipate paying between $20 and $40 per page. The document’s complexity, the number of pages, the location, and the document translation provider all affect the cost. For instance, RushTranslate charges $25 for a translation of no more than 250 words on one page.
You have 100% assurance that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow the translation, in addition to the fact that they translate immigration paperwork for over 60 languages at a reasonable price.
The Bottom Line
The necessity of translating a marriage certificate may arise for several reasons. It is usually a good idea to double-check the requirements in advance, including if the document needs certification, as different nations and organizations have different standards.
