A certified translation is essentially a sworn statement affirming the translator’s ability to translate a document from the original language to the English language accurately for your immigration application or petition.
This article provides some do-it-yourself information for creating your own USCIS certified translations and a link to get help from a professional translation company.
According to the Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)),
Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator’s certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
If you have included any foreign language documents with your USCIS application or petition, you must also submit certified translations into English. Common documents that require a translation include: birth certificates, death certificates, passports, marriage and divorce certificates, and academic transcripts. Any foreign language documents that support your USCIS form must be translated into English with a certified translation.
Failing to submit a translation at the time of the filing will likely result in rejection or Request for Evidence, creating delay. Don't forget, include a copy of the foreign language document and the certified translation.
You or a family member may generally translate your own documents if you can certify that you are competent in both languages. (Ultimately, this is up to the discretion of the USCIS officer.) However, the best practice is to use a professional translation service that is familiar with formatting and expectations from USCIS. This ensures it is done correctly. Plus, there is no conflict of interest when you use a third party.
Current policy does not prevent friends or family from translating documents. However, any conflict of interest can potentially concern a USCIS officer. For example, the petitioning spouse who translates for an immigrating spouse has a conflict of interest. It's possible the USCIS officer will request a translation from a third-party who has no particular interest in the decision to grant a visa. This could significantly delay your case.
Do not use Google Translate or any other automatic document translations for the purpose of a USCIS certified translation. These are terrific tools for providing quick translations but do not meet the USCIS translation requirements.
Professional translation services know how to prepare certified translations that USCIS will accept. These services will generally guarantee their services. They are a third-party with no conflict of interest and can help give you the confidence that everything will go smoothly. Professional translators can be individuals or companies.