What You Need to Know: How To Get A Birth Certificate Translation

Be it dealing with immigration or legal matters, or even personal documentation, a birth certificate translation is something that would be called upon. In the following guide, we will cover everything you need to know about birth certificate translation: where and when it’s called upon, the requirements stipulated for it by USCIS, and the process involved.

What is a Birth Certificate?

The birth certificate is the legal document that is witnessed at a person’s birth. It contains a person’s full name, the date and place of birth, and their parents’ names. This document may sometimes be requested to support arguments in various legal, medical, and personal correspondences. Without a valid birth certificate, it is quite awkwardly hard to prove one’s identity and nationality.

When to Translate a Birth Certificate

These may be required for various purposes such as:

• Immigration: During the application for visas or claiming citizenship in some other country, birth certificate translations are required by the authorities during the application process.
• Legal cases: In inheritance claims, custody battles, or any case wherein a person needs to prove identity and age.
• Academic Applications: Many institutions, especially when one applies to schools or universities abroad, may require a translated birth certificate as a way to prove their identity and age.
• Employment: Some employers often require a translated birth Certificate as a way of verification, especially if one applies for a job in another country.

What Is a Certified Translation?

A certified translation is one accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company certifying that the translation is accurate and complete. This is so important for official purposes, say, when related to immigration or court cases, in that it tries to assure the authority that holds the request at the other end that indeed, what was delivered is really an honest and true representation of the original document.

Am I allowed to translate my birth certificate myself?

No, if you are sending in your birth certificate to USCIS, it cannot be self-translated. Your translation should be done by a person qualified, impartially located outside of the benefit requestor and his or her representatives, or by a professional translation service. That is, a translation by yourself or by a family member will not be accepted. This way, the translation will be fair and accurate.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Birth Certificate Translated?

Birth certificate translation pricing is determined by document length and complexity, language pair, and the desired speed by which the consumer has to receive the completed project. You may expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 per page for a birth certificate translation. Get a quote upfront and avoid any surprises. Companies will often charge even more for their expedited services if you need the translation job within a short time.

How to Translate a Birth Certificate

The following steps will guide you in translating your birth certificate:

1. Find an appropriate translator or a translation company: He/she should have experience in legal and certified translations. The translator should be very conversant with the USCIS requirements.
2. Quote requests and inquiries on turn-around time: Contact them to find out their estimate of cost and how much time it will take to translate. Be sure to ask about any certification or expedited service extra fees.
3. Electronic submission of birth certificate: Scan a legibly clear copy of the original document. While some might allow one to send a hard copy, the electronic submission is mostly much faster.
4. Check for accuracy: The translation that will be done will then be checked against the original to ensure everything in the document is accurate and complete before it is certified. You may also be allowed to go through the translation for it to be finalized.

Other Things You Should Know

• Check for additional requirements: Sometimes, institutions have certain requirements beyond the USCIS standard. Always check with the requesting authority that you meet their criteria.
• Credential Check: Be sure that your translator or business is respectable and does allow experience in certified translations. Look to their reviews or seek referrals if necessary.
• Turnaround time: Plan accordingly to prevent delays, mostly with tight deadlines. Some translation services can rush processing for an additional charge.

Concluding Remarks

In the process, birth certificate translation is done for purposes such as legalization or processing an application for immigration through the USCIS. Making sure the translation is accurate enough, certified, and consequently meeting the required standards will save you time and probable headaches in the process. Following these steps will guide you through the process.

It can be in the arena of a visa application process, admission to a foreign school, or even in a legal matter—a translated and certified birth certificate is a necessity in each of these. Remember that “birth certificate translation” is the specific term one would use while searching on the internet, so include it in all documents and correspondence to avoid confusion and to conform with evolving changes. By doing this, you guarantee that all your needs will be effectively and properly discharged, preparing a way of easier transactions and services with numerous authorities and institutions.