What to Check in a Certified Translation Before You File

Why it's worth a look

You know your own details best: how your last name is spelled, when your children were born, what your hometown used to be called. A fresh look at those spots catches typos that are easy to miss. The translator is still responsible for the quality of the translation.

Names

Compare the spelling with your passport and with the version you agreed on before the translation. Check the names of everyone else in the document, too: parents, spouse, children.

If the document was issued under a previous last name, the translation has to keep that name. It shouldn't look as if the original shows a different last name.

Dates and numbers

Compare the date of birth, the date of issue, serial and registration numbers, and any other important figures.

Watch the order of day and month. In the U.S., 03/04/2000 reads as March 4, while in most of Europe it means April 3. If a date could be read two ways, ask the translator to check it and write the month out if needed.

Places and names of institutions

Check the place of birth, the name of the school, and the name of the issuing authority. A historical name of a city or country isn't necessarily a mistake: the translation reflects what the original document says.

Is everything translated?

USCIS requires a full translation, so make sure every page you sent is translated, including the back of a page if it has entries. Check that stamps, seals, handwritten notes, and attachments are translated as well.

Signatures are usually marked in words rather than reproduced. The translation may look different from the original, but it should be clear which field each piece of text belongs to.

The certification and the final file

Make sure the translator's certification is included, signed, and matches this document. Open the final PDF: every page should be readable and nothing should be cut off. If the recipient has its own formatting requirements, check those too.

If you find a mistake

Tell the translator the page, the passage, and the correct information, and attach the original. Don't edit a signed translation yourself: once it's corrected, the translator issues an updated version with a new certification.

If the document has already been filed, ask the recipient or your attorney how to replace the translation. We make corrections requested by you, your attorney, USCIS, or the court at no charge.