You need a certified translation in New York City, and the deadline is real. Whether you are submitting documents to USCIS for a green card or naturalization application, enrolling in a university, filing evidence in a New York court, or satisfying a corporate compliance requirement, the institution on the other end will not accept a foreign-language document without a proper English translation — and not just any translation. They need a certified translation that meets specific legal and procedural standards. Get it wrong and your application stalls, your admission is delayed, or your case hits an unnecessary obstacle.
At Professional Interpreting Canada, our linguists have deep experience producing certified translation services for NYC clients across every borough and across the full range of languages spoken in one of the world’s most multilingual cities. We serve New Yorkers entirely online — no office visit required — and we deliver translations that satisfy the requirements of USCIS, federal and state courts, the New York City Department of Education, universities, and employers. This page explains exactly what a certified translation is under United States law, what USCIS requires, which documents need one, who needs them most in New York, and how our process works from your first message to your stamped, signed translation.
Ready to get started? Request your quote now — turnaround in as little as 24 hours.
What Is a Certified Translation in the United States?
The term “certified translation” has a precise meaning in the United States, and it differs meaningfully from what some other countries call a “sworn” or “official” translation. In the US context, a certified translation is a translated document that is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy — a written declaration by the translator or translation agency attesting that the translation is complete, accurate, and faithful to the original source document.
There is no government body in the United States that licenses or certifies translators the way, for example, some European jurisdictions do. There is no federal or New York State license that a translator must hold to produce a legally valid certified translation. The American Translators Association (ATA) offers a voluntary credentialing program, and ATA certification is a respected professional credential that signals a high standard of competency — but it is not legally required by USCIS, by the federal courts, or by New York State courts. What matters, legally and procedurally, is the certification statement itself: who signed it, what it says, and whether it meets the requirements of the institution that will receive the document.
This is an important distinction to understand before you hire a translation service. If a provider implies that you must use an “ATA-certified translator” to satisfy USCIS, that is a misstatement of the law. What USCIS actually requires is codified in federal regulation, and it focuses on the content of the certification — not on the translator’s professional membership. We explain exactly what USCIS demands in the next section.
For a deeper look at the difference between certified and notarized translations — concepts that often get confused — see our guide: Certified vs. Notarized Translation.
USCIS Certified Translation Requirements: What the Regulation Actually Says
The governing rule for immigration-related translations in the United States is 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3). It states that any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS must be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, together with the translator’s certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Unpacking that regulation reveals four concrete requirements:
- Full translation — word for word. The translation must cover every element of the original document: text, stamps, seals, marginal notations, headers, footers, and any handwritten additions. USCIS does not accept summaries or partial translations, even for long documents. Every stamp on a birth certificate, every annotation on a court decree, every issuing-authority seal must appear in English.
- Certification of completeness and accuracy. The translator must sign a written statement declaring that the translation is complete and accurate. “Complete” means nothing was omitted. “Accurate” means the English faithfully represents the meaning of the source-language text.
- Attestation of translator competence. The same certification must state that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English. This is a self-attestation — USCIS does not require any external credential to back it up, though professional qualifications naturally strengthen the document.
- Individual certification per document. Each translated document must carry its own individual certification statement. A single blanket statement that says “I certify all of the above translations” is not accepted by USCIS. If you are submitting five foreign-language documents, each translation needs its own Certificate of Accuracy.
What USCIS does not require is equally important to understand:
- Notarization is not required by USCIS. USCIS removed the notarization requirement effective September 30, 2011. A signed Certificate of Accuracy from a competent translator is the standard. Some third-party institutions — certain courts, state agencies, or private employers — may request notarization for their own purposes, but this is an additional step beyond what USCIS needs.
- ATA membership or certification is not required. There is no federal or New York State requirement that the translator hold any particular professional credential.
- A government-issued translator license is not required. The United States does not have a national licensing regime for translators.
All of our certified translations for USCIS submissions include a properly worded, individually signed Certificate of Accuracy for each document, compliant with 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3). Learn more about our translators and language expertise on our languages page.
Certified Translation vs. Notarized Translation: Knowing When You Need Each
Many New York City clients — particularly those navigating immigration for the first time — arrive with a question about whether their documents need to be notarized. It is a reasonable question, and the answer depends on who is asking for the translation and why.
A certified translation carries a signed statement from the translator or agency. The translator is attesting to two things: the accuracy of the translation and their own competency in the language pair. No government official or notary is involved in that attestation. The translator’s professional reputation, skills, and signature are the guarantee.
A notarized translation adds one procedural layer: a notary public witnesses the translator’s signature and verifies the signer’s identity with a notarial seal. Critically, the notary is not verifying the quality or accuracy of the translation — they are simply confirming that the person who signed the certificate is who they say they are. Notarized translations are sometimes required by:
- Certain New York State courts or administrative tribunals for evidentiary submissions
- Financial institutions opening accounts for foreign nationals
- Some real-estate and mortgage transactions
- Specific employers for background-verification purposes
- Certain state-agency filings outside the federal immigration system
If the institution or attorney asking for the translation has not specified notarization, a standard certified translation will almost always suffice. When in doubt, ask the receiving institution before ordering — we are also happy to advise when you contact us for a quote. We can produce both certified and notarized translations, and we will guide you toward the right option for your specific situation.
Documents We Translate for NYC Clients
New York City generates an extraordinary volume of certified translation demand. It is home to nearly three million foreign-born residents, hosts the federal immigration court system’s largest docket, and attracts tens of thousands of international students annually. The range of documents that require certified translation is correspondingly broad. Below are the most common categories our translators handle for New York clients.
Personal Identity & Vital Records
Birth certificates are the single most frequently requested document for certified translation. They are required for almost every USCIS petition — from I-485 adjustment of status to N-400 naturalization — as well as for school enrollment, Social Security applications, and passport renewals. A birth certificate from almost any country contains official stamps, registration numbers, issuing-authority seals, and marginal notations, all of which must appear in the English translation.
Marriage certificates and divorce decrees are required whenever a petitioner’s marital history is relevant to an immigration benefit, and they come up frequently in family-based visa cases, spousal green-card petitions, and name-change proceedings. Divorce decrees can be lengthy legal documents; our translators handle the full text, not excerpts.
Death certificates are sometimes required in estate proceedings, survivor-benefit applications, and dependency-based immigration cases.
Academic Credentials
Academic transcripts and diplomas need certified translation for university admissions (including CUNY and SUNY institutions), credential evaluation agencies such as WES, ECE, and NACES members, professional licensing boards in New York State, and employers verifying foreign educational qualifications. A transcript often spans multiple pages and lists course names, grades, credit hours, and grading-scale explanations — all of which must be rendered with precision.
Diplomas, degree certificates, and academic awards are typically shorter documents but carry complex official language and institutional formatting that requires careful, accurate translation.
Legal & Court Documents
Criminal record clearances and police certificates are required for many USCIS applications, including green-card and naturalization filings, and they vary enormously in format across different countries. Court judgments and rulings, affidavits, powers of attorney, and contracts may require certified translation for use in New York federal or state courts or in arbitration proceedings. Adoption documents for internationally adopted children must be translated to meet federal requirements for US citizenship applications. Our document translation services page describes our broader legal translation capabilities.
Medical Documents
Medical examination reports and vaccination records are required for immigration medicals submitted on Form I-693. Foreign hospital records, surgical reports, and psychiatric evaluations may be needed to support asylum claims, disability petitions, or benefit requests. Medical translation demands terminological precision; our translators in life-sciences language pairs have the subject-matter background to handle clinical content accurately.
Business & Financial Documents
Companies operating in New York with international partners or foreign-incorporated subsidiaries regularly need certified translations of articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, financial statements, contracts, and regulatory filings. These documents may be required by the New York Secretary of State, by the IRS, by financial institutions, or by counterparties in commercial transactions.
Immigration-Specific Documents
Beyond vital records, USCIS petitions can require certified translations of foreign passports and identity cards, military service records, employment verification letters from foreign employers, tax documents, and national identity documents (such as a cedula, livret de famille, or household registration). Every page that contains foreign-language text must be fully translated.
Who Needs Certified Translation Services in New York City?
The answer is: a remarkably large portion of New York’s population. New York City is the most linguistically diverse urban area on earth, with over 200 languages spoken in its five boroughs. Roughly 37 percent of New York City residents were born outside the United States, and hundreds of thousands are in some stage of the immigration process at any given time. Here is a closer look at the groups most likely to need our services.
Immigration Applicants & Petitioners
Whether you are filing an I-130 family petition, an I-485 adjustment of status, an I-751 removal of conditions, an N-400 naturalization application, an asylum claim, or a U or T visa petition, any foreign-language document you submit to USCIS must be accompanied by a certified English translation. The New York City immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals impose the same requirement for documents submitted as evidence. If your immigration attorney has given you a list of documents to gather, and any of those documents are not in English, certified translation is the next step.
International Students
New York City is home to Columbia University, NYU, Fordham, The New School, Pace, and dozens of other higher-education institutions. International applicants — and admitted students completing enrollment — routinely need certified translations of secondary school transcripts, high-school diplomas, national exam results, and university transcripts from institutions abroad. Credential evaluation agencies that universities work with also require certified translations as part of the evaluation process.
Legal Professionals & Their Clients
Immigration attorneys, family-law practitioners, and civil litigators in New York regularly rely on certified translations to present foreign-language documents in court or to regulatory bodies. If you are working with a New York attorney on any matter that involves foreign documents — an estate, a business dispute, a custody case with international elements — your attorney may direct you to our services or we may work directly with their office.
Employers & HR Professionals
New York employers in finance, healthcare, academia, and professional services increasingly hire talent from outside the United States. Verifying a candidate’s foreign educational credentials, confirming a professional license issued abroad, or on-boarding a sponsored employee may all require certified translations of academic or professional documents. HR teams working on I-9 compliance for foreign-national employees may also need translations of identity documents not issued in English.
Government & Public-Sector Agencies
New York City agencies — including the Administration for Children’s Services, the Human Resources Administration, the NYC Housing Authority, and the Department of Health — regularly interact with clients whose documents are in foreign languages. Certified translations enable these agencies to process applications and verify eligibility for services.
Individuals Navigating Life Events
Not every certified translation request is tied to an institutional process. Sometimes people simply need to prove a relationship, confirm a date of birth, or establish a legal fact that is recorded in a document from another country — for a pension claim, a name change, a dual-citizenship application, or a benefits enrollment. We work with private individuals on exactly these kinds of requests, and we treat every document with the same care we give high-volume institutional clients.
Languages We Translate for New York Clients
New York City’s foreign-born population speaks a staggering range of languages. Spanish is the most widely spoken, with large communities from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Bengali, Russian, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Tagalog, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu, and dozens of other languages are all part of the city’s everyday linguistic landscape. Our network of professional translators covers over 200 languages, including:
- Spanish (all regional variants — Mexican, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Colombian, Argentine, and more)
- Chinese — Simplified and Traditional (Mandarin, Cantonese)
- Portuguese (Brazilian and European)
- French (Metropolitan and Haitian Creole)
- Arabic (Modern Standard and regional dialects)
- Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, and other Slavic languages
- Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, and other South Asian languages
- Tagalog and other Philippine languages
- Korean and Japanese
- Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Swahili, and other African languages
- Romanian, Italian, German, and other European languages
- Burmese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Thai, and other Southeast Asian languages
- Haitian Creole, Wolof, Fula, and other Caribbean and West African languages
If your document is in a language not listed above, please ask — our network is broad, and we regularly handle less common language pairs on request. Visit our languages page for a full overview, or contact us for a quote and we will confirm availability for your specific language pair immediately.
Our Process: From Document to Certified Translation — Remotely
You do not need to be physically present anywhere to use our certified translation services. Our entire workflow is designed for remote delivery, which makes us ideally suited for New York City clients who are busy, who may be managing an immigration case from abroad, or who simply prefer to handle documents online. Here is how the process works.
Step 1: Request a Quote
Use our free quote form to describe your documents. Tell us the source language, the document type, the number of pages, and your intended use (USCIS, court, university, employer, etc.). The more detail you provide, the faster we can give you an accurate quote and confirmed turnaround time. You will typically hear back from us within a few hours during business hours.
Step 2: Submit Your Documents
Once you approve the quote, you send us your documents electronically — a clear scan or high-resolution photograph is sufficient for most documents. If the original is damaged, faded, or in an unusual script, let us know and we will advise on the best way to submit it. We use secure file-transfer methods and treat all personal documents with strict confidentiality.
Step 3: Translation & Quality Review
A qualified translator who specializes in the relevant language pair and document type produces the translation. We follow a quality-review process to check the translation against the original for completeness and accuracy before the Certificate of Accuracy is prepared. For technical documents — medical records, legal rulings, academic transcripts with subject-specific terminology — we assign translators with subject-matter expertise in those fields.
Step 4: Certification & Delivery
The completed translation is paired with a properly worded, individually signed Certificate of Accuracy for each document. We deliver the certified translation to you by email as a PDF. Most receiving institutions — including USCIS for most filing types, universities, and employers — accept PDF-format certified translations. If you need a physical hard copy with a wet signature for a specific proceeding, we can arrange that as well. Simply let us know when you request your quote.
Turnaround Times
Standard turnaround for most single-document certified translations is one to three business days. Complex multi-document packages, long legal transcripts, or requests for multiple language pairs may require additional time, and we will communicate the timeline clearly when you receive your quote. If you have an urgent filing deadline — a USCIS response deadline, a court date, or an application deadline — tell us and we will do our best to accommodate you. Rush turnaround is available for many requests.
Notarization: When You Need It and How We Arrange It
As explained above, USCIS does not require notarization of certified translations. However, if the institution receiving your translation has specifically requested a notarized translation — and this happens with some New York State courts, certain government agencies, financial institutions, and specific employers — we can help you obtain one.
Notarization means that a licensed notary public witnesses the translator’s signature on the Certificate of Accuracy and affixes a notarial seal. The notary verifies the identity of the signer, not the content of the translation. For New York clients, notarization is typically obtained locally, and we can advise on the most efficient path for your situation. In some cases we work with notaries directly; in other cases we prepare the certification in a format that makes it straightforward for you to have notarized locally.
If you are unsure whether notarization is required for your specific submission, the safest approach is to ask the institution directly — or ask us. We have experience across a wide range of NYC-area institutions and can often tell you from experience what they typically expect. See our related resource on certified vs. notarized translation for more context.
Why Choose Professional Interpreting Canada for Your NYC Certified Translation?
You have no shortage of translation providers to choose from in New York City. Here is what sets us apart for clients who need certified translations that will withstand scrutiny.
Compliance-Focused Certification
Every Certificate of Accuracy we produce is written to satisfy 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) and the equivalent standards of New York courts and educational institutions. We do not use generic boilerplate that may fail on a technicality — our certificates are individually tailored to each document and each intended use. Our approach to document translation is built around the specific requirements of the institutions that will receive the work.
Qualified Translators
We work with professional translators who have direct experience in the document categories they handle. A translator working on a medical record has a background in medical or life-sciences translation. A translator handling a legal ruling has experience with legal terminology in both the source and target languages. Subject-matter competency is not optional when the accuracy of a certified translation may affect a legal case, an immigration benefit, or an academic career. For guidance on what to look for when hiring a certified translator, see our FAQ: Avoid Mistakes When Hiring Certified Translators.
Over 200 Languages
New York City’s linguistic diversity is extraordinary, and our language coverage matches it. Whether your document is in a major world language or a less commonly spoken one, we almost certainly have the capacity to help. See our full language list or ask us directly — our response time is fast.
Fully Remote, Secure, & Convenient
There is no office to visit. You submit documents electronically and receive your certified translation by email. We handle clients across all five boroughs, in Westchester, on Long Island, and anywhere else you happen to be when you need the work done. The process is the same whether you are in Manhattan or managing a US immigration case from outside the country entirely.
Accepted by USCIS, Courts & Universities
Our certified translations are prepared to the standard required by USCIS, federal and state courts, credential evaluation agencies, New York-area universities, and employers. We stand behind the accuracy of our work and will address any institutional query about a translation we have produced. For context on why professional translator qualifications matter, see our FAQ: The Importance of a Licensed Translator for Your Documents.
Also Serving Toronto & Canadian Clients
While this page focuses on NYC, we also provide certified translation services across Canada, with deep expertise in the Canadian regulatory context. If you have a cross-border need — documents going from Canada to the US for an immigration matter, or US documents needed for a Canadian application — we are well positioned to handle both sides. See our certified translator Toronto page for our Canadian service offering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Translation Services in NYC
Does USCIS require a notarized translation?
No. Under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3), USCIS requires a certified translation — a full English translation accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy from a competent translator. Notarization is not required for USCIS submissions. USCIS removed the notarization requirement in 2011. If a translation provider tells you that you need a notarized translation specifically for USCIS, that is not accurate. You may need notarization for other institutions (certain courts, state agencies, some employers), but not for USCIS.
Do I need an ATA-certified translator for USCIS?
No. The ATA (American Translators Association) credential is a respected voluntary professional certification, but it is not legally required by USCIS, by federal courts, or by New York State courts. The governing regulation requires a competent translator to certify the translation — it does not specify that the translator hold any particular credential. Using an ATA-certified translator may add reassurance about quality, but its absence does not invalidate a properly certified translation.
What should the Certificate of Accuracy say?
The Certificate of Accuracy must state, at minimum: (1) that the translation is complete and accurate, (2) that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English, and (3) it must be signed by the translator. A typical formulation reads: “I, [name], am competent to translate from [language] into English and certify that the attached translation of [document title] is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.” The certificate must be individually prepared for each document — a blanket certification covering multiple documents is not accepted by USCIS.
Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?
USCIS policy states that a petitioner or applicant cannot certify the accuracy of their own translation. The translator must be someone other than the applicant. There is no prohibition on a qualified friend or family member translating your documents, as long as they are genuinely competent in both languages and can honestly attest to that competency — but in practice, using a professional service eliminates any risk that USCIS will question the translation’s reliability.
How long does a certified translation take?
Standard turnaround for a single-document certified translation is typically one to three business days. A simple, one-page birth certificate can often be completed in 24 hours. Longer documents — multi-page transcripts, court records spanning many pages, or packages of several documents — take longer. Rush service is available for urgent deadlines. When you submit your quote request, we will confirm the turnaround time for your specific documents before you commit to the order.
Do courts in New York accept certified translations?
Federal courts and New York State courts accept certified translations for documentary evidence. Requirements can vary by court and by the nature of the proceeding — some courts may request notarization, and evidentiary rules can impose additional requirements for authentication of foreign public documents (such as apostilles). If you are submitting a translation to a New York court, we recommend confirming the specific requirements with the clerk’s office or your attorney, and communicating those requirements to us when you request the translation.
Are your certified translations accepted by CUNY, SUNY, and other NYC universities?
Our certified translations are prepared in accordance with the standards most New York universities and credential evaluation agencies require. Institutions such as CUNY and SUNY generally require translations by a professional translator accompanied by a certification of accuracy. We recommend confirming the specific submission format with the admissions office of the institution you are applying to, as requirements can differ between programs and between evaluation agencies.
What is the difference between a certified translation and a document translation?
Any translation of a document could loosely be called a “document translation.” The term “certified translation” specifically means the translation is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy. A general document translation produced without that certificate is typically not accepted for official purposes — immigration, court, or educational. For most formal institutional submissions, you need the certification. For internal use — understanding a foreign-language contract, reviewing correspondence, personal reference — a non-certified translation may be sufficient. See our document translation page for a broader overview of our translation services, and our FAQ on the three main types of translators for context on how translation professionals are categorized.
Do you handle confidential documents securely?
Yes. The documents our clients send us — birth certificates, passports, medical records, legal filings — contain sensitive personal information, and we treat them accordingly. We use secure channels for file submission and do not retain copies of client documents beyond what is operationally necessary to complete the translation. We do not share client documents or personal information with third parties.
Can you handle large volumes — many documents at once?
Yes. Law firms, immigration practices, corporate HR departments, and universities sometimes send us batches of documents requiring certified translation across multiple language pairs simultaneously. We have the capacity to handle multi-document, multi-language projects with consistent quality and on agreed timelines. Contact us to discuss volume requirements when you request your quote.
I need a translation from English into another language — can you help?
Yes. While many certified translation requests involve translating into English for US official use, we also produce certified translations in the other direction — English into Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic, and other languages — for submissions to foreign institutions, international courts, embassies, or overseas government agencies. Tell us the target language and the intended use when you request a quote.
Get Your Certified Translation Started Today
If you are in New York City and you need a certified translation — for a USCIS immigration application, for a court filing, for a university application, or for any official purpose — we are ready to help. Our remote workflow means you can get your documents to us and receive your certified translation without leaving your home or office. Our translators are experienced, our certifications are compliant with USCIS and other US institutional standards, and we cover over 200 languages.
Tell us about your documents and we will turn around a free quote, usually within a few hours. No commitment required to request a quote — just the information we need to give you an accurate answer on scope, timeline, and cost.
Questions before you submit? Review our FAQ resources on why translator qualifications matter, common mistakes to avoid when hiring, and the three main types of translators — or simply reach out directly.