The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires specific documentation to establish your eligibility for permanent resident status, also known as getting your green card. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may need to translate and certify a copy of your birth certificate to proceed with the application process. Arranging for a certified copy of your birth certificate is no easy task for most people. Different government agencies maintain different records about births, and some require more information than others when granting certification of these documents. Some people may have difficulty locating the necessary documents or records, which is why we have outlined everything you need to know regarding whether you need to translate and certify a copy of your birth certificate for USCIS in this blog post.
What is a Birth Certificate?
A birth certificate is a document that proves your place of birth. In the United States, this document is maintained by the state where you were born. The birth certificate contains information that is crucial for your immigration case, including your name at birth, your parent’s names, and the state where you were born. You will also find information about the place of your birth, like the hospital name and address or the midwife’s name and address. All of this information is printed on the front side of the document. The back side of the document usually contains the signatures of the hospital staff, along with the date and time of your birth.
Which Documents Require Translation and Certification?
Some immigration paperwork requires translation and certification, while other immigration paperwork does not. The easiest way to figure out which documents require translation and certification is by going through each of your forms and determining which documents are listed on them. Some documents that require translation and certification include: – Birth certificates – Many people assume that this document requires translation and certification. It does not unless it was issued in the last 50 years. Most birth certificates issued in the U.S. before 1949 are in English, but those issued between 1949 and 2011 may not be in English. – Marriage certificate – If you are filing for a green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, you will need to provide a copy of your spouse’s divorce or death certificate. If a translation is listed on the divorce or death certificate, it will require translation and certification. – Divorce decree – You will need to provide a copy of your divorce decree if you are filing for a green card based on divorce. If a translation is listed on the divorce decree, it will require translation and certification. – Foreign Criminal Record – You will need to provide a foreign criminal record if you are filing for a green card based on a criminal record. If a translation is listed on the criminal record, it will require translation and certification.
How to Translate and Certify Your Birth Certificate for USCIS?
If you determine that you must do something special with your birth certificate, you will need to arrange for a translation and certification. You can either visit or call the government or commercial translation service. Most translation services will provide you with translation and certification for a fee. You must keep in mind that the translation will need to be certified by a government translator. You can confirm that your translation has been certified by contacting the issuing agency and confirming that the signature listed on the certification matches the signature on the birth certificate.
Conclusion
Your birth certificate is the most important document in your immigration case. It establishes your place of birth, your name at birth, and the names of your parents. You will need to provide a certified copy of your birth certificate as part of your application for a green card. Make sure to get a certified copy if you need one since it is more useful. You may also need to translate your birth certificate if it is not in English or if it is older than 50 years.