USCIS translation of Armenian documents into English: Green Card and more

For many families, translating documents for USCIS is the first real step on the road to America. Family petitions, a Green Card, a DV lottery win or naturalization — in every case Armenian documents have to be submitted with an English translation. The good news is that the requirements are fairly clear; the bad news is that a small oversight can lead to a Request for Evidence (RFE) and months of delay.

Who needs this translation

People come to us in different situations, but most often with:

• family petitions (a US citizen or permanent resident petitioning for a spouse, parent, child or sibling);
• Green Card applications from people already in the US who are adjusting status;
• DV lottery wins, preparing for the embassy interview;
• naturalization applications that require Armenian documents for the file.

In all these cases the core document pack is similar: birth, marriage and divorce certificates, name change documents, sometimes court decisions and educational documents.

Often the process is handled by a relative or a lawyer in the US while the documents are in Armenia. That is not a problem: anyone can send the scans, and we will e-mail the finished translation to whatever address you specify. This is how most of our clients work, coordinating everything from Los Angeles, Boston or New York.

What USCIS requires from a translation

According to USCIS guidance, every foreign-language document must be submitted with a full English translation, accompanied by the translator’s certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from that language into English. This is what US practice calls a “certified translation”. Any competent translator can produce it, provided the translation is complete and accurate and the certification is attached.

It is important to understand that the American “certified” does not mean notarized. It refers to the translator’s written certification. Requirements are updated from time to time, so always check the current Form Instructions for your form on the USCIS website before applying.

What a “complete” translation means

Complete means literally everything: headings, stamp texts, handwritten notes, entries on the back, and the apostille if there is one. A summary or “key details only” translation is risky. If part of a stamp is illegible, the translation says so, for example [illegible], rather than leaving it out.

USCIS translation: notary, stamp or apostille?

Do you need a notarized translation?

Under USCIS guidance, what is generally required is the translator’s certification, not notarization. So if someone tells you that USCIS “definitely needs a notary”, check the current instructions — in many cases you can save money. But if the same document is also needed by another body (for example, a US court or a state agency), the requirement there may be different. For a notarized translation, the original must physically reach our office, and we go to the notary on your behalf.

Stamped translation

Our stamped translation is fully online: you send a scan and receive a PDF with the agency stamp by e-mail. This is convenient when you upload documents online or send them to a lawyer. When ordering, simply say “for USCIS”, and we will discuss with you in advance the format of the translation and the translator’s certification.

What about the apostille?

An apostille is not usually one of the main requirements for US immigration applications, but check the current instructions for your case or ask your lawyer. If an apostille is required, in Armenia it is issued by the state — the Ministry of Justice (for civil status, notarial and court documents) or the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (for educational documents). We do not issue apostilles, but we will tell you free of charge where to apply and translate the apostille text.

Have a question about your case? Call +374 33 130371 or write on WhatsApp/Viber.

The NVC and embassy interview pack

If your case goes through the National Visa Center (NVC) or you are preparing for a consular interview (including DV lottery winners), translation requirements are set by the NVC and the specific embassy. They also depend on the country where the interview takes place, so check the current instructions from the State Department and your embassy.

People usually bring the originals and their translations to the interview. Our advice: prepare a folder with each translation placed directly after its original. The consular officer will appreciate it, and you will not get lost in your papers.

If any of your documents is from the Soviet era, handwritten or partly in Russian, tell us in advance. Such documents often contain stamps and notes in two languages, and all of them must be reflected in the English translation.

For example, Mariam and Vahe won the DV lottery and have two children. We translated all the family’s certificates as one pack, and they arranged everything by person. The interview took twenty minutes.

Table: the most frequently translated documents

Read more about birth certificates in our article on birth certificate translation.

Spelling names in Latin letters

When translating documents for US immigration, the most important thing is that names match. Your name in the translation must be written exactly as in your passport and the forms you have already filled in (for example, DS-260, I-130, I-485). If your passport says “Hovhannisyan” and the translation says “Ovanesyan”, a USCIS officer may ask whether it is the same person.

For parents who have no passport or whose names appear with different spellings, we agree one version with you and use it throughout the pack. Send copies of every family member’s passport and you will receive Green Card document translations with consistent spellings.

How we work and how long it takes

A USCIS translation order with us starts with checking the scans. We look at whether all pages are visible, whether there are stamps or handwritten notes that are hard to read, and whether the names match the passports. If something is missing, we tell you before starting work, not afterwards.

The translator then produces the complete translation, and an editor compares it with the original — figures, dates, names and place names. Armenian place names (for example, Abovyan or Vanadzor) are written in the accepted Latin form and consistently across the pack. One or two certificates are usually ready quickly, and if your interview is close, let us know: urgent orders carry a +50% surcharge.

For example, Lusine’s husband is a US citizen and had petitioned for her. A previously translated marriage certificate was missing the entry on the back, and USCIS issued a request for evidence. We retranslated the certificate in full and the case went on. One missed stamp cost them several months.

Checklist before ordering

1. Tell us the translation is “for USCIS” (or for the NVC or an embassy).
2. Send all pages of every document, including backs that look blank.
3. Attach copies of all passports for the names.
4. Check that the certificates are complete and legible; get a new copy if necessary.
5. Tell us your deadline, for example the interview date.

Price: Armenian to English translation starts at 2,500 AMD per standard page (1,800 characters), +50% for urgent orders. See the full amount in the online calculator. More about our approach on the Armenian–English translation page.

Frequently asked questions

Does USCIS require a notarized translation?

Under USCIS guidance, what is generally required is a full English translation with the translator’s certification that it is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent. Notarization is usually not a requirement, but check the current instructions for your form.

What is a certified translation?

In US practice it is a translation accompanied by the translator’s written certification of its completeness and accuracy and of their competence. When ordering, say “for USCIS” and we will discuss the format in advance.

Can I order online if I am already in the US?

Yes. A stamped translation is fully online: you send a scan and receive a PDF by e-mail. Only a notarized translation requires the original to physically reach our office.

Do the stamps and the back page need translating too?

Yes. The translation must be complete, including stamps, handwritten notes and entries on the back. Illegible parts are marked, not left out.

Can you promise that USCIS will accept the translation?

No translation agency can promise a government body’s decision. We provide a complete, accurate translation with correct name spelling, and we recommend checking the current requirements on the USCIS website.

If you are preparing documents for USCIS, the NVC or an embassy interview, send us the scans and write “for USCIS”. We will check that all pages are there, agree the spelling of names and discuss the format before we start. Call +374 33 130371 or write on WhatsApp/Viber, see the price in the calculator and find our office address on the contact page.

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