Certified document translation
Certified translations for USCIS, courts and consulates, coordinated with your notary and apostille work so the pieces arrive in the right order.
A notarization and a translation are two different things, and the agency asking for your document often wants both. We handle the notary and apostille side. For the translation itself we work with Official Translations, a dedicated certified translation company, so you are not left stitching two suppliers together yourself.
When you need a certified translation
- USCIS immigration filings – any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS must have a complete English translation with the translator's certificate of accuracy
- Courts – evidence and exhibits in a language other than English
- Universities and credential evaluators – foreign transcripts and diplomas
- Foreign consulates – which frequently want your apostilled US document translated into the destination language
- Employers and licensing boards
How the two services fit together
The order matters, and getting it wrong means paying twice. As a rule:
- Apostille first, then translate. The apostille is attached to the original document, and the destination country usually wants the apostille translated too. Translating before the apostille is issued means the translation is incomplete.
- For documents going to USCIS, no apostille is needed at all – just a certified translation. People are often told to get an apostille when they do not need one.
- For foreign documents being used here, you need a certified translation, and the apostille (if any) should have been issued by the country the document came from, not by California.
Tell us what the receiving body actually asked for and we will tell you which pieces you genuinely need.
A certified translation does not have to be notarized in most cases – USCIS, for example, requires a certificate of accuracy from the translator but not a notary. Some consulates and courts do want the translator's certificate notarized, which we can do. Check what was asked for before paying for something extra.
Getting it done
Call or text (858) 888-8060 and describe the document and where it is going, or go straight to Official Translations for a translation quote. If you need both the notary or apostille work and the translation, it is simpler to start with us and we will coordinate the two.
Frequently asked questions
Does USCIS require a notarized translation?
No. USCIS requires a complete English translation accompanied by the translator's signed certification that it is accurate and that they are competent to translate. Notarization is not required. If someone is charging you extra to notarize a USCIS translation, you probably do not need it.
Should I translate before or after the apostille?
Almost always after. The apostille certificate is attached to the document and the receiving country usually wants that translated as well, so translating first means redoing part of the work.
Can you translate a document into any language?
Through Official Translations, yes, across the common language pairs and many less common ones. Tell us the language and the destination and we will confirm before you commit.
Can you notarize a translation?
We can notarize the translator's signature on their certificate of accuracy where the receiving body requires it. What a notary cannot do is certify that a translation is accurate – that is the translator's statement, not ours.
Next step
Request this service
Tell us what you need and we will reply with a time and a firm price. Urgent? Call or text (858) 888-8060.