Get a Certified Translation From Spanish to English for USCIS

When pursuing opportunities like obtaining a Green Card or going through the process of Naturalization, there's an essential detail many applicants might miss: the necessity for a certified translation of certain pivotal documents. Let's talk about it in a detailed way!

Why Certified Translation?

Although it can only seem like a formality, this step is crucial when dealing with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If they were originally written in Spanish or another foreign language, important documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, transcripts, medical records, court orders, and more must be expertly translated into English. This helps retain the originality and integrity of your application while also ensuring clarity and understanding. Consider reading our previous article, "Certified translations for USCIS - Everything You Need To Know" for a fuller exploration of this subject.

What Makes a Translation "Certified"?

A certified translation isn't just about language proficiency. It's about trust, credibility, and ensuring every detail aligns with the expected standard. A certified translation needs to be done by a person who attests to being competent to translate the foreign language (in this case Spanish) into English. When the translator performs the certified translation from Spanish to English for USCIS they then certify that work as being complete and accurate with their signature (sometimes it also needs a notarization but more on that for a later article - we are only covering certified translation of Spanish into English documents for USCIS in this one).

Language-Specific Challenges in Spanish-to-English Translations

Translating from Spanish to English for USCIS may seem like a straightforward task, but it involves several nuanced challenges that can lead to significant issues if not handled properly. Certified translations, particularly those submitted to government entities like USCIS, require a meticulous understanding of both languages, as well as the cultural and legal contexts they operate in. Below are some of the most common challenges translators face when working on Spanish-to-English translations, highlighting why hiring certified professionals is crucial.

1. Different Date Formats: DD/MM/YYYY vs. MM/DD/YYYY

One of the most overlooked yet critical differences between Spanish and English documents is the format of dates. In most Spanish-speaking countries, the date format is DD/MM/YYYY—with the day appearing first, followed by the month and year. In contrast, the U.S. standard is MM/DD/YYYY, where the month comes first.

A simple mix-up in date formatting can lead to confusion in official documents, potentially causing delays or even rejections in an immigration process. For instance, a birth certificate stating 05/06/1990 could be interpreted as May 6th in the U.S., but as June 5th in most Spanish-speaking countries. Ensuring these are properly localized for the target audience, in this case, USCIS, is essential.

Certified translators are well-versed in adapting date formats correctly, ensuring that no such mix-ups happen. Moreover, they are familiar with the implications of these discrepancies in legal contexts, which makes them indispensable for documents that require strict compliance with U.S. standards.

2. Regional Variations in the Spanish Language: Latin American vs. Castilian Spanish

Spanish is spoken across many countries, and each region has its own dialect, vocabulary, and even grammar rules. The two major variants often considered in translations are Latin American Spanish and Castilian Spanish (spoken in Spain). Even within Latin America, the Spanish spoken in Mexico differs from that in Argentina, Colombia, or Peru.

These regional variations can pose significant challenges in translation. Words that are common in one Spanish-speaking country may have entirely different meanings in another. For example, the word "carro" in Mexican Spanish means car, but in other countries, like Spain, "coche" is more commonly used. Similarly, legal terminology can vary, with certain legal terms being country-specific.

When translating documents for USCIS, it's essential that translators understand the regional context of the source document and adapt the translation appropriately for a U.S. audience. Certified translators, particularly those familiar with the specific variant of Spanish in question, will ensure that the translated document is clear and accurate, without any ambiguities arising from regional linguistic differences.

3. Cultural Nuances

Cultural differences also play a role in translating between Spanish and English. Certain phrases, idioms, or expressions in Spanish may not have direct equivalents in English, and vice versa. For example, the Spanish phrase "meter la pata" translates literally as "put the paw in," but its actual meaning is closer to the English idiom "put your foot in it," meaning to make a mistake.

In legal and official documents, maintaining the intent and tone of the original is just as important as translating the words themselves. Certified translators are trained to recognize these cultural nuances and adjust their translations to ensure that the intended meaning is accurately conveyed in English. This is particularly crucial when translating legal documents, where even a slight misinterpretation of a phrase could have serious consequences.

4. Legal Terminology Differences

Another significant challenge is the difference in legal terminology between Spanish-speaking countries and the U.S. Legal systems vary widely, and as a result, the terms used in legal documents can be vastly different from one country to another. For example, the Spanish term "escritura pública" refers to a public deed or notarial document, which may not have a direct equivalent in U.S. law. Additionally, a "notario" in Spanish-speaking countries is a legal professional with far more authority than a U.S. notary public.

When dealing with legal documents such as court orders, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other USCIS-required forms, it's crucial that the translator not only knows both languages but also understands the legal systems involved. Certified translators are equipped to navigate these complexities, ensuring that all legal terminology is correctly translated and that the meaning is preserved across languages.

Tips for Document Preparation: Perfecting Your Certified Translation for USCIS

Ensure Legibility:

Every word counts, whether it's on birth certificates, marriage licenses, or any other personal paperwork. Verify the clarity of all texts. To keep clarity when scanning, choose a high-resolution image.

Complete Documents Only:

USCIS demands complete, unedited documentation. Make sure that nothing is missing or truncated. Seals, stamps, and footnotes, which might appear trivial, should all be easily seen.

Include All Pages:

Please make sure to submit multi-page papers with all pages, including any that are purposefully blank, for translation. You increase the likelihood that the USCIS review process will go smoothly by carefully preparing your documents for certified translation, which will help you get closer to your immigration goals.

How to Get Fast and Accurate Certified Translations with MotaWord?

If you ask yourself '' Where can I find certified Spanish translation services near me?'', we're here for you. On MotaWord, it’s simple to get your documents translated from Spanish into English. Whether it is a birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma or any other document we’ll do it for you quickly and correctly. With legal documents and immigration issues, you must use a service that knows what they are doing or you could end up regretting it.

Document Upload: Click a clear photo of your document and upload it directly to MotaWord.

Quote and Pay: Upload it on MotaWord and receive a real-time quote. With 24/7 service, you can get your estimate anytime, any day.

Swift Translations: A certified translation with all the required signatures will be delivered to your email in PDF format within hours, ready for submission to USCIS.

Wondering how we can translate a picture of words? MotaWord uses a technology called OCR (Optical Character Recognition) that can read the words in a picture. And this can be done for Spanish or any language.

Now that you know how easy it is, don’t delay. Get a quote today so you know your certified translation from Spanish to English for USCIS is ready to be submitted.