Form I-130 Translation RequirementsFamily Petition Packet · 24-Hour Delivery
Per-document Certificate of Accuracy. Every supporting document in your Form I-130 packet translated word-for-word and formatted for USCIS field-office acceptance — with form-specific RFE-prevention review before delivery.
Every Form I-130 order reviewed by Natalia Vega
Senior Certified Translation Reviewer
Last updated: May 18, 2026
Our translations are accepted by
Reviewed by
Natalia Vega, Senior USCIS Translation Reviewer
USCIS form-anchored translation · Form I-130 packet review · Spanish and Portuguese civil registries
11 years in certified translation · ATA member since 2017 · High-volume I-130 relationship-document reviewer
Family-based I-130 petitions are one of our highest-volume USCIS translation workflows
On I-130 packets, parent–child name transliteration across birth certificates is the single most common RFE trigger we see — especially on F4 sibling petitions where both birth certificates must show at least one common parent. We run a passport-match check on every name before delivery.View full profile
Does Form I-130 Require Certified Translation of Supporting Documents?
Yes. Any supporting document filed with Form I-130 that is not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation, per 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). This applies to birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, name-change records, and any other civil document that establishes the qualifying relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary.
Each translated document submitted with Form I-130 needs its own signed certification statement from the translator. A single 'blanket' certification covering multiple documents in one packet has been flagged in Requests for Evidence at higher rates since 2020 — USCIS expects one Certificate of Accuracy attached to each translated document.
Form I-130 · 04/01/2024
Currently accepted. Verify against USCIS Forms Updates before filing.
Last verified
May 18, 2026 by our editorial team
Official source
uscis.gov/i-130Form I-130 Filing Packet: What Goes Inside and What Needs Translation
Form I-130 establishes a qualifying family relationship for immigration purposes. Per the current 04/01/2024 edition of the form and 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), every non-English supporting document in the I-130 packet must include a complete certified English translation with its own signed Certificate of Accuracy.
We handle all document types we translate for family-based filings — civil registries from Latin America, household registers from East Asia, family booklets from Europe, and the full range of marriage and divorce records issued worldwide.
The Filing Packet Map below shows the documents that typically appear in an I-130 packet, which part of the form references them, and the page in the USCIS instructions where the requirement is described. If a row is in a language other than English, you need translation for I-130 to be complete.
| Document | Translation? | Form Reference | Instructions Page | Translation Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petitioner's birth certificate | Conditional | Part 1 (petitioner) | p. 8 | certified birth certificate translation |
| Beneficiary's birth certificate | Required | Part 4 (relationships) | p. 12 | certified birth certificate translation |
| Marriage certificate (if spouse petition) | Conditional | Part 4 (relationships) | p. 13 | certified marriage certificate translation |
| Divorce decree from any prior marriage | Conditional | Part 4 (relationships) | p. 13 | certified divorce document translation |
| Death certificate for a deceased spouse | Conditional | Part 4 (relationships) | p. 13 | — |
| Adoption decree or step-relationship evidence | Conditional | Part 4 (relationships) | p. 13 | — |
| Name change records | Conditional | Part 1 / Part 4 | p. 9 and p. 13 | — |
| Passport-style photos (2 of beneficiary) | Photo only | Part 5 (filing) | p. 14 | — |
| Petitioner's proof of U.S. citizenship or LPR status | Conditional | Part 1 (petitioner) | p. 9 | — |
| Form I-130 itself | English only | — | — | — |
Petitioner's birth certificate
Conditional
Form reference: Part 1 (petitioner)
Instructions: p. 8
certified birth certificate translation →Required when the petitioner files for a parent or sibling — the birth certificate establishes the qualifying relationship from the petitioner's side. Spouse petitions usually do not require the petitioner's birth certificate unless evidence of U.S. citizenship is in question.
Beneficiary's birth certificate
Required
Form reference: Part 4 (relationships)
Instructions: p. 12
certified birth certificate translation →Required on every I-130 packet. The beneficiary birth certificate establishes identity and the relationship to the petitioner. If the original is not in English, a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy must accompany the original.
Marriage certificate (if spouse petition)
Conditional
Form reference: Part 4 (relationships)
Instructions: p. 13
certified marriage certificate translation →Required on spouse-petition I-130 packets. The marriage certificate documents the current qualifying marital relationship. Civil and religious formats from any country are accepted as long as the document is officially issued and accompanied by a complete translation when not in English.
Divorce decree from any prior marriage
Conditional
Form reference: Part 4 (relationships)
Instructions: p. 13
certified divorce document translation →Required whenever the petitioner or beneficiary was previously married. The decree must clearly show the date of legal dissolution. 'Decree absolute' extracts and partial pages frequently need full document translation — USCIS expects the complete order, not a summary.
Death certificate for a deceased spouse
Conditional
Form reference: Part 4 (relationships)
Instructions: p. 13
Required when a prior marriage ended in death rather than divorce. The death certificate must show the date of death and clearly identify the deceased spouse. If issued in a foreign language, translation is required on the same packet as the marriage and current relationship documents.
Adoption decree or step-relationship evidence
Conditional
Form reference: Part 4 (relationships)
Instructions: p. 13
Required for adoption-based petitions (must occur before age 16 with two years of legal custody and joint residence) and step-relationship cases. Foreign adoption decrees and step-family documents must be translated word-for-word, preserving dates, court names, and the formal language USCIS uses to verify the relationship type.
Name change records
Conditional
Form reference: Part 1 / Part 4
Instructions: p. 9 and p. 13
Required if either petitioner or beneficiary changed names at any point (marriage, court order, cultural practice). Inconsistent name spellings across documents is the single most common translation-related RFE trigger on I-130 packets — every legal name change in the chain needs a translated supporting document.
Passport-style photos (2 of beneficiary)
Photo only
Form reference: Part 5 (filing)
Instructions: p. 14
Photographs only — no translation required. Photo specifications must meet USCIS requirements (visa-style, recent, 2x2 inches, white background).
Petitioner's proof of U.S. citizenship or LPR status
Conditional
Form reference: Part 1 (petitioner)
Instructions: p. 9
U.S.-issued documents (naturalization certificate, U.S. passport bio page, Permanent Resident Card) are in English and require no translation. If the petitioner became a U.S. citizen through foreign documents that are still referenced in the case file, those underlying documents may need translation.
Form I-130 itself
English only
Form reference: —
The form is in English. Completed sections are written in English by the petitioner or attorney. Translation does not apply.
The single most common I-130 translation issue we encounter is name transliteration mismatch across the petitioner and beneficiary birth certificates. Different countries use different romanization conventions, and records issued decades apart can spell the same name differently. We run a passport-match check across every translated name before delivery.
Divorce decree translation for I-130 is the second most common pitfall. Applicants often submit a one-page 'decree absolute' or summary extract rather than the full order. USCIS expects the complete decree showing the date of legal dissolution — translate every page, including the page that contains the finality date.
For F4 sibling petitions, both birth certificates must show at least one common parent. Parent-name spelling on the two birth certificates must be consistent — if they're not, USCIS treats that as an inconsistency. Our reviewer flags parent-name discrepancies before delivery so they can be addressed before filing.
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Translate Your Form I-130 Packet Now
Upload every supporting document from the map above. We translate each one with its own signed Certificate of Accuracy per 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) and deliver in 24 hours.
Start Form I-130 OrderCommon Languages for Form I-130 Document Translation
Form I-130 packets most commonly involve source documents in Spanish (Mexican, Central American, and South American civil registries), Chinese (mainland and Taiwanese household and civil documents), and Vietnamese. Our certified Spanish translation services handle the bulk of family-petition packets we process.
For the petitioner-beneficiary birth-certificate pair, Spanish birth certificate translation is the most common single deliverable in our I-130 packets — and for spouse petitions, Spanish marriage certificate translation joins it.
Tagalog, Korean, Russian, Arabic, and Vietnamese round out the top source languages for I-130 filings. PSA-issued Philippine certificates have a specific format we mirror; certified Chinese translation services cover both mainland (simplified) and Taiwanese (traditional) civil records. Documents in scripts not listed — Amharic, Burmese, Khmer, Pashto, Punjabi, Urdu — are handled by native-speaker translators at the same $24.95/page rate. Browse all language services.
Forms Commonly Filed with I-130
I-130 is rarely filed alone. The forms below share supporting documents with I-130 and are often part of the same translation packet — translate once, reuse across forms.
Form I-485
Adjustment of Status
Concurrent (most common)
Filed alongside I-130 when the beneficiary is already in the U.S. Same supporting documents.
Form I-864
Affidavit of Support
Financial sponsorship
Foreign-language sponsor income documents may need translation.
Form I-765
EAD — Work Authorization
Concurrent with I-485
Supporting docs overlap with the I-485 packet.
Form I-131
Advance Parole
Concurrent with I-485
Travel-document evidence may include foreign-language records.
How to Get Your Form I-130 Documents Translated — Step by Step
- 1
Confirm the form edition
Check the Form Edition Tracker above. If your printed instructions are from an earlier edition, verify against USCIS Forms Updates before assembling the packet.
- 2
Identify the relationship documents on both sides
Use the Filing Packet Map. Whether the petition is for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling determines which records USCIS expects to see.
It is better to translate one extra document than to receive an RFE for a missing translation. Upload everything from both the petitioner's and the beneficiary's side.
- 3
Upload in any format
PDFs, photos, or scans. Any language. Any condition.
Include every page, every stamp, and every annotation — civil registry documents from many countries have important marginal notes that USCIS expects translated.
- 4
We assign native speakers experienced with I-130
Your documents go to translators who are native speakers of the source language and who regularly handle I-130 family-petition packets.
For Spanish-origin civil registries, that means translators who recognize CURP-coded actas, libretas de familia, and partidas — without losing any structured field.
- 5
Translation and per-document certification
Each document is translated word-for-word and arrives with its own signed Certificate of Accuracy. No blanket certifications.
Stamps, seals, marginal notes, and handwritten annotations are translated in `[STAMP: ...]` notation with the full content rendered in English.
- 6
Two-person review and delivery
Names, dates, and relationship evidence are cross-checked across petitioner and beneficiary documents before delivery.
Standard turnaround is 24 hours for most I-130 documents. Multi-page divorce decrees and complex civil records may take longer; we confirm timing at intake.
Many applicants translate I-130 documents after receiving an action notice from USCIS. We recommend translating during the preparation period — before submission — so the packet is complete from day one and the beneficiary has the records ready for the I-485 stage that often follows.
SSL upload. Files deleted from active storage after 90 days unless you request retention.
Translation-Related RFEs on Form I-130
These are the translation-related Request for Evidence patterns we have seen most often on I-130 packets, with what USCIS typically asks for and how to prevent the issue before filing.
Pattern 1 — Inconsistent name transliteration across petitioner and beneficiary birth certificates
- What USCIS asks
- USCIS asks for a translated record that consistently identifies the named individual across all I-130 evidence — typically referencing both the petitioner and beneficiary documents and asking for a reconciliation.
- Why it happens
- Different countries use different transliteration conventions, and personal records issued decades apart can romanize the same name differently. The same Cyrillic name can appear as "Aleksandr," "Alexander," and "Alexandr" in three documents from one applicant.
- How to prevent
- Before filing the I-130 packet, ask the translation provider to run a passport-match check across every translated document. Names must match the passport exactly — including patronymic, maternal name, and any diacritics. Our deliverables include a name-consistency review for every multi-document I-130 packet.
Pattern 2 — Untranslated stamps, seals, or annotations on a civil registry document
- What USCIS asks
- USCIS asks for a complete translation that includes all stamps, seals, marginal notes, and handwritten annotations — not only the printed text of the document.
- Why it happens
- Translators sometimes treat official stamps and seals as decorative or obvious. Civil registries in many countries (Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, India) add stamps with re-issuance dates, certifying officer names, or marginal notes that USCIS treats as part of the document and expects translated.
- How to prevent
- Use a translation provider that delivers stamps in `[STAMP: ...]` notation with the full content rendered in English, and that includes marginal annotations and handwritten notes word-for-word.
Pattern 3 — Partial divorce decree submitted as the full record
- What USCIS asks
- USCIS asks for the complete divorce decree showing the date of legal dissolution and full terms — not the 'decree absolute' summary or first-page extract.
- Why it happens
- Applicants often submit a one-page summary (sometimes called 'decree absolute,' 'sentencia firme,' or a similar national equivalent) and assume the full multi-page decree is unnecessary. USCIS reviewers need to confirm the date and finality of the divorce, which is usually on later pages.
- How to prevent
- Submit the complete decree, including the page that shows the date the order became final. Have every page translated. Our team flags single-page divorce records during intake and asks for the remainder before starting the translation.
Pattern 4 — Single blanket certification covering multiple translated documents
- What USCIS asks
- USCIS asks for a separate signed translator's certification statement for each translated document, attesting to the accuracy and completeness of that specific document.
- Why it happens
- Some translation providers issue one combined Certificate of Accuracy covering an entire packet. USCIS has flagged this practice in Requests for Evidence at higher rates since 2020 — each translated document is expected to have its own attached certification.
- How to prevent
- Confirm with your translation provider that each translated document arrives with its own signed Certificate of Accuracy. Our deliverables include one Certificate of Accuracy per document by default.
Pattern 5 — Parent name inconsistency on sibling-petition birth certificates (F4)
- What USCIS asks
- USCIS asks for documentation reconciling parent names that appear differently on the petitioner and beneficiary birth certificates in a sibling petition.
- Why it happens
- F4 sibling petitions rely on both birth certificates showing at least one common parent. When parent names are recorded slightly differently across the two birth certificates (different spelling, different surname order, abbreviated middle name on one), USCIS treats this as an inconsistency.
- How to prevent
- On sibling petitions, the translation provider should compare the parent fields across the petitioner and beneficiary birth certificates before delivery and flag any discrepancy with a translator's note. Where the discrepancy is a genuine document difference, an explanatory affidavit may also be needed — your immigration attorney can advise on filing strategy.
Sample Certification Statement for Form I-130 Translations
The U.S. Department of State publishes a suggested certification statement format that authoritative translation providers align with. Our Certificate of Accuracy satisfies that format and includes the credentials and contact information USCIS expects.
State Department suggested format
"I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________."
Source: U.S. Department of State — Information about Translating Foreign Documents
Our Certificate of Accuracy
Issued on company letterhead. Signed by the translator with credentials and contact information. Dated to the day of translation.
A separate certification is attached to each translated document — never a single blanket certification for the packet.
Accepted by every USCIS field office. If a translation is rejected for a translation-related reason, we reissue at no cost or issue a refund.
Translation Cost for Form I-130 Packets
Form I-130 translation starts at $24.95 per page. The total for a typical packet depends on the family relationship being established (spouse, parent, child, or sibling) and whether prior marriages or name changes add documents to the packet.
See what is included in every certified translation — the same Certificate of Accuracy, native-speaker translator, and packet-level review applies to every I-130 deliverable.
Typical packet estimate (base: $24.95/page)
- Beneficiary's birth certificate (1–2 pages)$24.95 – $49.90
- Petitioner's birth certificate (parent/sibling petitions) (1–2 pages)$24.95 – $49.90
- Marriage certificate (spouse petitions) (1–2 pages)$24.95 – $49.90
- Divorce decree (if applicable) (3–8 pages)$74.85 – $199.60
- Name-change record (if applicable) (1–2 pages)$24.95 – $49.90
Typical I-130 packet total: $75 – $350
Exact price confirmed after we review your documents — before you pay.
Form-specific translation packets typically cost $30–$60 per page at competitors. Our $24.95 base rate includes per-document certification, unlimited revisions, and the USCIS acceptance guarantee.
Form I-130 — Related Resources
Related immigration guide
Family Petition translation guide →Goal-anchored guide to family-based immigration translation — same domain, framed by life event rather than by USCIS form number. Complements this form-anchored page.
Other translation services
- Certified translation services
The full picture of what is included in every certified translation we deliver.
- Document translation services
Every document type we translate for USCIS and other authorities.
- Compare requirements across USCIS forms
Cross-form comparison guide for all major USCIS forms.
Official sources
- USCIS Form I-130 official page — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Form I-130 instructions (PDF) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — Translation Requirements — eCFR
- Information about Translating Foreign Documents — U.S. Department of State
Frequently Asked Questions About Form I-130 Translation
What documents need translation for Form I-130?
How much does translation cost for Form I-130?
How long does translation take for Form I-130 documents?
Will my Form I-130 translations be accepted by USCIS?
Can I translate my own documents for Form I-130?
What edition of Form I-130 is currently accepted?
Do I need notarization for Form I-130 translations?
Do both petitioner and beneficiary documents need translation?
Can one translator certification cover all my Form I-130 documents?
Ready to Translate Your Form I-130 Packet?
Upload your I-130 supporting documents — petitioner and beneficiary records, marriage and divorce evidence, name-change history. We translate every page with a separate signed Certificate of Accuracy and cross-check names, dates, and relationship evidence before delivery.
Standard turnaround is 24 hours. If a translation is rejected for a translation-related reason, we correct it at no extra cost or refund your payment.
Still have questions about your packet? Reach us anytime — a real person responds, not a bot.
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CertTranslate provides certified translation services only. We do not provide legal advice, immigration consulting, form-filing assistance, or representation. For questions about your specific filing or strategy, consult a licensed immigration attorney. Consult USCIS.gov for the current Form I-130 edition and instructions.