US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Documents for a US Visa from Pakistan
The United States has the clearest translation rule of any destination on this site, and it is one a Pakistani translator can meet in full. USCIS does not want a sworn translator, an approved panel, or an apostille. It wants a certification that says two specific things.
What does US Citizenship and Immigration Services require?
USCIS requires any foreign-language document to be accompanied by a full English translation, with the translator certifying that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from that language into English. There is no sworn translator register and no apostille requirement for a USCIS filing.
Can we help with this one?
We can meet this requirement
USCIS asks for a specific certification rather than a credential we would have to hold. We provide it, stating both that the translation is complete and accurate and that we are competent in the language pair, which is what the regulation requires.
The sequence
- Identify which of your documents are not in English, since most Pakistani degrees already are
- Obtain a full English translation of each, not a summary or extract
- Ensure the translator's certification states both completeness and accuracy, and the translator's competence in the language pair
- Keep the original alongside, since USCIS expects the translation to accompany it
- Do not obtain an apostille for a USCIS filing unless something else in your process requires it
The clearest rule on this site
Most destination pages here end up explaining what we cannot do. This one does not.
USCIS requires a full English translation, accompanied by a certification from the translator stating:
- That the translation is complete and accurate
- That the translator is competent to translate from that language into English
That is the requirement. No sworn register. No approved panel. No government stamp.
We provide exactly that certification, which makes the United States one of the destinations we can serve in full rather than partially.
Three things not to buy
An apostille. USCIS is concerned with the document and its certified translation, not with a chain of authentications. Applicants routinely obtain one out of caution and spend money for nothing. See apostille in Pakistan — the route exists, but a USCIS filing generally does not call for it.
A sworn translation. There is no such thing in the US system for immigration purposes. If a provider tells you USCIS requires a sworn translator, they are describing a European system.
Translations of documents already in English. Most Pakistani degrees and transcripts are in English. USCIS requires translation only of what is not.
What genuinely needs translating
- Nikah Nama and marriage documents
- NADRA records — birth certificates, FRC, Form B — where not bilingual
- Older Urdu board certificates
- Affidavits and legal deeds
- Talaq Nama where a previous marriage has to be accounted for
- Police character certificates
Send photographs and the checklist. If your documents are already in English you need nothing from us, and we will say so.
Full translation, not a summary
Worth being explicit, because this is the commonest USCIS translation error we see.
USCIS wants the whole document. Every field. Stamps and seals described in position. Blank fields shown as blank. Nothing omitted as unimportant.
A summary translation covering “the relevant parts” is a shortcut that produces a query, because the officer cannot tell what was left out or why. On a Nikah Nama that means all the columns, including the dower and conditions entries people would rather not include.
Do not translate your own documents
USCIS guidance is generally read as requiring a competent translator, and an applicant certifying their own translation asks the officer to take your word on both the content and your competence to render it.
Use a third party. That is the entire function of the certification.
What we provide
A full English translation with a signed certification stating completeness, accuracy, and our competence in the language pair — the two statements the regulation asks for.
Names transliterated to match the passport you are submitting. Layout preserved so the translation can be read alongside the original. Stamps described in position. Illegible entries marked rather than guessed.
Requirements are set by USCIS and can be updated, so verify the current wording on uscis.gov before filing rather than relying on this page.
Related
Certified translation covers what our certificate of accuracy contains. UK Visas and Immigration is the other destination with a wording-based rather than credential-based requirement. What “certified translation” means to different authorities explains why the US and UK are simpler than most of Europe.
Official sources
Requirements and fees change, and this page does not publish either. Verify directly:
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does USCIS require on a translation?
A full English translation of the document, accompanied by a certification from the translator stating that the translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. Those two statements are the requirement. There is no register to be on and no government stamp involved.
Does USCIS need a sworn or certified translator?
No. Unlike Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland or the Netherlands, the United States operates no sworn translator register for immigration filings, and USCIS does not require membership of any professional body. What it requires is the certification described above, which is why this is one of the destinations we can serve in full.
Do I need an apostille for a USCIS filing?
Generally no. USCIS is concerned with the document and its certified translation, not with a chain of authentications. Applicants sometimes obtain an apostille out of caution and spend money for nothing. If something else in your process requires authentication, that is a separate question, but do not add it to a USCIS filing by default.
Does USCIS need my English-language degree translated?
Almost certainly not. USCIS requires translation only of documents not in English, and most Pakistani universities issue degrees and transcripts in English. What genuinely needs translating tends to be the Nikah Nama, NADRA records where not bilingual, older Urdu board certificates, and affidavits.
Can I translate my own documents?
You should not, and USCIS guidance is generally read as requiring a competent translator rather than the applicant. An applicant certifying their own translation puts the officer in the position of taking your word on both the content and your competence. Use a third party, which is the whole point of the certification.
Is a summary translation acceptable?
No. USCIS requires a full translation of the document, which means every field, every stamp described, and nothing omitted as unimportant. A summary or extract of the relevant parts is a common shortcut and a common reason a filing is queried.
Send the checklist before you send the documents
Forward the exact wording your consulate or employer gave you. We will tell you what it calls for, and whether we can meet it, before you pay for anything.