Asylum, refugee & humanitarian
NY
Jun 7, 2026
Asylum interview next month — do I need certified translations for everything?
Asked by Sample A. · 👁 566 views · 💬 1 answer
The question
I have my affirmative asylum interview in 5 weeks. I have a stack of supporting documents in Farsi (police report, hospital records, news articles). My friend offered to translate them. Does the translation need to be certified? What does "certified" even mean for USCIS?
Instant legal information
Generated by AI (claude-opus-4-7). Reviewed for general accuracy. Not legal advice.
USCIS requires any document submitted in a foreign language to be accompanied by a full English translation, together with a certification from the translator. The certification must state that the translator is competent to translate the document and that the translation is accurate. The translator need not be a professional or notarised — a competent bilingual person (including a friend) can sign the certification. You should still bring the original-language documents to the interview.
This is legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific case, consult a verified immigration attorney.
Cited
- 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3): Translation requirements for USCIS filings
1 attorney answer
-
Two practical points beyond the legal rule: (1) USCIS officers will sometimes question translation accuracy at the interview if the certification looks rushed. Have your translator type their full name, address, signature, and the line "I certify that I am competent to translate from Farsi to English and that the above translation is accurate to the best of my knowledge." (2) For asylum specifically, label every page with an exhibit number that matches your declaration. Officers move quickly through documents and a clear paper trail helps your declaration land. If a document is long (e.g. a 12-page hospital record), translate only the relevant portions and note that in the certification.Helpful · 2 View profile →
This page provides legal information only and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Names of any attorneys are accurate to the best of our verification at the time of posting.