An immigration officer opens your Form I-129 file and finds that the birth certificate translation is missing a certification statement. That alone can trigger a Request for Evidence and add months to your case.
Most people don’t start looking for certified translation until a deadline is close. Across the orders we process for U.S.-bound documents, nearly 4 in 10 orders are marked urgent. This shows that most people only realize they need a certified translation once a deadline is close.
We’ve written this guide to prevent that. It ranks the best certified translation agencies for U.S. documents. It explains what “certified” means under federal rules. And it gives you a buyer’s guide before you order. Every fact below comes from each company’s website or publicly available information.
Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), a translation is certified in the USA if it includes a certification statement by the translator confirming that the translation is complete and accurate. It must also include a statement that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English.
The United States has no sworn translator system. There is no government register of approved or licensed translators, unlike many civil law countries.
Additionally, USCIS does not require notarization. A notary confirms the identity of the person signing the certification. It does not verify the accuracy of the translation. Based on the orders we process for the U.S., only 6.7% require notarization.
In the U.S., the certification is the most important element in your translation. It determines whether your document will be valid for official use.
Note: USCIS does not approve, license, or maintain a list of translation providers. So there is no such thing as USCIS-approved or USCIS-certified translations.
Source: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), eCFR, checked 21 August 2026.
We reviewed each agency based on the following criteria, as of August 2026;
USCIStranslations.com is an online translation agency that provides certified translation services and professional translation services for individuals, law firms, and global businesses. It primarily provides translations for use with USCIS and other immigration filings within the U.S. The company supports 150+ languages and handles immigration, legal, technical, and business use cases with fast turnaround options.
Pros
Cons
Cost: From $24.99 per page.
Reviews: Approximately 73 reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.6.
Translayte is a global certified translation company for immigration, legal, business, visa, and official document purposes. It offers a simple online ordering process and transparent pricing starting from $31.75 per page. It is ideal for applicants who need more than one country’s certification format, or a rarer language pair for different purposes. Translayte also offers sworn translations, notarization, and apostille services in more than 20 countries. Learn more about how they work in this review article.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: From $31.75 per page
Reviews: Approximately 4.5 stars from around 10,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
RushTranslate is an online certified translation provider offering low pricing and fast turnaround time. It provides translation services for immigration, legal, academic, and professional use cases. The platform is designed for simple, one-off certified translation needs.
Pros
Cons
Cost: $24.95 per page (250-word page cap); $0.10 per word for non-certified translation
Reviews: Approximately 4.6 stars from 172 reviews on Trustpilot.
Rapid Translate provides professional and certified translation services for individuals and businesses in over 60 languages. This translation agency makes document translation quick and accessible at competitive market rates. They offer a wide array of services, including notarization, apostilles, and business translations.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: $27.99 per page
Reviews: Approximately 4.9 stars from over 27,000 reviews on RapidTranslate’s website.
The Spanish Group provides certified translation services primarily for immigration, legal, and academic documents in the U.S. It serves individuals who need fast, USCIS-accepted translations and supports a wide range of common language pairs for official submissions. The company also provides professional translation services for small businesses needing clear, accurate document translation.
Pros:
Cons
Cost: From $27.97 per page
Reviews: Approximately 4.2 stars from around 605 reviews on Trustpilot
Day Translations is a long-established agency offering the widest range of languages on this page, as well as interpreting and localization services. It suits applicants with a rare language pair or a mixed-document project. It also serves individuals, SMEs, and enterprises, making it a versatile option for both document translation and international business needs.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: From $30 per page.
Reviews: Approximately 4.6 stars from around 382 reviews on Trustpilot.
TranslateSwift is a Delaware-registered provider offering certified, NAATI-context, and sworn translations across a wide range of languages. It suits applicants who want multiple industry memberships disclosed on a single page, with a fast rush option.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: $27.00 per page; $0.10 per word for non-certified work.
Reviews: Approximately 4.3 stars from 1,344 reviews on Trustpilot.
D&T Translations is a lower-cost provider with specialized experience in court and Department of Justice submissions, as well as standard USCIS work. It suits applicants who also need a translation for immigration court, not only USCIS.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: From $19.95 per page, or $0.06 per word.
Reviews: Approximately a 4.5-star rating from around 90 reviews on Trustpilot.
Tomedes is a global language services provider that delivers a wide range of translation and localization services for individuals and global businesses. Its services include certified translations, legal and medical translations, technical documents, interpreting, and website localization. Tomedes is ideal for applicants who also need business or website translation from the same provider.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: Not publicly listed. You will have to request a quote
Reviews: Approximately 4.9-star rating from 629 reviews on Trustpilot.
U.S. Language Services is a smaller, Spanish-translation-focused provider that also offers sworn translation for Spain and for use in courts and legal processes. It suits applicants with a narrow, specific use case rather than broad language needs.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: $39 per page; $0.12 per word.
Reviews: Approximately 4.7-star rating from 124 reviews.
ATA-certified means a translator has been certified by the American Translators Association. The certification requires passing a language-pair exam, and sitting the exam requires membership in the ATA. ATA certification applies only to individual translators, not to translation companies.
Essentially, you can be a member but not an ATA-certified translator, but you cannot be an ATA-certified translator without being an ATA member.
Translation agencies are not ATA-certified, but they can hold corporate membership, a paid subscription.
ATA certification applies to only one language pair and direction. A translator certified to translate from Spanish to English is not certified to translate from English to Spanish. ATA maintains a public directory of translators and translation agencies so you can confirm a translator’s or agency’s status.
Certified translation costs in the USA range from $20 to $39 per page. Most agencies charge $24 to $30 for a certified translation of a single page of a document.
A “page” does not always mean a physical page. Several providers, including USCIStranslations and Translayte, define a page as 250 words or fewer. A long two-page document may be billed as three or four pages online.
Furthermore, the cost covers translation and the signed certification statement. It does not include notarization, hard-copy delivery, an apostille, or urgent delivery. These are separate add-ons and, as such, have a separate cost.
Note: Notarization is not required by USCIS. Order it only if the requesting authority requires it.
Common documents that are translated for use in the U.S. include’
Of the orders we process for U.S.-bound documents where clients told us the reason for the translation, immigration and USCIS filings account for 14.8%. This is the primary purpose of translations, followed closely by visa applications at 11.2%.
Requirements differ within the US. USCIS, state courts, universities, credential evaluators, and DMVs do not all apply the same standard. Some ask for notarization where USCIS does not. Confirm the specific instructions from the receiving office before you order.
Ask any provider these four questions before you order.
A provider that answers all four clearly in writing before you pay is worth more than the lowest price on the block.
Three things are most important when choosing translation agencies in the USA: an accurate certification statement, a specific turnaround time, and a guaranteed acceptance.
The agencies on this list have different strengths. Providers like RushTranslate and D&T Translations compete mainly on price. Day Translations and Tomedes have more language pairs. Translayte and USCISTranslations.com stand out on turnaround, offering accurate translations in as little as 12 hours.
Whichever agency you choose, confirm that the certification statement meets USCIS translation requirements.
USCISTranslations stands out for its seamless online ordering process and super-fast turnaround time, with a 100% guaranteed acceptance rate. Upload your document for a free quote today.
Fast, certified legal translations for visas, court documents, contracts, and more.
A certified translation is a complete word-for-word translation of the original document. As a result, it must include the same elements in the original to be valid for official use.
Read Rapid Translate reviews, pricing, and turnaround times to see if it’s legit, plus how it compares to USCISTranslations for certified translation.
Based on our own order data, the average cost of certified translations is between $24.99 and $49.88. The median cost is $35.92 per page. When combined with sworn translation requirements, notarization, or rush delivery, per-page costs can reach $70 or more.
