- USCIS asks for proof that every earlier marriage of the petitioner and the beneficiary ended; for a divorce that proof is the divorce certificate or the final court decree.
- In Russia and Ukraine divorce produces two different papers: a registry certificate (свидетельство о расторжении брака) and, when the divorce went through court, a court decision. Which one you hold depends on how the divorce was done.
- The translation must cover the whole document, including the registry stamp, series and number, and any note on the back.
- Dates matter: the officer compares the date the divorce took effect with the date of the next marriage.
- A certified translation is required; notarization is not required by USCIS.
Why USCIS needs it
Form I-130 and Form I-485 instructions require evidence that all prior marriages of both spouses were legally terminated. The accepted evidence is a divorce decree, an annulment decree or a death certificate of the former spouse. Without it the officer cannot confirm that the current marriage is valid, and the usual result is a Request for Evidence.
Two documents, one divorce
In Russia and Ukraine a divorce can be registered by the civil registry (ZAGS / RAGS) when there are no minor children and no dispute, or decided by a court. In both cases the registry issues a divorce certificate. When a court was involved there is also a court decision (решение суда), and the registry certificate is issued on its basis.
Which document to translate:
- If you have the registry certificate, translate it. It is the document that states the marriage was dissolved and when.
- If the divorce was by court and you only have the court decision with a note that it entered into legal force, translate the decision, including that note; the date of legal force is the date the marriage ended.
- If you have both, translating both is the safest set: the certificate confirms registration, the decision confirms the grounds and the date.
What must appear in the translation
- Series and number of the certificate, the issuing office and the date of issue.
- Full names of both former spouses, with the surnames before and after divorce when the document lists them.
- The date the marriage was dissolved and, for court divorces, the date the decision entered into force.
- Every stamp and seal, written out in brackets, and the reverse side if it carries a stamp (for example a note about a name change or an apostille).
- The record number in the registry book.
Name spelling follows the person's current foreign passport. If the surname on the divorce certificate differs from the surname on the passport, the translation reproduces the document as it is; a separate article explains how name changes are documented.
Common problems
- Only the court decision is translated, without the note on legal force; the officer cannot tell when the marriage ended.
- The certificate is translated, but the reverse side with a registry stamp is skipped; the translation is treated as incomplete.
- The former spouse's name is transliterated differently from how it appears on the marriage certificate in the same packet.
- A "summary" translation that states only "divorced on …" instead of the full document.
What we do
FAQ
Does USCIS accept a divorce certificate from Russia or Ukraine?
Yes, with a full certified English translation. USCIS does not require legalization or an apostille for documents submitted with petitions.
My divorce was decided by a court; do I need the registry certificate too?
The court decision with the note of legal force is evidence of termination. If you can also obtain the certificate, include it; it removes questions about registration.
Does the translation have to be notarized?
Not for USCIS. Some courts and state agencies have their own rules.
Do I need to translate the whole court decision?
Yes. USCIS requires a full translation; partial translations are a common RFE reason.
Official sources
Links open the original publications this article restates.
- USCIS: Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relativeuscis.gov
- 8 CFR 204.2, petitions for relatives: evidence (eCFR)ecfr.gov
- USCIS: Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Statususcis.gov
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), translations of foreign-language documents (eCFR)ecfr.gov
- U.S. Department of State: Russia, Reciprocity and Civil Documentstravel.state.gov
- U.S. Department of State: Ukraine, Reciprocity and Civil Documentstravel.state.gov
If you need your documents translated, always work with a certified translator.
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