- Every foreign language document offered in immigration court must come with an English translation.
- The translation needs a certification signed by the translator, printed legibly or typed.
- The certification must say the translator is competent to translate the document and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's abilities.
- The USCIS rule at 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) is worded differently: it asks for a full translation certified as complete and accurate.
- Addresses and filing window hours of all 71 immigration courts are on our immigration courts pages, taken from the official court pages.
The rule in one paragraph
The immigration courts are part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in the Department of Justice. Their rules of procedure are in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 1003. Section 1003.33 is titled Translation of documents and is two sentences long.
First sentence: any foreign language document offered by a party in a proceeding shall be accompanied by an English language translation and a certification signed by the translator that must be printed legibly or typed. Second sentence: such certification must include a statement that the translator is competent to translate the document, and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's abilities.
What the certification must contain
- 1A statement that the translator is competent to translate the document.
- 2A statement that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's abilities.
- 3The translator's signature.
- 4Text that is typed or printed legibly. A handwritten note that cannot be read does not meet the rule.
The rule covers any foreign language document. It does not separate official certificates from personal papers. A birth certificate, a screenshot of a message, and a letter from a relative are treated the same way: if it is not in English and you offer it to the court, it needs a translation and a certification.
How this differs from the USCIS rule
USCIS has its own regulation, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). It says that any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
- Immigration court: translation plus a signed certification that the translator is competent and the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's abilities. The certification must be typed or printed legibly.
- USCIS: a full translation certified as complete and accurate, plus a certification of the translator's competence.
Many people file the same documents first with USCIS and later in court, or the other way around. A certificate of accuracy that states completeness, accuracy, and the translator's competence, and is typed and signed, covers the wording of both rules.
Documents in Russian and Ukrainian that end up in court files
- Identity and civil status: birth certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, internal passports, ID cards, stamps in foreign passports.
- Records from authorities: police certificates, court decisions, summonses, detention records.
- Medical records and hospital discharge summaries.
- Military IDs, work record books, diplomas.
- Personal evidence: written statements of relatives and witnesses, letters, printed messages, news articles in Russian or Ukrainian.
Each of these is translated in full, including seals, stamps, and handwritten notes, and each translation carries its own certification. Names are spelled the way they appear in your passport so that every page of the file points to the same person.
Where and when documents are filed
Filing deadlines and the way to file are set by the immigration judge and the court, not by the translation rule. Each court publishes its address, public hours, and filing window hours. We collected them from the official court pages for all 71 immigration courts, by state.
Plan the translation before the deadline the judge gave you. A long personal statement or a stack of medical records takes more time than a one-page certificate.
FAQ
Does immigration court require a notarized translation?
The rule at 8 CFR 1003.33 asks for a certification signed by the translator. It does not mention a notary.
Can one certification cover several documents?
The rule speaks of each foreign language document being accompanied by a translation and a certification. POVO issues a certification for each translated document.
Is a translation made for USCIS accepted in immigration court?
The court rule requires a signed, typed or legibly printed certification of the translator's competence and of the truth and accuracy of the translation. A translation whose certificate contains those statements matches the wording of the rule.
Do screenshots and messages need translation too?
The rule applies to any foreign language document offered by a party. It makes no exception for informal documents.
If you need your documents translated, always work with a certified translator.
POVO translates Russian and Ukrainian documents into English, with a signed certificate of accuracy. Upload the document, see the price and the date, pay when you are ready.
