If you are preparing a USCIS filing — a green card application, visa petition, naturalization, or family-based petition — and your supporting documents are not in English, you will need a certified translation. What USCIS does not tell you is how much that should cost.
Prices across the industry range from $18 to $45 or more per page. For an applicant submitting three or four documents, the difference between the most affordable and most expensive provider can easily exceed $100 — often for translations of equivalent quality.
This guide explains what certified translation actually involves, what the current market looks like in 2026, what drives the price differences, and what a fair rate looks like before you order.
What is a USCIS certified translation?
A certified translation is a translated document accompanied by a signed statement from the translator attesting that the translation is accurate and complete, and that the translator is competent in both languages.
USCIS does not maintain a list of approved translators. It does not require translators to hold a specific license or credential. What it requires is that the certification statement meet a precise format — and that the translation itself be accurate.
The certification statement must include:
- The translator’s full name and contact information
- A declaration of competency in both the source language and English
- A statement that the translation is accurate and complete to the best of the translator’s knowledge
- The date of certification and the translator’s signature
A translation missing any of these elements — regardless of how accurate the content itself is — can be rejected by USCIS, triggering a Request for Evidence and delaying your case.
What documents typically require certified translation?
The most commonly translated documents in USCIS filings include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage and divorce certificates
- Death certificates
- Academic transcripts and diplomas
- Police clearance certificates
- Court and criminal records
- Passports and national identity documents
- Medical records (for adjustment of status)
Each document is treated separately for pricing purposes. Most providers charge per page, where one page is typically defined as up to 250 words of source text, plus the certification statement.
What does certified translation cost in 2026?
Based on our current research across major providers, here is what the market looks like:
$18–$25 per page — the value tier This is where the best value in the market sits. USCIS Translations charges $18 per page for standard certified translation with 24–48 hour delivery — the lowest published rate among established providers. At this price, you still get a human-translated, USCIS-accepted certified translation with a signed and stamped certification letter, revisions included, and PDF delivery.
Rush Translate starts at $24.95 per page for a comparable standard certified translation. Their offering includes revisions, formatting, PDF delivery, and signed and stamped certification — a solid service, but at a 39% premium over the $18 rate for equivalent output.
$25–$45 per page — the mid to premium tier ImmiTranslate operates across three pricing tiers. Their entry-level Professional plan starts at $25 per page for up to 200 words per page. Their Premium plan — which they position as their most popular — costs $35 per page and includes access to their top 5% of translators, professional certification, and a guaranteed acceptance policy. Their Premium Plus plan reaches $45 per page for industry-specific expertise and dedicated 24/7 support.
For most standard immigration documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, and similar — the $35–$45 tier is unlikely to produce a meaningfully better outcome than a well-executed $18 translation.
What add-ons typically cost
Beyond the base per-page rate, most providers charge separately for additional services. Here is how the major providers compare on common add-ons:
Notarization Notarization adds a notary public’s verification to the certified translation. It is required for some — but not all — immigration filings. Current rates: USCIS Translations charges $9 per order. ImmiTranslate charges $20 per order. Rush Translate charges $19.95 per order.
Expedited delivery For faster turnaround than the standard window, USCIS Translations charges $28 per page for 12–24 hour expedited delivery. Rush Translate charges an additional $14.95 per page on top of their base rate for expedited processing.
Hard copy delivery A physical copy of the certified translation shipped to your address. USCIS Translations charges $12 via USPS Priority. Rush Translate charges from $14.95.
Apostille Required for documents used in Hague Convention member countries — not typically needed for standard USCIS domestic filings. ImmiTranslate charges $180 per document. Rush Translate charges $79.95 per order.
What drives the price differences?
Understanding why prices vary helps you evaluate whether a quote is justified.
Human translators vs AI-assisted translation Some providers use machine translation — either fully automated or lightly reviewed by a human — while charging rates that imply professional human work. A human-translated document is not inherently more expensive to produce, particularly at providers who pass their operational savings to customers rather than padding margins. Always confirm that a human translator will complete your order before paying.
Tier structure and upselling Some providers — ImmiTranslate being a clear example — use a tiered pricing model that nudges customers toward higher-priced plans through language like “top 5% of translators” or “guaranteed acceptance.” For a standard immigration document, the entry-level tier from a reputable provider will typically produce the same USCIS-accepted result as a premium tier at twice the price.
Turnaround time Standard delivery is typically 24–48 hours across the industry. Paying for expedited service is only necessary if you have a genuine deadline. If your timeline is flexible, the standard rate is sufficient.
Brand recognition and marketing spend The highest-priced providers in this market invest heavily in advertising. Those costs flow directly into per-page rates. A lesser-known provider publishing a $18 rate is not cutting corners — they are operating with lower overhead and customer acquisition costs.
Revision policy Some providers include revisions in their base price. Others treat corrections as billable work. Given that a rejected translation can delay a USCIS case by months, a free revision policy is a meaningful factor in total cost — not just the upfront per-page rate.
What a fair price looks like in 2026
For a standard certified translation of a typical immigration document — a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or similar single-to-two page record — a fair price in 2026 is between $18 and $25 per page.
At this price point, you should expect:
- A human-certified translator with relevant language-pair expertise
- A properly formatted USCIS certification statement — signed and stamped
- Delivery within 24–48 hours
- Free revisions if errors are found
- A clear USCIS acceptance guarantee
Paying above $25 per page for a standard document with no notarization, apostille, or specialist requirement is rarely justified by a meaningful difference in output quality.
Red flags when comparing services
Vague per-page word counts. A page defined as 150 words produces a higher bill than one defined as 250 words for the same document. Always check how a provider counts pages before ordering.
Tiered plans that obscure the base offering. When a provider’s entry-level plan is deliberately stripped of features to push customers toward a premium tier, the base price is not a fair comparison point. Look at what is actually included at each level.
No revision policy. Any provider that charges for corrections to their own work is transferring quality risk onto the customer. At any price point, free revisions should be standard.
Slow standard turnaround. Standard certified translation does not require 72 hours. A slow base delivery window often signals high volume backlogs or understaffing — not higher quality.
No published acceptance guarantee. Reputable providers stand behind the USCIS compliance of their translations. If a service does not address what happens in the event of a USCIS rejection, that is a significant gap.
Frequently asked questions
Does USCIS have a list of approved translators? No. USCIS does not certify, license, or maintain a list of approved translation providers. Any competent bilingual individual can provide a certified translation — though using a professional service with an acceptance guarantee significantly reduces risk.
Is notarization required for USCIS filings? Not always. Most standard USCIS filings require certified translation but not notarization. Notarization is typically required for state-level processes or certain court submissions. Confirm with your immigration attorney before adding it to your order.
Can I translate my own documents? No. USCIS regulations state that applicants cannot translate their own documents. The translation must be completed by someone other than the applicant.
What happens if my USCIS translation is rejected? USCIS will issue a Request for Evidence asking for a corrected or re-certified translation. This adds weeks or months to your case timeline. Choosing a provider with a free revision policy and acceptance guarantee eliminates this risk.
How many pages is a typical birth certificate? Most foreign birth certificates are one to two pages. With the certification statement included, the total billable page count is typically two to three pages depending on the provider’s counting method. Always confirm before ordering.
Why is there such a wide price range for the same service? Primarily brand recognition and marketing spend. Providers who invest heavily in advertising pass those costs to customers through higher per-page rates. The translation itself — the actual linguistic work — does not cost more to produce at a $45 provider than at an $18 provider.
The bottom line
Certified translation for USCIS filings is a well-defined service with a wide and often unjustified price range. The most expensive providers are not producing meaningfully better outcomes for standard immigration documents than the most affordable ones.
In 2026, a fair price is $18–$25 per page. Rush Translate at $24.95 sits at the top of that fair range. ImmiTranslate’s Premium and Premium Plus tiers — at $35 and $45 respectively — are priced above what most applicants need to pay for a standard certified translation. USCIS Translations at $18 per page, with revisions included and a 24–48 hour turnaround, represents the strongest overall value in the current market.
Looking for a certified translation that meets every USCIS requirement — without overpaying?
USCIS Translations provides certified translations from $18 per page, completed by human translators, with a signed and stamped certification letter, free revisions, and a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee. Notarization available for $9. Hard copy delivery from $12.
Order your translation at uscis-translations.com →
Disclosure: l10n.org is operated by USCIS Translations. Reviews and editorial content reflect independent research and genuine editorial opinion. We do not accept payment for rankings or placement.