Why USCIS Asks for Your Birth Certificate
For a green card (Form I-485), a family petition (I-130) or naturalization (N-400), the foreign birth certificate is primary evidence of identity, age, place of birth and parentage. If it is not in English, USCIS requires a full certified English translation filed together with a copy of the original.
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Long Form or Short Form: Which Birth Certificate to Submit?
Most countries issue several versions of a birth certificate. USCIS expects the long-form (full) version — the one that names both parents and carries the civil registrar's seal. A short extract or wallet-format card usually leads to a Request for Evidence.
- Full / long-form certificate: shows the child's details AND both parents' names — this is the version to translate and file.
- Short extract: often lacks parentage information; only acceptable when your country issues nothing more complete.
- Recent copy: some countries (France, Morocco, Italy…) issue certified copies on demand; a recent issue avoids questions about alterations, even though USCIS does not impose a strict age limit.
Born in a country that no longer issues records? If your birth was never registered or records were destroyed, USCIS accepts secondary evidence (baptismal records, school records, affidavits of birth). Each of those documents needs its own certified translation if not in English.
What the Certified Translation Must Include
- A complete translation of everything on the certificate: names, dates, places, registration numbers, marginal notes, stamps and seals — nothing summarized, nothing omitted.
- The translator's signed certification stating the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English (per 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — details in our USCIS requirements guide).
- Name spellings identical to your passport. This is the #1 rejection cause for transliterated languages (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese…): send us a copy of your passport with your order so the spelling matches your other filings.
Your birth certificate, translated and certified in 24-48h.
Full certified translation with signed statement, PDF ready to upload with your I-485, I-130 or N-400. From €36 per page.
Get my certified translationHow to Order in 3 Steps
1. Scan the full certificate
Both sides if anything is printed on the back, plus any apostille page if one is attached. Keep the original — USCIS only wants copies.
2. Upload and order online
Instant per-page quote for 50+ languages. Attach a copy of your passport so name transliterations match.
3. Receive and file
Certified PDF in 24-48 hours for online filing; paper original by mail if your process requires it.