Certified German Translation for USCIS
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Do you live in Germany and plan to move to the United States? We make a certified German translation for USCIS filings. Any German document you send to USCIS needs a full English translation. This applies to petitions like Form I-130, I-129F or I-140, and later to Form I-485 or N-400. Our own German–English translators translate your document. The translator then certifies it. This is a certified translation. It is not a German sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung), and you do not need one for USCIS. The federal rule asks for the translator's certification, not a sworn translator.
- Full English translation, with the 2 statements USCIS asks for: complete and accurate, and competent to translate
- Every stamp, seal and handwritten note translated, front and back
- Names kept exactly as on your document, with your passport spelling in a translator's note
- PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days)
Fixed price from €25 · You see the price before you pay
What does USCIS require for a German translation?
USCIS needs a full English translation of any document in German that you submit. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate. The translator must also certify that they are competent to translate from German into English. This rule is 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Always check the instructions for your form.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who translates | Our own professional German–English translators (not a German sworn translator) |
| German name of the document | Geburtsurkunde, Eheurkunde / Heiratsurkunde, Scheidungsurteil, Führungszeugnis and more |
| Price | Fixed price from €25 per document (+ €9 for a signed paper copy by post), shown before you pay |
| Delivery | PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days) |
| What to upload | A clear scan or photo of every page, front and back |
| Where to verify the translator | The translator's name, signature and qualifications are on the certificate. They are not on justiz-dolmetscher.de, because this is not a sworn translation. |
USCIS filing or visa interview in Germany: which one needs a translation
There are two different steps, with different rules.
- USCIS filings. Your US relative or employer usually files the petition (Form I-130, I-129F or I-140). Later, you may file Form I-485 (green card inside the US) or N-400 (naturalization). Any German document in these filings needs a full English translation.
- Immigrant visa interview in Germany. Immigrant visa interviews in Germany are held at the US Consulate General in Frankfurt. The State Department asks for translations of documents not in English or in the official language of the country where you apply. German is that official language. So German documents usually do not need translation for this step. Follow your NVC (National Visa Center) and consulate instructions.
Required by 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3):
- A full English translation of the whole document, not a summary
- The translator's certification that the translation is complete and accurate
- The translator's certification that they are competent to translate from German into English
Best practice we add (not required by the rule):
- The translator's full name, signature and the date
- Our company address and contact details
- A copy of your German document attached to the translation
- A layout that follows the original, so the officer can compare it easily
The rule does not ask for a notary or a sworn translator.
Our certified German translation for USCIS: how we handle names
We copy every name exactly as it is on your German document, letter by letter. We do not change the order or the spelling. If your passport shows a different spelling, we add it in a translator's note. This way the translation stays true to the document, and the officer can still link it to your passport.
| On your document | In your passport | In our translation |
|---|---|---|
| Jürgen Weiß | JUERGEN WEISS (machine-readable line) | Jürgen Weiß (translator's note: passport spelling JUERGEN WEISS) |
Dates are written in a clear format, for example September 3, 1997. German place names stay in German, so they match official records.
Übersetzung Deutsch–Englisch for USCIS: documents we translate
| Document (German name + English) | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) | Family petitions, adjustment of status |
| Heiratsurkunde / Eheurkunde (marriage certificate) | Spouse and fiancé(e) petitions, name change |
| Scheidungsurteil / Scheidungsbeschluss (divorce decree) | Proof that a past marriage ended |
| Führungszeugnis (certificate of conduct) | Only if filed with USCIS or used outside Germany |
| Abschlusszeugnis, Diplom (school or university certificate) | Employment petitions, education evidence |
| Arbeitszeugnis (job reference) | Proof of work experience |
| Namensänderungsurkunde (name change certificate) | Linking names across documents |
| Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) | Proof that a former spouse has died |
Tip: A German registry office (Standesamt) can issue some civil records as an international (multilingual) certificate. These have English field labels. But the entries and stamps can still be in German. We translate those parts, so nothing is missing.
Common problems that delay cases
- 1The translation is not complete. We translate everything on the page, including stamps and handwritten notes.
- 2The competence statement is missing. Our certificate always has both statements: complete and accurate, and competent to translate.
- 3Names are changed to match the passport. We keep names as on the document and give the passport spelling in a translator's note.
- 4A summary instead of a full translation. We never summarize. The rule asks for a full translation.
- 5The wrong version of a document. Send the certified copy (Beglaubigte Abschrift) you will file. We translate exactly that copy.
How it works
- 1Upload your German document. Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter.
- 2Get a fixed price and delivery time. You pay online.
- 3Check the draft. Tell us if a date or place looks wrong before we certify it.
- 4Receive your translation. You get the signed PDF by email and the signed original by post.
Read more about How our process works.
Prices
| Option | What you get | Delivery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full translation + signed certification, PDF + signed original by post | PDF in 3 working days | from €25 per document (+ €9 for a signed paper copy by post) |
| Express | Same, faster | PDF in 1 working day | + €15 |
All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).
If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.
See our prices for longer documents, or Get a fixed-price quote for your exact files.
Moving somewhere else, or staying in Germany for now?
Moving to the UK instead? See our German to English translation for the UK Home Office. Moving to Canada? See our certified German translation for IRCC. You can also compare all countries we translate for. Need the other direction? See our English to German translation. Do you still need documents for a German office? We also arrange sworn translations for German offices. Or browse All our translation services.
Frequently asked questions about certified German translation for USCIS
Do I need a notarized translation for USCIS?
No. The rule in 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) asks for a full English translation and the translator's certification of accuracy and competence. It does not ask for a notary or a sworn translator.
Can I translate my own German documents for USCIS?
We do not recommend it. The rule does not clearly ban it, but the translator must certify their competence. An independent professional translator is the safer choice.
Do I need to translate German documents for my visa interview in Frankfurt?
Usually not. The State Department asks for translations of documents not in English or in the official language of the country where you apply. In Germany, that is German. Follow your NVC and consulate instructions.
Is a PDF enough for USCIS?
For online filing you upload scans, so you use the signed PDF. For paper filing, you print the translation and send it with a copy of your German document. You also get our signed original by post. Check your form instructions.
Do I need to translate my Führungszeugnis?
Only if you file it with USCIS, or use it outside Germany. For an immigrant visa interview in Germany, a German Führungszeugnis usually needs no translation. Check your instructions.
How long does it take?
The PDF comes in 3 working days, or 1 working day with express. The signed original then comes by post, usually in 1 to 3 working days. We confirm the time with your quote.
Will USCIS accept my translation?
Our translation meets each point of 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). But only USCIS decides on your case. We cannot guarantee a decision.
Ready to send your German documents to USCIS?
Upload your document today. You see the fixed price before you pay. Still unsure? See More questions answered.
Questions? Email us: info@germantranslators.de