How to tell if a certified translation is real
How to tell if a certified translation is real: it comes with a signed Certificate of Accuracy stating the translation is complete and accurate, it names the document it covers, it is signed by a named translator you can contact, and every page of the original is accounted for. If it carries a QR code or a certificate number, you can confirm online who issued it. In the United States there is no government stamp or sworn-translator registry to look up, so the certificate and the person who signed it are what prove it is real.
What makes a certified translation legitimate in the US
In the United States a certified translation is a complete translation plus a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy. For immigration, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) asks the translator to certify in writing that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. There is no federal or state license for translators, and no sworn or juramentado translator exists here the way it does in Brazil. Private credentials such as ATA certification exist, but USCIS does not require them, and despite the phrase you see everywhere, there is no official USCIS certified translator. So whether a certified translation is real is not about a government seal. It is about a certificate that meets the rule, signed by someone who can stand behind it, and you can read who qualifies in who can certify a translation for USCIS.
How to check it, step by step
You can make four checks. The first three work on any certified translation. The fourth works when the company that issued it lets you verify online.
| Check | How to do it | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| The Certificate of Accuracy | Confirm the page is there, states the translation is complete and accurate, says the translator is competent, and names the document it covers, the language pair and the page count | That the certificate carries the complete-and-accurate statement the rule requires, and that it belongs to this translation |
| The signer | Look for a named translator with a signature, a date and contact details. USCIS does not bar you or a relative from signing, but an independent translator removes the questions a self-signed packet invites | That a named, reachable person stands behind the English |
| Completeness | Compare the translation against the original page for page, including stamps, seals and notes in the margins | That nothing was dropped, the most common reason a translation gets questioned |
| Online verification | If the certificate carries a QR code or a number, check it, and type the issuer’s web address yourself rather than only trusting where a QR code leads | That the company actually issued that certificate |
The rule itself only requires the complete-and-accurate statement and the translator’s competence. The other details are not mandatory, but a certificate that includes them is easier to trust and to check against the original.
Red flags on a certified translation
A few things deserve a closer look. The certificate page is missing, or it does not actually state that the translation is complete and accurate. Stamps, seals or back-page notes from the original are missing from the translation. The English reads like raw machine output, where a false friend like pretendo (I intend to) becomes I pretend to and an officer reads a confession instead of a plan. A company will not give you a named signer or any way to confirm the certificate. A translation certified by you or a relative is not forbidden at USCIS, but some consulates, the NVC, universities and courts do refuse one signed by the applicant or a relative, so an independent translator is the safer choice. A single typo is not proof of fraud. If something looks off, ask the translator before you hand the document in, and watch for the word traps in our false friends tool.
Notarization does not make it real
A notary only confirms who signed the page, not that the translation is accurate, and USCIS does not ask for a notarized translation at all. Do not treat a notary stamp as proof that a translation is complete or correct. The full comparison is in notarized vs certified translation.
Brazilians: you do not need a juramentada for USCIS
One note for the Brazilians reading this. You do not need a tradução juramentada for USCIS. The sworn, juramentada translation is used mainly for official purposes in Brazil. For USCIS a certified translation is what they ask for, and it is cheaper and faster.
How to verify a translation from Brazil USA Translations
Every certificate we issue carries a number in the format BUT-XXXXX-XXXXX and a QR code. Enter that number on our certificate verification page and it confirms that we issued it, the date we issued it, the kind of document it covered, and that Ivy signed it. It does not reveal the client’s name or anything about their case. A university, an attorney or a USCIS officer can confirm a document is ours without waiting on an email. If a certificate that claims to be ours does not verify, contact us before drawing any conclusion, and if you are our client we will reissue it.
No agency queue and no machine draft: Ivy, a native Brazilian Portuguese speaker, translates your document and signs the Certificate of Accuracy USCIS requires on it herself.
Common questions
Can I check a certified translation online?
In part. You confirm the Certificate of Accuracy by reading it and checking that the translator is named and reachable, and there is no US government database of translators to search. If the translation carries a QR code or a certificate number from the company that issued it, you can confirm online that they issued it. For ours, enter the number on our certificate verification page.
How do I know the translator is legitimate?
The United States has no translator register and no license, so any competent translator can certify a translation under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). What tells you it is legitimate is a named signer with contact details, working for someone who stands behind the translation and lets you verify the certificate. USCIS does not bar you or a relative from signing, but some consulates, universities and courts do, and an independent translator removes the question everywhere. More on who qualifies is in who can certify a translation for USCIS.
Does a certified translation need to be notarized to be valid?
No. USCIS asks for certification, not notarization. A notary only confirms the identity of the person signing, not that the translation is accurate. The difference is in notarized vs certified translation.
What should I do if I think a certified translation is fake?
Do not submit it. Check that the Certificate of Accuracy is there and complete, confirm a named signer, and compare the translation page for page against the original. A scan or photocopy is normal, and USCIS accepts copies, so a copy alone is not a sign of fraud. If it claims to be from Brazil USA Translations, enter the number on our certificate verification page.
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