Every week I get two similar questions from opposite sides of the Atlantic. From the United States: "Is your sworn translation valid for USCIS?". From Spain: "I had a certified translation done in New York, will the immigration office accept it?". The answer to both is that they are different documents, for different authorities, and it pays to know which one you need before ordering anything.
What is a sworn translation in Spain?
It is a translation signed and stamped by a sworn translator-interpreter appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. The appointment has a number (mine is 7310) that any official can check on the Ministry's public register. It carries a certification in Spanish, a signature and a stamp on every page, and it is what the immigration office, the civil registry, universities, notaries and Spanish consulates require for any document that is not in Spanish.
What is a certified translation for USCIS?
The US rule is short: 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) requires any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS to be accompanied by a full English translation and a certification by the translator stating that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from that language into English. No notary is required and no specific accreditation either: a signed, dated certification with contact details, one per document, is enough. I explain it in more detail on the certified translation for USCIS page.
How exactly do they differ?
| Sworn translation (Spain) | Certified translation (USA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who signs it | A sworn translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry | Any competent translator who signs the certification |
| Who it is for | Spanish bodies and Spanish consulates | USCIS, courts, universities and employers in the US |
| What it carries | Certification in Spanish, signature and stamp on every page | Full English translation + signed and dated certificate |
| Notary | No | No (USCIS does not require it) |
| Usual direction | English → Spanish | Spanish → English |
Does USCIS accept a translation made in Spain?
Yes. What USCIS checks is the certification, not where the translation was produced. A certified translation prepared from Murcia is as valid as one made in Miami, as long as it is complete (stamps, apostilles and handwritten notes included) and carries the certification with signature, date and contact details. My appointment as a sworn translator is not a USCIS requirement, but it adds a verifiable credential that officers understand.
Does Spain accept a certified translation made in the United States?
In general, no. The immigration office, the civil registry or the consulate require a sworn translation by a translator appointed by the Spanish Ministry (or a consular legalisation, which is slower and more expensive). If you already have a certified translation of your US birth certificate, you will most likely have to have it translated again as a sworn translation. Send it to me with the apostille and it is ready in 24/48 hours.
What if I submit the same document in both countries?
It happens more often than you would think: a Spanish-American couple who marry in Spain and then apply for a green card, or a Spaniard applying for US citizenship while keeping paperwork going at the Spanish civil registry. In those cases I prepare both versions at the same time, with the same criteria (same names, dates and terms), so that no officer finds discrepancies between one and the other. If you live in the US, the guide for clients in the United States covers apostilles, time zones and payment with a US card.
Which Spanish documents are most often translated for USCIS?
Birth certificates (full or extract) for family petitions, green cards and naturalisation; marriage certificates, divorce decrees and death certificates; criminal record certificates from the Spanish Ministry of Justice; degrees and academic transcripts for work or study visas; bank statements, employer certificates and payslips as proof of means; and deeds, powers of attorney and contracts. Each one comes with its own certification page, and every stamp, apostille and handwritten note appears in the English version: a USCIS translation has to be complete, not a summary.
Summary in three lines
- Procedure in Spain → sworn translation (Ministry signature and stamp).
- Procedure before USCIS → certified translation into English with a signed certification, no notary.
- Both → both versions at once, from a single translator.
Not sure which one you are being asked for? Send me the document and the name of the procedure on WhatsApp and I will confirm it with a fixed price within 2 hours.