What the Rules Require

Under the filing rules for Immigration Court, non-English documents must be filed with an English translation and a signed translator’s certification. The certification should:

• state that the translator is competent to translate from the source language into English, and
• affirm that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator’s abilities.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Practice Manual (Chapter 3: Filing with the Immigration Court, §3.3 Documents) also provides a sample certificate in its appendices and emphasizes that filings must be in English or accompanied by certified translations.

Quick Pre-Filing Checklist

• Translate everything that appears on the page: stamps, seals, letterhead, margins, and handwritten notes (front and back).
• Include a Translator’s Certification with competency and accuracy statements, plus a signature and date.
• Bundle the exhibit in this order: (A) English translation, (B) certification, (C) copy of the non-English original.
• Use the clearest copy available; add translator notes if handwriting is faint or unclear.
• Match names and dates exactly; if variants exist, add a bracketed note (e.g., “Houssem [a/k/a Houssam]”).
• No summaries—file a complete translation.
• Notarization is generally not required unless another rule demands it; the certification and signature are the essentials.

Print the Checklist

Common Mistakes That Derail Evidence

• Missing certification — a translation without the signed certificate can be treated as non-compliant.
• Partial translation — leaving out seals, footers, or back-page text undermines credibility.
• Interpreter vs. translator — for filings, you need a translator’s certification (document translation), not an interpreter attestation.
• Unclear who translated — certificate lacks a printed name or contact details.
• Mixing languages inside an exhibit — don’t ask the court to translate; provide the English directly.

Ready-to-Use Certification Language

Translator’s Certification
I, [Name], certify that I am competent to translate from [Language] into English and that the attached translation of [Document title/description; date] is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.

Signature: ____________________   Date: ___ / ___ / ______
Printed Name: [Name]   Contact: [Email] • [Phone]

Use this on translator letterhead or as a separate certification page attached to the translation.