Using Foreign Documents in the United States

The short answer

If you are using a document from another country in the United States, the requirements depend on the U.S. office receiving it, not on the apostille rules for documents leaving the United States. Many U.S. offices, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, ask for a copy of the foreign document and a certified English translation, without an apostille. Others, such as some courts, banks and registries, may ask for an apostille from the country that issued the document. A U.S. notary or the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth cannot apostille a foreign document.

Who can authenticate a foreign document?

Only the country that issued a document can apostille it. A Brazilian birth certificate is apostilled by the competent Brazilian authority; an Italian marriage certificate by the Italian authority. If the issuing country is a member of the Apostille Convention and the U.S. office requires authentication, obtain the apostille in that country, often with help from a relative, attorney or service there. If the country is not a member, the receiving U.S. office will explain what it accepts.

What common U.S. offices usually require

Requirements change. Always confirm with the office receiving your document.

Certified translations for U.S. use

For USCIS, any document in a foreign language must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, along with the translator's certification of competence to translate. We provide certified translations in more than 65 languages through our American Translators Association corporate membership, with notarization when an office asks for it. See Certified Translation for USCIS and Certified vs. Notarized vs. Sworn Translation.

Name and date differences

Foreign documents often show names in a different order, with additional surnames, in another alphabet, or with dates in a different calendar. A good translation preserves the original faithfully and notes conventions clearly. When the differences cause problems with a U.S. office, a sworn affidavit explaining that two names refer to the same person may help. See One and the Same Person Affidavit.

Sending U.S. documents abroad at the same time?

Many families and companies need documents moving in both directions: foreign records translated for U.S. use, and U.S. records apostilled for use abroad. We handle both in one order. See How to Get an Apostille in Massachusetts and Certified Translation.

Common situations we help with

• Birth and marriage certificates for green card, citizenship and family petitions.
• Divorce decrees for remarriage in Massachusetts.
• Diplomas and transcripts for U.S. universities, employers and licensing boards. See Diploma and Transcript Translation.
• Driver's licenses and identity documents for state agencies.
• Medical records for U.S. doctors and insurers. See Legal, Court and Medical Translation.
• Corporate documents from foreign parent companies for U.S. banks and registries.

Translation tips for U.S. offices

• Translate the entire document, including stamps, seals and handwritten notes.
• Keep the translation's layout close to the original so reviewers can compare them.
• Include the translator's signed certification of competence and accuracy.
• Submit a copy of the original with the translation, unless the office asks for the original.
• Do not translate your own documents for official use; many offices will not accept them.