Practical immigration guide
How to translate a police clearance certificate for USCIS
Who asks for a police certificate, which countries you need one from, and how to translate it so it holds up, whatever country issued it.
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A police clearance certificate is short, but it’s one of the documents that most often holds up a case. It may have expired, it may come from the wrong authority, or a single line may have been left untranslated.
Who asks for it and from which countries
Immigrant visas through a consulate. The State Department asks applicants age 16 and older for a police certificate from their country of nationality and from any other country where they lived for a long period. The requirements and the exact name of each country’s document are on the State Department’s reciprocity page. Check it before requesting the certificate.
Cases filed with USCIS. In an adjustment of status or a naturalization, it isn’t always required. It usually comes up when there’s an arrest, a charge or a conviction in the past, or when USCIS asks for it in a Request for Evidence. When there’s a criminal history, the police certificate often isn’t enough on its own: USCIS also wants the court records showing how the case ended.
What we translate
The whole certificate. The header, the issuing authority, the applicant’s details, the result and the closing text. Even a single line saying “no record” is translated as it appears.
The validity period. Many certificates say they’re valid for 30, 90 or 180 days. That line matters, because an expired certificate can trigger a new request. We translate it exactly.
Seals, signatures and verification codes. We describe them in brackets, so the reader knows the original has them: [seal], [electronic signature], [verification code: …]. We copy the verification code character by character so the officer can look it up.
The name exactly as written. If the certificate has two surnames, an accent, or a different order from your passport, the translation keeps what the original says. We don’t adjust it to match other documents, because that would change the document.
Where these files get stuck
It’s expired. Request the certificate close to the date you’ll submit it, and check the validity period on the document itself.
It’s from the wrong authority. In some countries there’s a police record and a separate judicial record, or a national one and a provincial one. The reciprocity page says which one to request. If the certificate comes from the wrong office, even a perfect translation won’t help.
The country where you lived is missing. If you lived in more than one country as an adult, you may need a certificate from each. Translating only the one from your country of birth leaves the file incomplete.
There’s a record and only the certificate was sent. If the certificate shows an entry, include the court records that explain how it ended. We translate them along with the certificate, as one package.
Before you send it to us
Download or request the complete certificate, every page, with the verification code visible. If it was issued online, send us the PDF, not a screenshot. Check the issue date and make sure it will still be valid when you submit it.
Frequently asked questions
Does USCIS always ask for a police clearance certificate?
No. Immigrant visa applicants processed through a consulate usually need one from each country where they lived for a set period after age 16, and the State Department lists which certificate each country issues. In cases filed with USCIS, it's usually requested when there's an arrest or a criminal history to clarify, or in an RFE. Check your form's instructions or ask your attorney.
My certificate says "no record." Do I still need to translate it?
Yes. Any document in Spanish submitted to USCIS needs a full English translation with a certification from the translator. A certificate with no records is short, but it still has to be translated in full, including the seal, the verification code and the validity period.
My certificate was issued online with a QR code. Does that work?
Many countries only issue electronic certificates now, and that's normal. Print it in full, with the code and the verification link. We translate the code and the electronic signature note as they appear, and we don't change or reproduce the QR.
Official source
Review the applicable federal requirement directly at 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) on eCFR .
About this document: State Department Reciprocity Schedule.
Fidelis Certified Translations is an independent translation service and is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by USCIS or any U.S. government agency. Final acceptance of any document rests solely with the receiving agency or institution.