Certified Translation for a US Application: What It Is and Whether Notarisation Is Required

US visa and immigration applications ask for translations of Turkish documents, and those translations are expected to meet a particular standard. The question people ask most often is whether notarisation is compulsory.

A certified translation rests on the translator’s statement of accuracy

The certified translation that US authorities expect is one in which the translator declares that they have translated the document completely and accurately and that they are competent in English and in the source language. This declaration usually takes the form of a text added at the end of the translation, carrying the translator’s name and signature. The focus is on the translator taking responsibility for accuracy.

Notarisation is not automatically required for every application

A common misconception is that notarisation is compulsory for every US document. In most cases, though, the translator’s statement of accuracy is considered sufficient; notarisation comes into play only in certain procedures or when it is specifically requested. There is therefore no single answer to the question is notarisation required; it depends on the type of application and on the current guidance of the institution concerned.

The soundest approach is to read the translation requirement set out on the application page or in the request letter and to prepare accordingly. If they want your document notarised, knowing that from the outset spares you the trouble of having the translation done twice. In our office we prepare translations for US files with a statement of accuracy, and where necessary we plan the notarisation step as well.