Marriage Green Card Translation Checklist
A marriage-based green card (I-130/I-485) typically needs certified translations of the foreign spouse’s birth certificate and the marriage certificate — two certified pages, $50 total ($70 notarized), delivered within 24 hours. Updated September 26, 2026.
Two filings, two document sets, and translations that are not interchangeable between them. What I-130 needs, what I-485 adds, and what a full packet costs.
A marriage-based green card is two filings with two document sets, and the translations are not interchangeable between them. Here is what each stage actually needs.
The rule
8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — “Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator’s certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.”
One sentence, and it governs both forms. No notarization required, no accreditation required.
I-130 — proving the relationship exists
| Document | Whose | Why it is there |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Both of you | The relationship itself. Current Uzbek marriage certificates are issued in Uzbek and Russian and carry a QR code; Soviet-era certificates remain valid and are in Russian. |
| Birth certificate | The foreign-national spouse | Identity and, where relevant, the petitioner’s citizenship chain |
| Divorce certificate or spravka o rastorjenii braka | Either spouse with a prior marriage | Proof that every earlier marriage was properly terminated — the most common missing document in this filing |
| Death certificate of a former spouse | Either spouse, if widowed | Same purpose as above |
| Name change document | Either spouse | Where a legal name changed abroad |
I-485 — the applicant’s own record
| Document | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Always, if not already translated for the I-130 |
| Passport biographic page | Where the data page is not in English |
| Police or court records | Anything disclosed in the inadmissibility questions |
| Military book | Where service is disclosed or asked about |
| Prior immigration or civil documents from abroad | Case-specific |
What a typical packet costs
| Situation | Documents | Total, certified |
|---|---|---|
| Neither spouse previously married | Birth certificate + marriage certificate | $50 (notarized: $70) |
| One prior marriage | Add a divorce certificate | $75 (notarized: $105) |
| Prior marriage plus military service | Add a 2–4 page military book | $125–$175 (notarized: $175–$245) |
$25 a page certified, $35 with notarization. Certificate of Accuracy included, single documents delivered in 24 hours; larger orders get a delivery date by email after upload.
The two things that actually cause an RFE here
An incomplete translation. Uzbek and Russian civil records carry seals, registry numbers, marginal notes and, very often, text on the reverse side. The rule requires a full translation. A clean-looking front page with the back untranslated is one of the most common reasons a packet comes back, and the applicant almost never knows the back existed.
Names that do not line up. A green card packet puts a Cyrillic birth certificate, a Latin-script passport and a marriage certificate side by side for the first time. Three spellings across three documents is normal and defensible; three spellings with nothing explaining them invites a question. We keep one convention across the whole set and note the passport spelling separately.
Send the whole set at once
Upload both spouses’ documents in a single order. The page count and total appear on screen before you pay, and everything is translated by the same hand with the same spellings — which is worth more in a marriage filing than in any other kind.
Frequently asked
Which documents need certified translation for a marriage green card?
At the I-130 stage: the marriage certificate, the foreign spouse’s birth certificate, and documents terminating any prior marriage for either spouse. At the I-485 stage: the birth certificate if not already done, the passport biographic page where it is not in English, and any police, court or military records the inadmissibility questions require. A couple with no prior marriages usually needs two documents — $50 certified ($70 notarized).
Do I need to prove my prior marriage ended?
Yes, and this is the document people most often forget. USCIS requires proof that every earlier marriage of either spouse was properly terminated. From Uzbekistan that is either a divorce certificate or a spravka o rastorjenii braka, and from Russia the equivalent ZAGS record. Both need full certified translation.
My marriage certificate is Soviet-era. Is it still valid?
Yes. The State Department states that Soviet-era marriage certificates remain valid. They are in Russian rather than Uzbek and carry no QR code, unlike current Uzbek certificates. They must be translated in full, including seals and anything on the reverse.
Does the translation need to be notarized for I-130 or I-485?
No. USCIS requires a signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence. Notarization is not required by either form. Courts, consulates and foreign authorities often do want it; that is the $35 notarized tier, where a separate commissioned New York notary notarizes the translator's signature.
Can I use the same translation for both I-130 and I-485?
Yes for any document that appears in both filings — a translation does not expire and the certification standard is identical. What differs is that I-485 adds the applicant’s own record: police and court documents, military service, and the passport data page where it is not in English.
What is the most common reason a translation causes an RFE in a marriage case?
An incomplete translation. Uzbek and Russian civil records carry seals, registry numbers, marginal notes and frequently text on the reverse side. The rule requires a full translation and a missing back page is the classic failure — applicants usually do not know the back existed.
Our names are spelled three different ways across our documents. Is that a problem?
Three defensible spellings across a Cyrillic certificate, a Latin passport and a marriage certificate is normal. What draws a question is a difference with nothing explaining it. We use one convention across the whole packet and add a note recording the passport spelling.
How long does a marriage green card packet take to translate?
Twenty-four hours for a single document. Larger sets, such as a couple’s full packet, get a delivery date by email after upload. Rush 12-hour service (single documents only) is $15 a page extra.
Last reviewed 29 August 2026. Every rule quoted on this page links to its primary source. If a figure here is out of date, email orders@certifiedtranslationcenter.com and we will correct it.
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Who you are trusting with your document
Every translation is prepared, checked and signed by a named person — not a marketplace, not a bot.
Otabek Obidov — owner and translator (Uzbek · Russian · English), Certified Translation Center / Fire Up LLC, Brooklyn, New York. Commissioned New York Notary Public, No. 01OB0050820.
- ✓Signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy on every job, worded to 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — the exact standard USCIS checks.
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