NVC Civil Document Translation
The National Visa Center accepts certified translations of civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce, police certificates) — no notary needed — which Certified Translation Center provides for $25 per page, delivered within 24 hours. Updated September 26, 2026.
What the National Visa Center requires for the documents you upload to CEAC — and why the “official language of your country” exemption does not help applicants from Uzbekistan.
Consular processing does not follow the USCIS rule. The National Visa Center works to a different standard, and the difference has trapped a lot of applicants from Uzbekistan into uploading documents that came straight back.
The two rules are not the same
| USCIS (petition stage) | NVC / consulate (visa stage) | |
|---|---|---|
| Governing rule | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) | State Department civil-document instructions plus the country reciprocity schedule |
| When translation is needed | Any document not in English | Any document not in English or in the official language of the country where you are applying |
| Who may translate | Anyone competent, who certifies it | Same standard in practice |
| Notarization | Not required | Not required |
The trap. That second column looks like a gift to an applicant in Tashkent: Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan, so surely Uzbek documents are exempt. They are not. The State Department’s reciprocity schedule for Uzbekistan says plainly that all documents, regardless of the language, must be translated into English — and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent’s own instructions require that anything uploaded to CEAC and not in English carries a certified English translation. The country page overrides the general carve-out.
Originals versus photocopies at NVC
This catches people out separately from the translation question, so it is worth stating in one place. NVC does not treat every civil document the same way.
| Document | What NVC expects |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Original or certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | Original or certified copy |
| Divorce or death certificate ending a prior marriage | Original or certified copy |
| Court and prison records | Original or certified copy |
| Police certificate | Photocopy is accepted |
| Military records | Photocopy is accepted |
| Passport biographic page | Photocopy is accepted |
Every one of them still needs the English translation attached, whichever form the document itself takes.
How we deliver for CEAC uploads
CEAC takes uploaded files, so what you need from us is a clean digital packet: the translation, the signed Certificate of Accuracy, and the source document, in one PDF per document, at a resolution that survives the upload. That is what we send by default — digitally signed PDF, $25 a page with the signed certificate, or $35 a page notarized. If your interview is at a post that wants paper as well, we mail a wet-signed, sealed hard copy for $15.
What we will not tell you
We are not attorneys and we do not advise on your case. What we can tell you precisely is what the published instructions say, and what a translation has to contain to satisfy them. If your question is whether a particular document proves a particular relationship, that is a question for your attorney or an accredited representative.
Frequently asked
Are the NVC translation rules different from the USCIS rules?
Yes. USCIS requires a translation of any document not in English, under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). The State Department’s consular standard requires translation of any document not in English or in the official language of the country where you are applying. That second clause does not exist at USCIS, and it is where most of the confusion comes from.
My documents are in Uzbek and I am applying in Uzbekistan. Am I exempt?
No. The general carve-out is overridden by the country-specific reciprocity schedule for Uzbekistan, which states that all documents, regardless of language, must be translated into English. The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent requires a certified English translation with anything uploaded to CEAC that is not already in English.
Which civil documents can I submit as photocopies?
Police certificates, military records and the biographic page of your passport are accepted as photocopies. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce and death certificates ending prior marriages, and court or prison records are expected as originals or certified copies. All of them still need an English translation attached.
Does NVC require the translation to be notarized?
No. The requirement is a certified translation — a signed statement from the translator that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent in both languages. Some posts and some foreign authorities do ask for it; the notarized tier is $35 a page, where a separate commissioned New York notary notarizes the translator's signature.
What format should the translation be in for a CEAC upload?
A clean PDF containing the translation, the signed Certificate of Accuracy and the source document, one file per document. That is what we send by default. Keep the file legible after upload compression — a scan that is unreadable at CEAC’s size limit causes the same delay as a missing document.
Can I use the same translations I already filed with USCIS?
Usually yes — the translation itself does not expire and the certification standard is the same in substance. What changes is the document set: NVC asks for police certificates and, often, military records that were never part of the USCIS petition, so most people need additional pages rather than replacements.
How much does a full NVC civil-document set cost to translate?
$25 a page certified — the NVC does not require notarization; $35 if you want it. A single applicant with a birth certificate, a marriage certificate and one police certificate is three pages — $105. Add a prior divorce, a military book and a spouse and it is typically six to nine pages.
How long does it take?
Twenty-four hours for a single document. Larger sets get a delivery date by email after upload; tell us your NVC deadline or interview date when you upload and we confirm the delivery date before you pay. 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.
- ✓Independent notarization. New York law does not allow a notary to notarize his own signature, so notarized translations are sealed by a separate commissioned New York notary.
- ✓Acceptance guarantee. If USCIS, a court, WES/ECE or any agency rejects a translation because of our work, we fix it free — or refund in full.
- ✓Your documents stay private. Files are used only to produce your translation, never shared, and deleted on request. Payment runs through Stripe — we never see your card number.
- ✓A real office you can walk into — 2393 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223, Monday–Saturday 10am–7pm. Online clients in all 50 states get the same signed PDF.
Questions? Text us — it is faster than calling
We answer texts within minutes during business hours (Mon–Sat 10am–7pm ET). A photo of the document is enough for an exact price. If you prefer to call, the same number works, but texts are answered first.
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