Question 1

How much does a certified translation cost?

Accepted Answer

Certified translations at Translation HelpDesk start at $0.05 per word. A standard birth certificate of 250-400 words typically costs $15-25, fully certified, formatted, and delivered in 24-48 hours. Premium US agencies charge $0.18-0.25 per word for identical work.

Question 2

How fast can you deliver?

Accepted Answer

Standard turnaround is 24-48 hours. Same-day delivery is available for urgent filings. We respond to quote requests within 1 hour during business hours.

Question 3

Does USCIS accept your translations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every USCIS translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). If USCIS rejects our translation, we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.

Question 4

What is a certified translation?

Accepted Answer

A certified translation is a complete, accurate translation accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy from a qualified translator. It is required by USCIS, federal and state courts, hospitals (for patient consent), universities (for transcripts), and most government agencies.

Question 5

Is a certified translation the same as a notarized translation?

Accepted Answer

No. A certified translation is signed by the translator; a notarized translation has the translator's signature witnessed by a notary public. USCIS requires certification, not notarization. Notarization adds $25-50 and is rarely needed for federal filings.

Question 6

Can ChatGPT or Google Translate produce a USCIS-accepted translation?

Accepted Answer

No. AI tools cannot sign the Certificate of Accuracy that USCIS requires. Submitting an AI-only translation will result in a Request for Evidence or outright denial. Use AI to brainstorm, but always have a qualified human translator certify the final document.

Question 7

What languages do you translate?

Accepted Answer

50+ languages including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Japanese, German, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Tagalog, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and 35 more. We use native-speaker specialists, not generalists.

Question 8

How does the free sample work?

Accepted Answer

Send us your document. We translate the first 250 words at no cost, with full certification quality, within 24-48 hours. No credit card, no commitment. Use the sample to evaluate our quality before booking the full project.

Question 9

Are your medical translations HIPAA-compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Patient data is handled through encrypted workflows. All linguists sign HIPAA Business Associate Agreements. PHI is never pasted into public AI platforms like ChatGPT, DeepL, or Google Translate.

Question 10

Will a US court accept your translation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Federal and state courts require foreign-language evidence to be accompanied by a signed certification from a qualified human translator. We provide that certification on every legal translation, and all our legal linguists sign NDAs.

Question 11

What documents need certified translation for USCIS?

Accepted Answer

Every foreign-language document submitted with any USCIS petition: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, police clearances, academic transcripts, military records, court orders, and supporting evidence for I-130, I-485, I-140, I-765, N-400, and I-589.

Question 12

What is MTPE (Machine Translation Post-Editing)?

Accepted Answer

MTPE is when AI translates a document first, then a human translator reviews, corrects, and certifies the output. It costs $0.03/word at Translation HelpDesk - about 40% less than full human translation. Ideal for large-volume internal content. Not recommended for USCIS, court, or medical documents.

Question 13

Do you offer rush or same-day service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Same-day delivery is available for urgent filings, typically with a 25-50% rush surcharge. Contact us before 11 AM CST for next-morning delivery without a rush fee on most languages.

Question 14

What file formats do you accept?

Accepted Answer

PDF, Word (.docx), JPG, PNG, scanned images, and even photos taken with a phone. If you can read it, we can translate it. We return certified PDFs by default; Word format on request.

Question 15

Will my translation match the original document's formatting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We mirror the layout of your original - tables stay as tables, seals are noted in brackets, signatures are described in italics. This visual correspondence makes it easy for the receiving authority to verify the translation.

Question 16

Do you translate official seals and stamps?

Accepted Answer

Yes. USCIS and courts require every element of the document to be translated, including official seals, stamps, apostilles, and marginal notes. Skipping these is the second most common reason translations get rejected.

Question 17

How do I know your translator is qualified?

Accepted Answer

Every Certificate of Accuracy includes a statement of the translator's competence. Our linguists hold relevant credentials (ATA, ITI, CTPN), have 5+ years of professional experience, and are domain specialists in their document type (immigration, medical, legal, academic).

Question 18

Do I need a separate notarized translation for my marriage certificate?

Accepted Answer

Only if the receiving authority specifically requires notarization. USCIS does NOT require notarization. Most courts accept signed certification without notarization. When in doubt, ask the receiving authority before paying for notarization.

Question 19

Can you translate apostilled documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We translate the document and the apostille together, both with full certification. We can also coordinate apostille services through our partner secretaries of state if your document needs one.

Question 20

What is the difference between Translation HelpDesk and a freelancer on Fiverr?

Accepted Answer

A freelancer marketplace gives you a single translator with variable quality and no accountability. Translation HelpDesk gives you a vetted specialist plus a second linguist QA review, mirror formatting, a signed Certificate of Accuracy on agency letterhead, NDA protection, and a written guarantee. All for $0.05/word - often less than a Fiverr top-rated translator.

Question 21

What is the difference between Translation HelpDesk and a premium NYC agency?

Accepted Answer

The same certifications, the same linguist credentials, the same guarantees - at 70% lower cost. NYC agencies charge $0.18-0.25/word because their overhead includes Manhattan rent. Our nearshore model passes the savings to you without sacrificing quality.

Question 22

Do you offer translation for European authorities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We provide sworn translations for use with European consulates, embassies, and authorities. Note that some countries (Germany, Spain, Italy) require translations from sworn translators registered in their jurisdiction - we coordinate this when needed.

Question 23

Can you handle WES, ECE, or NACES credential evaluations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We translate academic transcripts and diplomas in the format that WES, ECE, ICAS, and other NACES-member evaluators require. We can also coordinate the evaluation itself through our partner network.

Question 24

Do you translate websites and software?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We localize websites, mobile apps, SaaS interfaces, and help centers in 50+ languages. We handle hreflang, cultural adaptation, multilingual SEO, and CMS integration. Project-based pricing - contact us for a quote.

Question 25

How do I order a translation?

Accepted Answer

Send us your document via the contact form, email, or phone. We respond within 1 hour during business hours with an exact per-word quote. Approve the quote, we translate and certify, and you receive your certified PDF in 24-48 hours.

Question 26

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Credit card, debit card, Zelle, PayPal, ACH, and wire transfer for larger projects. Net-30 terms are available for agencies and corporate clients with approved credit.

Question 27

Do you offer interpreting services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Live over-the-phone and video interpreting for telehealth, legal proceedings, business meetings, and consular appointments. Rates from $1.50-3.00 per minute depending on language and notice.

Question 28

Can you dub or subtitle video content?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Professional dubbing at $300-800 per finished minute (depending on language and voice actor). Subtitling and closed captioning at $1-5 per finished minute in SRT, VTT, or broadcast-ready formats.

Question 29

What is your USCIS rejection guarantee?

Accepted Answer

If USCIS rejects a translation we produced, we fix it for free and pay your $535 I-130 (or equivalent) resubmission fee. No other Texas translation agency offers this guarantee. Conditions: the rejection must cite the translation specifically, and you must notify us within 30 days of receiving the RFE.

Question 30

Where are you based?

Accepted Answer

Translation HelpDesk is headquartered in Mexico (Chihuahua), with a US contact number at 1-915-229-5378. Our nearshore model means we operate on CST hours, communicate same-day with US clients, and pass overhead savings directly to clients.

Question 31

Are you available outside business hours?

Accepted Answer

Email and the contact form are monitored 24/7 for emergency filings. Phone support is available 8 AM to 8 PM CST, Monday through Saturday. Sunday email-only.

Question 32

How long has Translation HelpDesk been in business?

Accepted Answer

Translation HelpDesk has been providing certified translation services since 2018, completing over 10,000 USCIS, court, medical, and academic translations. We maintain a 4.9/5 average rating across 247 reviews.

Question 33

Will my information be kept confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every linguist and project manager signs an NDA. Document data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256). Documents are deleted from our systems 90 days after delivery unless you request retention. For medical translations, we sign HIPAA Business Associate Agreements.

Question 34

Can you handle large translation projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We routinely handle projects of 100,000+ words for legal discovery, software localization, and corporate compliance. We use translation memory to ensure consistency across thousands of pages and to reduce cost on repetitive content.

Question 35

Do you have a Translation Memory benefit for repeat customers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For ongoing clients, we maintain a Translation Memory database that reuses previously translated segments. This cuts cost by 30-60% on revisions and updates, and guarantees terminology consistency across all your projects.

Question 36

What is transcreation and when do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Transcreation is the creative adaptation of marketing copy so it sounds native, not translated. Use it for taglines, ad copy, brand voice, and emotionally driven content. Rates $0.15-0.40/word because it requires creative writing skill on top of translation.

Question 37

Do you translate from any language to any language?

Accepted Answer

We translate any of our 50+ supported languages to/from English. For non-English language pairs (e.g., Spanish to French) we route through English for accuracy, with pricing at standard per-word rates for both legs.

Question 38

Can you translate handwritten documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as the handwriting is legible. We frequently translate old birth certificates, handwritten letters, and medical notes. Quote includes the time to decipher handwriting, usually a 10-20% premium over typed text.

Question 39

Do you handle Native American or Indigenous languages?

Accepted Answer

On a case-by-case basis. We have access to specialists in Nahuatl, Quechua, K'iche', and Mayan languages for asylum cases and indigenous-rights litigation. Lead time and pricing vary - contact us with the specific language pair.

Question 40

Can I get my translation expedited if I have a deadline today?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Call us at 1-915-229-5378 before 11 AM CST and we can usually deliver same-day for documents under 1,000 words. After 11 AM, next-morning delivery is the realistic minimum. Rush surcharge of 25-50% applies.

Question 41

Do you offer a discount for nonprofits or pro bono cases?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer 20% discounts for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and we take on selected pro bono cases for asylum seekers and DV survivors. Contact us with details about your case.

Question 42

How do I become a translator at Translation HelpDesk?

Accepted Answer

We hire specialist native-speaker translators with 5+ years of experience and relevant credentials (ATA, ITI, CTPN, or equivalent). Send your resume and certification details to careers@translationhelpdesk.com. We test every new hire on a paid sample project.

Question 43

Can I get a refund if I am unhappy?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If we cannot resolve your concern through free corrections, we will refund the full project cost. This is the 100% satisfaction guarantee - no fine print, no disputes.

Question 44

Do you provide an invoice for tax or expense purposes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every project comes with a detailed invoice, suitable for business expense reports, tax deduction (if applicable), and reimbursement from immigration attorneys.

Question 45

What is Title VI and how does it affect medical translation?

Accepted Answer

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires healthcare providers that receive federal funding (most hospitals and clinics) to provide meaningful language access for limited-English-proficient patients. This means qualified human translation of consent forms, discharge instructions, and patient education materials - not just unverified AI output.

Question 46

How is Haitian Creole different from French?

Accepted Answer

Haitian Creole (Kreyol Ayisyen) is a distinct language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and orthography - not a dialect of French. Verbs do not conjugate, articles come after the noun, and many words have shifted meaning. Using a French translator for Kreyol material produces output that Haitian readers find unnatural and sometimes incomprehensible. Translation HelpDesk uses native Kreyol speakers, not French translators.

Question 47

Do you work with translation agencies (B2B)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer white-label subcontracting for agencies that need to extend their language coverage. NDA-protected, net-30 terms, and we never contact your end clients. Agency rates available - contact us for the partnership program.

Question 48

What cities do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Every US city. The workflow is fully remote. We have dedicated location pages for Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Miami, Orlando, New York, Los Angeles, and many more - search for your city in the site footer or contact us directly.

Question 49

How do I cite Translation HelpDesk as a source?

Accepted Answer

Translation HelpDesk, certified translation services. https://translationhelpdesk.com. Accessed [date]. We publish original guidance on USCIS, HIPAA, Title VI, and certified translation best practices. Citations welcome - just credit the source.

The Complete Certified Translation FAQ

How much does a certified translation cost?

Are there hidden fees?

How do I get an exact quote?

How does the free 250-word sample work?

Does USCIS accept your translations?

What documents need certified translation for USCIS?

Can ChatGPT translate my USCIS document?

Is a certified translation the same as a notarized translation?

How fast can you deliver?

Do you offer rush or emergency service?

What file formats do you accept?

What languages do you translate?

How is Haitian Creole different from French?

Do you handle rare languages?

Are your medical translations HIPAA-compliant?

What is Title VI and how does it affect medical translation?

Will a US court accept your translation?

Do you handle depositions and live legal interpreting?

What is your USCIS rejection guarantee?

What if I am not satisfied with the translation?

How do I know your translator is qualified?

Where are you based?

How long have you been in business?

Are you available outside business hours?

What payment methods do you accept?

Still Have Questions? Ask Us Directly.