GUATEMALAN DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Guatemalan Police Record Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Guatemalan police record (Antecedentes Penales (OJ) y Antecedentes Policíacos (PNC)) for USCIS costs about $15–25 and is delivered in 24–48 hours, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Translation HelpDesk uses native Spanish-speaking specialists, and if USCIS rejects our translation we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
WHAT WE TRANSLATE
The Guatemalan Police Record (Antecedentes Penales (OJ) y Antecedentes Policíacos (PNC))
Guatemala issues two separate police documents, and immigration cases usually need both. "Antecedentes Penales" come from the Organismo Judicial through CAPE and report only firm criminal convictions handed down by the courts. "Antecedentes Policíacos" come from the Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) and report any formal police interaction — detention, arrest, or presentation before the Ministerio Público — even if no conviction ever followed. So a person can show a clean penal record but a policíaco entry, or vice versa; a certified translation must never conflate the two headings or the institutions. Both are now issued as QR-verifiable PDFs with a folio and issue date, and Guatemala made them free of charge in 2026. For an I-485 or consular immigrant visa, USCIS and NVC want a valid, recent record; the translation must reproduce the "SIN ANTECEDENTES" or listed-offenses line verbatim, keep the issuing entity's exact name, and preserve the issue date that governs validity. We render both certificates with their seals and attach the signed USCIS certification of accuracy.
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Guatemalan Police Record Comes From
Guatemalan police and criminal-record certificates are issued by the national or state police and justice authorities described above — not the civil registry. Guatemala has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 18 September 2017, so a Guatemalan record is authenticated with a single apostille issued by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MINEX) rather than by embassy or consular legalization. Full Guatemala apostille & authentication guidance →
USCIS REQUIREMENTS
How USCIS Wants Your Guatemalan Police Record Translated
For your Guatemalan police record, USCIS requires a complete English translation of everything on the page — the issuing office’s details, seals, and any marginal notes included — plus a signed certification of accuracy under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Machine translation cannot sign that certification. We reproduce the document's exact layout so an officer can compare it line by line against your Guatemalan original.
WATCH OUT FOR
Common Guatemalan Police Record Pitfalls
Guatemalan police and criminal-record certificates must show exact coverage dates and the issuing authority, and because they often expire quickly, the translation should be scheduled close to your filing date.
Native Guatemalan Specialist
A native speaker of your document's language handles it — not a generalist or a machine.
Format-Matched to the Original
The original layout, seals, and stamps reproduced in position.
USCIS Acceptance Guaranteed
If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Guatemalan police record translation cost?
A standard Guatemalan police record is typically $15-25 total, certified and formatted, delivered in 24-48 hours. Pricing is $0.05 per word; longer or multi-page documents are quoted exactly before you pay.
Is your Guatemalan police record translation accepted by USCIS?
Yes. Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we correct it free and reimburse your resubmission fee.
Does USCIS require my Guatemalan birth certificate to be apostilled?
For documents filed directly with USCIS, no — USCIS requires a full certified English translation, not an apostille. Guatemala is a Hague Apostille country, so an apostille from the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MINEX) is only needed when the record must be recognized by a foreign authority (such as a Guatemalan court proceeding) or for certain consular immigrant-visa steps. When in doubt, we can advise based on where the document is going.
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