SOMALI DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Somali Police Record Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Somali police record (Shahaadada Dhaqan Wanaag (Certificate of Good Conduct / Police Clearance)) 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 Somali and Arabic-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 Somali Police Record (Shahaadada Dhaqan Wanaag (Certificate of Good Conduct / Police Clearance))
The Somali Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct) is issued by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Mogadishu (cid.gov.so) after fingerprinting and a records check. Because reliable nationwide criminal records were destroyed and never fully rebuilt, the State Department marks Somali police, court, and prison records "Unavailable," and immigrant-visa/USCIS applicants from Somalia are generally exempt from the police-certificate requirement rather than expected to produce one. Where a CID certificate is obtained it is a short letter on police letterhead, usually in Somali or English, bearing a stamp and the signing officer's name and rank. Translation nuance: the applicant's three-part Somali name and any Arabic-script entries must match the passport spelling exactly, and the CID reference number and issue date must be preserved. If a certificate exists, submit a certified English translation — but advise the client that consular and USCIS officers typically accept Somalia's "unavailable" status and do not require one, a Somalia-specific point that saves both fees and delay.
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Somali Police Record Comes From
Somali police and criminal-record certificates are issued by the national or state police and justice authorities described above — not the civil registry. Somalia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not available; any legalization would run through consular channels (Somali authorities, then the Somali embassy). Full Somalia apostille & authentication guidance →
USCIS REQUIREMENTS
How USCIS Wants Your Somali Police Record Translated
For your Somali 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 Somali original.
WATCH OUT FOR
Common Somali Police Record Pitfalls
Somali 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 Somali 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 Somali police record translation cost?
A standard Somali 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 Somali 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.
My name is spelled differently on each Somali document. Can you help?
This is the most common Somali-translation issue. Somali names have three parts — your name, your father's, and your grandfather's — with no fixed surname, and Latin-script spellings such as Maxamed/Mohamed vary. We transliterate consistently across every document in your case and can add a translator's note explaining the naming convention for the officer.
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