USCIS FORM I-140
Certified Translation for USCIS Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker)
Every foreign-language document you file with Form I-140 must include a complete certified English translation (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). Translation HelpDesk certifies each supporting document for about $15–25, delivered in 24–48 hours and accepted by USCIS or we fix it free.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Translation guidance, not legal advice — confirm requirements with USCIS or your attorney.
WHAT FORM I-140 IS
Form I-140 at a Glance
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, is filed with USCIS to classify a foreign national under an employment-based green card preference — EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3. It is usually filed by a sponsoring U.S. employer, though people with extraordinary ability (EB-1A) and those seeking a National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW) may self-petition. The petition succeeds or fails on documentary proof that the beneficiary meets the requested category, and much of that proof — degrees, transcripts, and years of experience letters — often originates in a foreign language.
TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS
Which Documents Need Translation
Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), every foreign-language document in an I-140 package must be accompanied by a full English translation plus the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy, and competence to translate. What sets I-140 apart from most family-based filings is that the translation does not decide eligibility — a separate credential evaluator and the USCIS officer do — so the translation's only job is to be literal and neutral. In practice that means a foreign degree title stays in its original form rather than being "upgraded" to a U.S. bachelor's or master's, transcript grades are rendered as issued instead of converted to a 4.0 scale, and foreign job titles are translated word-for-word so the officer, not the translator, judges whether the experience is "specialty" or "progressive." Because I-140 petitions routinely bundle many exhibits — diplomas, transcripts, several years of experience letters, awards, and publications — USCIS has increasingly flagged single "blanket" certifications that cover the whole stack; since 2020, each translated exhibit should carry its own Certificate of Accuracy tied to that specific document. Translation here is a fidelity-and-formatting task, not a legal judgment, so always confirm which exhibits your particular category actually requires with current USCIS guidance or your immigration attorney before filing.
- Foreign diplomas and degree certificates (the degree title kept in its original language, not swapped for a U.S. equivalent)
- Academic transcripts matching each diploma (grades left exactly as issued, not converted to a U.S. GPA)
- Employment and experience-verification letters from foreign employers (job titles translated literally, word-for-word)
- Foreign payroll records, tax records, and employment certificates supporting qualifying experience
- Award and prize certificates for EB-1A extraordinary ability or EB-2 exceptional ability
- Foreign-language published scholarly articles, patents, and citation/impact reports
- Media coverage or press about the beneficiary from non-English outlets
- Membership certificates from foreign professional associations that require outstanding achievement
- Reference and recommendation letters written in a foreign language
- Foreign passport biographic pages and civil documents (birth or marriage certificates) submitted for the beneficiary
- Foreign business registration, incorporation, or corporate records used to show a sponsor's ability to pay (multinational manager/executive petitions)
TIPS
Filing Tips
Translate the diploma AND its matching transcript together — submitting a degree without the transcript that documents the coursework behind it is a common trigger for a Request for Evidence.
Keep foreign job titles and degree names in their literal English rendering; letting a translator 'equivalence' a title to a U.S. one can undercut the credential evaluation your EB-2 or EB-3 case relies on.
Ask for a separate signed Certificate of Accuracy for each exhibit instead of one blanket certification for the whole packet — that per-document format meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) and avoids the blanket-cert RFEs seen since 2020.
The I-140 form itself and the PERM labor certification (Form ETA-9089) are already in English — budget certified translation only for the foreign-language evidence behind them, such as experience letters, degrees, and pay records.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Form I-140 itself need to be translated?
No. Form I-140 and the underlying PERM labor certification (Form ETA-9089) are completed in English. The certified-translation requirement under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) applies to the foreign-language supporting evidence — diplomas, transcripts, experience letters, awards, and similar exhibits. Confirm your exact evidence list with USCIS or your immigration attorney.
Should the translator convert my foreign degree to its U.S. equivalent?
No. The translation should preserve the exact degree title in the original language; determining U.S. equivalency is the role of a credential evaluation service and USCIS, not the translator. A translation that relabels a foreign degree as a U.S. bachelor's or master's can raise questions about the beneficiary's eligibility for the EB-2 or EB-3 category.
Can one certification cover every document in my I-140 packet?
USCIS increasingly disfavors a single 'blanket' certification spanning many exhibits, and such filings have drawn Requests for Evidence since 2020. The safer practice is a separate signed Certificate of Accuracy for each translated document, each meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Every Translation HelpDesk translation ships with its own signed certificate tied to that specific exhibit.
How much does certified translation of an I-140 evidence packet cost, and how fast is it?
Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05 per word, with most single documents like a degree or birth certificate running $15-25 total, delivered in 24-48 hours. You can send your foreign-language exhibits for a free 250-word sample or a full quote by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com. Our certified translations are backed by a USCIS Rejection Pledge: if a filing is rejected because of our translation, we fix it free and cover the resubmission fee.
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