USCIS FORM I-526
Certified Translation for USCIS Form I-526 (Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor / Alien Investor, EB-5)
Every foreign-language document you file with Form I-526 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-526 IS
Form I-526 at a Glance
Form I-526 is the first step in the EB-5 immigrant investor path, filed by a standalone (direct) investor to prove they have invested — or are actively investing — the required capital ($1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or qualifying infrastructure project) in a new U.S. commercial enterprise that will create at least 10 full-time jobs. It is filed by the individual investor themselves (regional-center investors file the separate Form I-526E instead), and the petition lives or dies on documentary evidence proving the investment amount, the lawful source and path of the funds, and the investor's managing role. Because much of that evidence is generated abroad in the investor's home country, foreign-language exhibits are the norm rather than the exception on an I-526.
TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS
Which Documents Need Translation
Every non-English document filed with Form I-526 must carry a full English translation plus the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy, and competence, exactly as 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires — and on an EB-5 petition that rule reaches far deeper than most family-based filings. The heart of an I-526 is the "lawful source and path of funds" narrative, so foreign tax returns going back seven years, business-registry extracts, bank passbooks, remittance receipts, property deeds, gift or loan agreements, and even judgment or court records (USCIS reviews a 15-year window) all need certified English versions. A common misconception costs investors here: bank statements, tax forms, and financial ledgers that look like columns of numbers still require full translation because 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) is triggered by any foreign-language wording — the headers, stamps, bank names, and handwritten notes — not by the numbers alone. USCIS adjudicators cross-check names, dates, account numbers, and entity histories line by line across your translated exhibits, so a mistranslated company name or a date rendered in the wrong format can fracture the funds trail and draw a Request for Evidence even when the underlying investment is perfectly legitimate. Translations should mirror the source layout — stamps, seals, and signature blocks noted in place — so an officer can map each translated figure back to the original page. This is translation guidance rather than legal advice; confirm your specific evidence list and any translation nuances with USCIS or your immigration attorney before filing.
- Foreign personal and corporate income tax returns (USCIS asks for filings from the last 7 years)
- Foreign business registration and incorporation records (articles of incorporation, business licenses, commercial registry extracts)
- Bank statements, passbooks, and wire-transfer / remittance receipts tracing the path of funds
- Employment records, salary certificates, and pay slips (when the source of capital is earned income)
- Property sale contracts, deeds, and real estate appraisals (when funds came from selling property)
- Gift deeds and affidavits of gift, plus the donor's own source-of-funds documents
- Loan agreements, promissory notes, and mortgage / collateral documents (when funds were borrowed)
- Inheritance, will, and probate / estate records
- Corporate financial statements, audit reports, and dividend or profit-distribution records
- Share certificates and stock or ownership transfer agreements
- Certified court judgments and records of any civil, criminal, or administrative actions (USCIS looks back 15 years)
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports for the investor and any derivative family members
TIPS
Filing Tips
Translate the whole source-of-funds chain in one consistent voice: if your name, your company's name, or a bank appears across a dozen exhibits, keep the English spelling identical everywhere so the officer can trace the funds without doubt. A single translator handling the full packet — as Translation HelpDesk does — prevents the name and date mismatches that trigger EB-5 RFEs.
Do not skip 'numbers-only' documents. Foreign bank statements, tax returns, and financial ledgers still contain foreign-language headers, stamps, and institution names, so 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires them fully translated, not summarized.
Watch date and number formatting: DD/MM/YYYY dates and comma-vs-period decimal conventions differ by country, and a faithful certified translation should preserve the true meaning so a February date is not read as a November one.
Budget for volume. An EB-5 source-of-funds packet can run to hundreds of pages; at $0.05/word with a free 250-word sample and 24-48h turnaround, request a full quote up front and file every foreign exhibit with its certification rather than discovering a gap after submission.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which I-526 documents actually need a certified translation?
Any document not originally in English. On an EB-5 petition that typically means foreign tax returns, business-registration and incorporation records, bank statements and wire-transfer receipts, property or loan documents, gift affidavits, court/judgment records, and civil-status documents like birth and marriage certificates. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) each one needs a full English translation with the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence.
Do my foreign bank statements and tax returns need translating if they are mostly numbers?
Yes. USCIS requires a full translation whenever a document contains any foreign-language text, and bank statements, tax forms, and financial ledgers always include foreign-language headers, bank names, stamps, and notations. Leaving them untranslated is a frequent cause of EB-5 Requests for Evidence.
What is the difference between Form I-526 and Form I-526E for translation purposes?
Form I-526 is for standalone (direct) investors who manage their own enterprise; Form I-526E is for investors in an approved regional center project. The certified-translation standard under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) is identical for both — every foreign-language exhibit in the source-of-funds and investment record must be translated and certified.
Does the translation have to be notarized?
USCIS does not require notarization for translations. What 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires is the translator's certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. Translation HelpDesk provides a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting that standard; notarization is optional and up to you or your attorney.
What happens if a translation error is found in my funds trail?
EB-5 officers compare names, dates, account numbers, and entity histories across your exhibits line by line. If a translated company name, amount, or date does not match the original or another exhibit, it can appear to break the path of funds and prompt an RFE or denial even when the investment is legitimate. Consistent, accurate certified translations are your best protection. Confirm your evidence requirements with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
How much does certified translation for an EB-5 I-526 packet cost and how fast is it?
Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05 per word with a 24-48 hour turnaround and a free 250-word sample so you can preview quality before committing. Because EB-5 packets can be large, request a full quote up front. Every translation ships with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge to fix any rejected translation free and cover the resubmission fee.
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