USCIS FORM I-730
Certified Translation for USCIS Form I-730 (Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition)
Every foreign-language document you file with Form I-730 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-730 IS
Form I-730 at a Glance
Form I-730 lets a principal refugee or asylee ask USCIS to let their spouse and unmarried children under 21 "follow to join" them in the United States. It is filed by the person already granted refugee status or asylum, generally within two years of admission or the asylum grant, and it must prove a qualifying family relationship that existed before that status was granted.
TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS
Which Documents Need Translation
Every foreign-language document filed with Form I-730 must carry a full English translation, and under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) the translator must certify in writing that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from that language into English. What makes I-730 unusual is that the translation does more than identify names: because the qualifying relationship must have existed before you were admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, USCIS reads the exact issue dates and event dates on a translated marriage or birth certificate to confirm the marriage or parent-child bond predates your grant. That means the rendering of dates, places, and registry stamps has to be exact, not paraphrased. Because many refugees and asylees cannot obtain civil records from the country they fled, I-730 filings lean heavily on secondary evidence, and those baptismal, school, hospital, and household-registration documents, plus any witness affidavits, all need the same certified English translation. Translation HelpDesk attaches a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) to each document, and our USCIS Rejection Pledge means if a translation is ever rejected on formatting grounds we fix it free and cover the resubmission fee. This is translation guidance only, not legal advice, and you should confirm exactly which documents your case requires with USCIS or a qualified immigration attorney.
- Marriage certificate establishing the spouse relationship (must predate the asylum grant or refugee admission)
- Beneficiary's birth certificate showing the petitioner as parent
- Divorce decrees or death certificates ending any prior marriage of either spouse
- Legal name-change documents where names differ across records
- Adoption decrees or legitimation records for a non-marital or adopted child
- Secondary evidence when civil records are unavailable: baptismal certificates, school records, hospital/medical records, census records, and family/household registration books
- Sworn affidavits from relatives or witnesses attesting to the relationship
TIPS
Filing Tips
Match dates carefully: because the relationship must predate your refugee admission or asylum grant, make sure the translated marriage or birth certificate clearly shows the original event date so USCIS can verify eligibility at a glance.
Translate your secondary evidence too. If you could not get a civil marriage or birth certificate from your home country, baptismal certificates, school records, and affidavits carry your case only if each has a certified English translation attached.
Do not translate passport-style photos or documents already in English (such as your I-94 or asylum approval notice) - only foreign-language records need translation, which keeps your cost down at $0.05/word.
With the two-year filing window in mind, plan for turnaround: a full set of foreign-language family documents can be completed in 24-48 hours, and a typical birth certificate runs just $15-25 total.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every document I file with Form I-730 need to be translated?
Only documents in a language other than English need translation. Foreign marriage certificates, birth certificates, divorce or death certificates, and secondary evidence like baptismal or school records all require a full certified English translation under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Items already in English, and photographs, do not need translating.
Who is allowed to translate my I-730 supporting documents?
Any competent translator may prepare them, but the translation must include a signed certification stating it is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from the source language. USCIS does not require a 'sworn' or government translator; it requires that certification. You generally should not translate your own documents. Translation HelpDesk provides native-speaker specialists in 50+ languages and a signed Certificate of Accuracy with every job.
My marriage or birth certificate is hard to read or partly handwritten. Can it still be translated?
Yes. Handwritten civil registry entries, stamps, and seals are common on I-730 evidence, and a certified translation should render every visible element, including registry numbers and official stamps, or note where text is illegible. This completeness matters because USCIS relies on those details to confirm your relationship predates your asylum or refugee grant. Send us a clear scan by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com for a free 250-word sample.
What if I only have secondary evidence because I could not get official records from my country?
That situation is common for refugees and asylees, and USCIS accepts secondary evidence such as baptismal certificates, school and hospital records, census documents, and sworn affidavits when civil records are unavailable. Each of those foreign-language documents still needs a certified English translation to be considered. We can translate affidavits and informal records with the same 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) certification, though you should confirm with your attorney which secondary documents best support your specific case.
What happens if USCIS rejects my translation?
A translation is typically flagged only for a missing or defective certification or an incomplete rendering, not the content itself. Translation HelpDesk backs every I-730 translation with a USCIS Rejection Pledge: if a document is rejected on translation grounds, we correct it at no charge and cover the resubmission fee. Founded by Victor Luján, the agency has served applicants across the U.S. remotely since 2018.
RELATED