FAQ

Questions, answered plainly.

Is a LinguaSeal certified translation accepted by USCIS?: USCIS requires that any foreign-language document be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, together with the translator's certification of competence (8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3)). Every LinguaSeal packet includes exactly that: a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy naming the reviewer, their competence in both languages, the document, and the date. Notarization is not required by USCIS.
What is the difference between certified and notarized?: A certified translation is a translation plus a signed statement of accuracy from the translator or translation company. Notarization adds a notary public who witnesses the signature — it says nothing about the translation's quality. Most U.S. agencies, including USCIS, ask for certified, not notarized. If an institution specifically requires notarization, contact us.
How does verification work?: Each certificate has a unique registry number printed on page one along with a QR code. Visiting linguaseal.com/verify and entering the number shows the record: issue date, document type, languages, page count, reviewer, and the SHA-256 fingerprint of the issued PDF. The verifier can drop the PDF they received onto the page to confirm it matches byte for byte.
Will the translation match the layout of my original?: The translation mirrors the original page by page. Form fields are rendered as label/value pairs, tables as tables, and every stamp, seal, signature and handwritten note is described in brackets, e.g. “[Round seal: Civil Registry – Official Seal]”. Illegible text is marked “[illegible]” rather than guessed.
How fast will I receive it?: Standard orders are delivered within 24 hours. Rush orders are delivered the same day, typically within six hours during Pacific business hours.
What file types can I upload?: PDF, JPG, PNG and Word (.docx), up to 20 MB per file and 10 files per order. A clear phone photo of each page is fine.
Do you keep my documents?: Files are encrypted in transit and stored on U.S. servers only for as long as needed to complete your order, support verification of the certificate, and meet our record-keeping obligations. You can request deletion of source files at any time after delivery.
What if something is wrong in the translation?: Tell us within 30 days and we will correct and re-issue the certificate at no charge. Re-issued certificates receive a new registry number; the prior number is marked superseded in the registry.