The Immigration Deadline Was Fast Approaching: How Certified Translations Helped!

When an immigration attorney tells you a document is due, the clock starts ticking. There are no extensions for missing paperwork, and a single untranslated document can stall an entire visa application. We see it often at The Sheridan Company, and a recent client's story shows exactly how quickly things can turn around when you work with the right team.

A Visa Application, Two Foreign Documents, and Very Little Time

Our client was in the middle of applying for a visa. His immigration attorney reviewed his file and told him two documents from his home country of Guatemala had to be included in his immigration package: his criminal background check and his birth certificate. Both were in Spanish. Both needed a certified English translation that USCIS would accept.

On top of that, his attorney required an FBI background check, which meant he also needed his fingerprints taken and submitted to the FBI.

He called us worried. His deadline was close, and he did not think there was enough time to get everything translated, certified, and formatted correctly. It is a fear we hear all the time, and it is completely understandable. Immigration paperwork feels unforgiving, and most people have no idea how long a certified translation takes or what USCIS actually requires.

The Solution: Rush Certified Translation in 24 Hours or Less

Here is what we told him: yes, there is time!

The Sheridan Company offers rush certified translation service with a turnaround of 24 hours or less. Once he heard that, the stress in his voice disappeared. He sent us his Guatemalan criminal background check and birth certificate, and our team got to work.

Within his deadline, he received:

• A complete, accurate English translation of both documents

• A signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy attached to each one

• Formatting that mirrors the original documents, which USCIS reviewers expect to see

• Documents fully prepared for submission with his visa application

We also completed his ink fingerprinting in our office and submitted his prints to the FBI for his background check, so every requirement on his attorney's list was handled in one place.

His immigration package went to his attorney complete, compliant, and on time.

What Makes a Translation "Certified Translation for Immigration" for USCIS?

This is the question we answer more than any other, so let's clear it up.

USCIS requires that any document written in a foreign language be submitted with a full English translation. The translator must also certify in writing that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the original language into English. That signed statement is called a Certificate of Translation Accuracy, and it must accompany the translation.

A certified translation for immigration is not a summary. It is a complete, word-for-word rendering of the original document, including stamps, seals, signatures, and marginal notes. USCIS officers compare the translation against the original, so formatting and completeness matter just as much as accuracy.

The Sheridan Company provides certified document translation in over 150 languages, and our translations are prepared by professional translators. We are members of the American Translators Association (ATA), and every translation we deliver meets USCIS standards.

The Documents Immigration Cases Most Often Require

If you are preparing an immigration package, these are the foreign-language documents we translate most frequently:

• Birth certificates

• Criminal background checks and police clearance letters

• Marriage and divorce certificates

• Court records and judgments

• Diplomas and academic transcripts

• Medical records

Spanish to English translation is our most requested service, and we regularly translate documents from Guatemala, Mexico, and countries throughout Latin America. Our team also serves clients in more than 150 other languages.

Fingerprinting and FBI Background Checks in the Same Visit

Many immigration cases require more than translation. Attorneys frequently request an FBI background check as part of the file, and that starts with fingerprints.

The Sheridan Company provides ink fingerprinting in our office and through mobile service in the Oklahoma City and Edmond areas. We take your prints, submit them to the FBI, and offer expedited processing when your deadline demands it. If your FBI background check will be used in another country, we can also complete the FBI background check apostille.

For our Guatemalan client, this meant one appointment covered everything his attorney asked for. No running between offices. No wondering if each piece was done correctly.

Facing an Immigration Deadline? Here Is What to Do

1. Gather your original documents. Clear photos or scans are enough to get started. You do not need to mail us anything for translation.

2. Send them to us for a quote. We respond quickly with pricing and turnaround time.

3. Tell us your deadline. If you need rush service, we deliver certified translations in 24 hours or less.

4. Receive your USCIS-ready translations. Each one arrives with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, properly formatted for your immigration package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does USCIS accept your certified translations? Yes. Every translation we deliver includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy and meets USCIS requirements for foreign-language documents.

How fast can you translate my documents? Our rush service delivers certified translations in 24 hours or less. Standard turnaround is also fast, 3-5 business days and we always confirm your timeline before we begin.

Do you translate documents from any country? Yes. We translate documents from any country in over 150 languages, with Spanish to English as our most requested language pair.

Can you handle my fingerprinting and FBI background check too? Yes. We provide ink fingerprinting in-office and mobile service in Oklahoma City and Edmond, submit prints to the FBI, and offer expedited processing.

I live outside Oklahoma. Can you still help me? Absolutely. Certified translation is handled remotely for clients in all 50 states and internationally. Simply email your documents and we take care of the rest.

Your Deadline Is Our Deadline

Immigration cases move on strict timelines, and your documents should never be the reason a case slows down. The Sheridan Company delivers certified translations that USCIS accepts, with rush service available when the clock is against you.

Call us at (405) 960-2717 or email admin@TheSheridanCo.com to get started today.

Send us your documents, tell us your deadline, and consider it handled.