Certified Translation Services in Boston
Certified translations for USCIS, the Boston and Chelmsford immigration courts, the RMV and Suffolk County courts, prepared online by professional human translators. $22.99 per page, with 24 hour delivery for documents up to 3 pages.
People in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Revere and the rest of Greater Boston order certified translations from us online. Upload a scan or phone photo, and a signed PDF comes back within 24 hours for documents up to 3 pages. There is no walk-in office in Boston to visit.
- Certified translation services Boston residents use for USCIS sit alongside translation services Boston MA businesses order for contracts and company records
- The USCIS Boston Field Office and the Boston Immigration Court are both in the JFK Federal Building on New Sudbury Street
- USCIS and the immigration courts need an English translation of each foreign-language document with the translator's signed certification; USCIS requires the translation to be full
- Spanish, Chinese, Haitian and Portuguese are the most common languages in Boston homes after English
Immigration Offices and Courts Serving Boston
These federal offices serve Greater Boston immigration applicants. Each asks for an English translation of every foreign-language document you submit.
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| USCIS Boston Field Office | John F. Kennedy Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St., Room E-160, Boston, MA 02203 |
| USCIS Lawrence Field Office | 280 Merrimack Street, 6th Floor, Suite 610, Lawrence, MA 01843 (serves some Middlesex County ZIP codes, such as Chelmsford 01824) |
| Boston Immigration Court | JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury Street, Room 320, Boston, MA 02203 (public entrance at 125 Cambridge Street) |
| Chelmsford Immigration Court | 150 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Chelmsford, MA 01824 |
USCIS assigns your field office by ZIP code and does not take walk-ins; you need an appointment. Check your appointment or hearing notice for the exact address. Sources: USCIS, the Boston Immigration Court and the Chelmsford Immigration Court.
What USCIS and the Immigration Courts Ask For
At USCIS, the rule is 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Each foreign-language document needs a full English translation, and the translator certifies two things: the translation is complete and accurate, and they are competent to translate. This holds for online filings and for papers you bring to an interview on New Sudbury Street.
The Boston and Chelmsford courts follow 8 CFR 1003.33. A foreign-language filing needs an English translation plus the translator's signed certification of competence and accuracy. The Immigration Court Practice Manual asks for the translator's address and phone number too.
A summary or an excerpt does not meet USCIS's rule, and we translate stamps, seals and handwritten notes along with the main text. Our signed and dated Certificate of Accuracy names the translator and gives contact details. Read more on USCIS certified translation and legal translation.
Consulates in Boston
Boston hosts consulates for several countries with large local communities. Records from these consulates still have to be translated into English if you file them with USCIS or a Massachusetts court.
| Country | Consulate address |
|---|---|
| Haiti | 333 Washington St, Suite 851, Boston, MA 02108 |
| El Salvador | 46 Bennington Street, East Boston, MA 02128 |
| France | 31 Saint James Avenue, Suite 750, Boston, MA 02116 |
| Germany | Three Copley Place, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02116 |
| Canada | 3 Copley Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02116 |
| Italy | 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston |
Addresses come from each country's official website or foreign ministry. Check the consulate's own site for hours and appointments before you go. The RMV's translation flyer lists the local consulate of the issuing country among those who may certify a translation for an RMV application, though not all consulates offer translation services.
Boston Vital Records and Records From Abroad
In Boston, birth, death and marriage certificates for events in the city come from the Registry Division in Room 213 of Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square. The Registry also issues marriage licenses. It is a separate office from the City Clerk.
For a birth or marriage abroad, the usual document is the record that country issued. For USCIS or an immigration court, that record needs a full English translation with a signed certification. We translate birth certificates and marriage certificates field by field, including marginal notes.
Suffolk County Courts
We found no Boston or Suffolk County court rule of its own on translated documents. Courts in Suffolk County apply the statewide rules. One statewide rule that applies in Suffolk courts is the name change rule in the Probate and Family Court: a foreign-language birth certificate needs a professional English translation with the translator's notarized statement.
Notarization is available on request; contact us before you order. For divorce judgments and other court records from abroad, see divorce decree translation.
Languages Spoken in Boston and Suffolk County
About 192,000 Boston residents, 28.5% of the city, were born outside the US. Among residents aged 5 and over, 37.3% speak a language other than English at home. Across Suffolk County, 29.9% of residents are foreign-born.
| Language | Boston (age 5+) | Suffolk County (age 5+) | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | About 101,900 | About 144,100 | Spanish |
| Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) | About 28,100 | About 28,500 | Chinese |
| Haitian | About 27,600 | About 31,700 | Haitian Creole |
| Portuguese | About 12,900 | About 16,700 | Portuguese |
| Vietnamese | About 8,800 | About 9,600 | Vietnamese |
| Hindi | About 6,000 | About 6,100 | Hindi |
| French | About 4,900 | About 5,200 | French |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates (tables DP02 and B16001). Suffolk County also has about 6,400 Arabic speakers and Boston about 4,400 Russian speakers; we translate Arabic, Russian and 100+ other languages at the same price.
Documents From Boston's Language Communities
After English, Boston's most spoken home languages include Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Vietnamese. These are records we translate from each.
| Language | Documents | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Haitian Creole | Actes de mariage, divorce judgments and personal affidavits | Civil records are usually in French; affidavits for asylum or TPS are often in Haitian Creole |
| Portuguese | Brazilian certidões and Cape Verdean civil records | Cape Verdean records come from the Conservatórias do Registo Civil |
| Chinese | Hukou household register extracts | The extract is translated with every household member listed |
| Vietnamese | Birth, marriage and death certificates and old Ho Khau books | The Ho Khau stopped being valid in 2023 but can still serve as historical evidence |
| Spanish | Registro Civil certificates from Spain and Registraduría-issued certificates from Colombia | Registry references and marginal notes are translated, not summarized |
Portuguese from Brazil, Portugal and Cape Verde is the same $22.99 per page.
When Massachusetts State Rules Apply
Foreign licenses at the RMV, the two RMV translation forms, court translations and professional licenses for doctors and nurses follow statewide rules. Our Massachusetts translation services page walks through each one and links the RMV and court sources.
Certified Translation in Boston Pricing
One flat rate covers your document in full. The total is shown before you pay.
- Translator's signed certificate, including name and contact details
- Prepared for USCIS, immigration courts and the RMV
- Same rate for every language
- 24 hour standard delivery for documents up to 3 pages
- Free revisions for 14 days after delivery, full refund if an authority rejects a certified translation
Optional add-ons
No hidden fees. Free revisions for 14 days after delivery. Compare all translation rates. Need it sooner? See rush translation.
100% Acceptance Guarantee
If the office or court your Boston translation was prepared for rejects it because of the translation, send us the rejection notice and we will refund your order in full. Free revisions are included for 14 days after delivery; after that, a small revision fee applies.
Related Guides
- USCIS certified translation requirements: what the certificate must say
- How to translate a birth certificate to English: what a full translation covers
- Court document translation for immigration cases: judgments, police records and court orders
Translation in Boston: Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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