How do you translate a Cuban diploma and transcript for WES or USCIS?
If your WES account lists a translation as required, WES wants a word-for-word English translation by a professional translator; USCIS asks for a full translation with the translator’s signed certification. We translate the Cuban diploma (título) and the certificación de notas in full, with the university’s and the ministry’s legalization stamps if your copies carry them. We charge by the page: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one. The translation is ready within 24 hours after payment.
What we translate
From a Cuban degree we translate each document you send as a separate document, in full:
- the título: every line, the numbers and dates, the signatures, the seals, and the notes on the back if there are any;
- the certificación de notas: each subject and its grade in the order of the original, and anything printed next to them, such as academic years, hours or the grading scale;
- legalization pages and stamps added to the documents for use abroad.
The grades stay as they are on the document: we don’t convert them to US grades or a GPA, and we don’t evaluate the degree. That’s the evaluator’s job.
Legalization for use abroad
Cuba isn’t among the parties to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table (opens in a new tab)), so a Cuban diploma doesn’t get an apostille. Education documents meant for use abroad are legalized by the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) instead.
The MES describes how this works for a personal request (mes.gob.cu (opens in a new tab)):
- you sign a legal-services contract with an accredited entity, such as an international legal consultancy (consultoría jurídica internacional) or a specialized law office (bufete);
- that entity first takes the documents through the university where this is required;
- its staff then file them with the Independent Legal Department of the MES.
The MES itself doesn’t charge for the legalization; the cost is set by the legal-services entity. If your copies already went through these steps, the translation includes every stamp and note they added.
Where the translation goes
- WES: your WES account says whether translations are needed. When they are, WES wants an exact, word-for-word translation of the official documents by a professional translator; it turns down translations made by the applicant (wes.org (opens in a new tab)). What WES and ECE accept
- ECE: a word-for-word translation in the same format as the original, or ECE’s paid Translation Waiver (ece.org (opens in a new tab)).
- USCIS: a full English translation with the translator’s signed certification (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)). What USCIS accepts
Which documents your evaluation needs is up to the evaluator. Our Spanish documents are translated and certified by a native Spanish speaker. What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Questions
Can I get an apostille on my Cuban diploma?
Cuba isn’t on the list of parties to the Apostille Convention, so Cuban documents are legalized instead. USCIS doesn’t ask for an apostille on a translated document; if you’re applying to an evaluator, check its document list.
How much does it cost?
We charge by the page: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one in the same order. A one-page título and a two-page certificación de notas are $65.
Do I need a notary?
Not for USCIS: it asks for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included. If your documents carry legalization stamps, we translate them as part of the document.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.