How do you translate a Honduran birth certificate for USCIS?
USCIS asks for a full English translation of a Honduras birth certificate with the translator’s signed certification. The Registro Nacional de las Personas (RNP) issues two forms, a copy of the folio from the birth register book and a certificación de acta de nacimiento, and we translate either one in full: the identity number, the folio and volume, both parents with their identity numbers, the marginal notes, the seal and the signature. A Honduran birth certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Two forms of the same record
The RNP keeps births in register books. The Department of State names the document Copia de Folio del Libro de Nacimientos: a certified copy of the folio with the original seal and signature of the registrar of the RNP office that issued it, free of charge. For immigrant visas, the US consulate asks for exactly that copy and doesn’t accept certificaciones, literales, hojas de vida or expedientes de vida (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)).
The other form is the printed certificación de acta de nacimiento. We translate either one; check which one your recipient asks for before you order.
What a certificación shows
On the 2019 certificación in our sample below, the director of the RNP certifies an entry and the form gives:
- the record number, which is also the person’s identity number, with the folio, the volume (tomo) and the year of the book;
- the first and second surname and the given name in separate fields, and the sex;
- the municipality, department and date of birth;
- the father’s and the mother’s identity numbers, surnames, names and nationality;
- a section for authorized marginal notes, which may say “none”;
- the place and date of issue, the seal, a QR code and the form number.
The translation keeps every number as printed and follows the same order, so an officer can compare it line by line.
Old folios and late registrations
Folios before 1984 may be handwritten with the RNP stamp or logo; from 2000 they are typed (travel.state.gov (opens in a new tab)). A handwritten folio is translated line by line, and a word that can’t be read is marked [illegible].
A child not registered within six months of birth is registered through a resolution of the RNP’s civil office, a procedure called Reposición por Omisión (travel.state.gov (opens in a new tab)). If the folio carries a note about it, we translate the note with the rest.
Getting one from the US
The RNP serves walk-in requests at its offices in Honduras. If you live abroad, you can send someone as your proxy; the office may ask for your notarized authorization, which any Honduran consulate can prepare for you to mail (travel.state.gov (opens in a new tab)).
Where the translation goes
- USCIS: the translation and certification filed with a copy of the document (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)). What USCIS accepts
- NVC and US consulates: the Department of State doesn’t ask for a translation of a certificate in Spanish if you are applying for your visa in Honduras or another country where Spanish is an official language. What NVC accepts
- Immigration court: a typed certification with the translator’s address and phone. What the court accepts
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.
Sample translation
The sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Questions
What is the difference between a copy of the folio and a certificación?
The copy of the folio reproduces the page of the birth register book with the registrar’s seal and signature. The certificación is a form the RNP prints with the data of that entry. We translate either one in full; which one your case calls for is for you or your attorney to decide.
How much does it cost?
A Honduran birth certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so a copy of the folio, a certificación and a parent’s certificate are $65.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for USCIS: it asks for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included. If your certificate already has an apostille, we translate it too.
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.