Which documents need a translation for humanitarian parole?
For humanitarian parole on Form I-131, USCIS asks for a full English translation of every foreign-language document, with the translator’s signed certification. The documents that usually need translating are the beneficiary’s ID and birth certificate, medical letters from doctors abroad, death certificates and custody papers. For re-parole of Ukrainians, USCIS asks for the passport identity page with an English translation. We translate Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Romanian and Bulgarian documents: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one. For 1–4 documents, the translation is ready within 24 hours after payment.
The translation rule for parole requests
Parole for someone outside the United States is requested on Form I-131, with Form I-134 from the person who will support them financially (USCIS (opens in a new tab)). The Form I-131 instructions (opens in a new tab) (edition 01/20/25, p. 17) ask for a full English translation of any document with information in a foreign language. The translator certifies that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from that language into English, with signature, printed name, date and contact information.
What USCIS lists with a request
Besides a detailed explanation of why parole is needed, the parole page (opens in a new tab) lists:
- a legible copy of a government-issued ID that shows the beneficiary’s citizenship;
- if you file a birth certificate, a copy of its front and back;
- copies of earlier petitions filed for the beneficiary and of any visa denial letter.
Evidence by type of request
USCIS gives examples for common requests on its evidence guidance page (opens in a new tab):
- Medical reasons: official, recent and dated documents on a hospital’s or doctor’s letterhead with the doctor’s actual signature, giving the diagnosis and prognosis.
- Children under 18: a birth certificate or proof of guardianship; if one parent stays behind, that parent’s written permission; if the parents are divorced or never married, proof of custody.
- A family member’s death: civil documents showing the relationship, the death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, and wills or other legal papers.
Of these, the records from a clinic, registry or court abroad are the ones that usually need translating.
Uniting for Ukraine and re-parole
Under Uniting for Ukraine, a supporter in the United States first filed Form I-134A (USCIS page, archived December 2024 (opens in a new tab)). On January 28, 2025, USCIS paused accepting Form I-134A (USCIS alert (opens in a new tab)). When we checked in October 2026, the Uniting for Ukraine address, uscis.gov/ukraine, led to that alert.
Ukrainians and their immediate family members paroled on or after February 11, 2022, can ask for re-parole on Form I-131 from inside the United States (Form I-131 instructions, p. 14 (opens in a new tab)). The re-parole page (opens in a new tab) asks for proof of identity and of the first parole, such as the I-94, the EAD and a copy of the passport identity page with an English translation, plus all admission and parole stamps. It notes that children may be included in a parent’s Ukrainian passport. How we translate Ukrainian certificates: Ukrainian birth certificate.
What we translate
Each document in full, with seals, stamps and handwritten notes, and the signed certification. Our Ukrainian documents are translated and certified by a native Ukrainian speaker; Spanish, Romanian and Bulgarian documents by a native speaker of that language; Russian documents by our Russian translator.
What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Sample translations
7 samplesEach sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Russian birth certificateOpen, 3 pages
Ukrainian birth certificateOpen, 3 pages
Mexican birth certificateOpen, 3 pages
Ukrainian passport: surname change pageOpen, 2 pages
Ukrainian death certificateOpen, 2 pages
Peruvian death record (1902, handwritten)Open, 3 pages
Ukrainian marriage certificateOpen, 3 pages
Questions
Do medical records from a doctor abroad need a translation?
Yes, if they aren’t in English. Every foreign-language document filed with a parole request needs a full English translation and the translator’s certification. We translate the letterhead, the diagnosis, the date, the signature and the stamp.
For Ukrainian re-parole, which passport pages do you translate?
The identity page, as the USCIS re-parole page asks, and any other pages you send in the same order.
How much does it cost?
$25 for the first page and $20 for each additional page in the same order. A birth certificate, a passport identity page and a medical letter, one page each, are $65.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
USCIS asks for the translator’s signed certification, not a notary or an apostille. The certification is included.
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.