The challenge of worn seals on civil records
When you submit foreign civil documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), every part of the original matters. Older records, such as an old birth certificate, often have faded ink, worn revenue stamps, or ink stamps placed right over handwritten signatures. Each of these marks should still be translated, even when it’s worn.
The regulatory standard: 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)
Under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3), any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS must come with a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate. Because the translation must be complete, it should include every notation, stamp, and official seal on the original.
Good professional practice rules out guessing or rebuilding information that is partly destroyed. A translator shouldn’t speculate about missing names, issuing offices, or registration dates. Doing so makes the translation less faithful to the original and can lead to a Request for Evidence (RFE).
How we translate worn stamps and seals
To stay accurate without guessing, we describe each physical element in brackets and transcribe only the text we can read:
- Overlapping ink stamps: we transcribe the readable parts and add a note such as [Overlapping official seal, partially illegible].
- Embossed seals: raised seals often lose contrast when scanned, so we describe them in brackets: [Embossed seal: Department of Civil Registry, remainder illegible].
- Worn revenue stamps: we describe what is still visible: [Fiscal revenue stamp: Value unreadable, serial number worn].
If you’re preparing civil records from South America, our guide to the Peruvian birth certificate issued by RENIEC for USCIS explains how we format municipal marginal notes and validation seals.
Sending clear copies of your documents
We recommend color scans of your civil documents at 300 DPI or higher. That lets us check each bracketed note against the original. If you can’t scan, a clear phone photo also works.
Pricing and process at Fidelis
Here’s how we handle your translation:
| Item | Details | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| First page (up to 500 words) | Includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3) | $29 USD |
| Each additional page | Same order, any documents; for many pages we prepare a full quote | $25 USD |
| Optional notarization | Done by a Florida notary public, only when the receiving organization asks for it | +$30 USD per order |
| Standard turnaround | High-resolution PDF ready to upload to myUSCIS or print (1–3 pages, after document review) | 1–2 business days |
💡 Questions about hard-to-read seals or consular stamps on your record?
Send us a clear photo or PDF scan. We’ll review it for free and confirm the word count and turnaround before you order.👉 Get a quote →
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Fidelis Certified Translations is an independent translation service, not affiliated with USCIS or any U.S. government agency. This content is for information only and is not legal advice. For your case, talk to an immigration attorney.