EB-1A & EB-2 NIW document translation checklist
What typically needs certified Chinese-to-English translation for an extraordinary-ability (EB-1A) or national-interest-waiver (NIW) petition, and what USCIS requires from the translation itself.
Legal basis: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires that any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS include a full English translation, along with a certification from the translator stating they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English and that the translation is accurate. A translation without this certification statement is a common reason petitions receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) on translated exhibits.
EB-1A exhibits that usually need translation
Recommendation / reference letters
Names, titles, and institution names must match the applicant's resume and other exhibits exactly — inconsistent translation of the same institution name across letters is a common RFE trigger.
Awards and certificates
Award names should be translated consistently with how the awarding body is referred to elsewhere in the petition; certificate images (seals, watermarks) usually need in-place image translation, not just a text summary.
Media coverage / press clippings
Only the portions relevant to the applicant's claimed criterion need translation, but publication name and date should be translated consistently with the citation format used in the petition brief.
Judging documentation (invitations, panel rosters)
Organization names and the applicant's role title need to match how they appear elsewhere in the petition.
Salary / compensation evidence
Bank statements and tax filings are usually priced per page rather than per character since they are dense with numbers — ask for this upfront.
Membership certificates
Membership criteria (e.g. selective societies) usually require the society's bylaws or membership requirements translated as supporting evidence, not just the certificate itself.
NIW (Dhanasar) exhibits that usually need translation
Degree certificates and transcripts
If you also need a WES or similar credential evaluation, translations should match the exact wording your evaluator expects — see our diploma/WES page.
Publications and citation records
Journal names and article titles are usually kept in their original English form if the publication is already in English; only Chinese-language publications need translation.
Letters of support (Dhanasar framework)
Should consistently translate the applicant's field of endeavor and proposed endeavor the same way the petition brief describes them.
Employment verification letters
Job titles should be translated using the standard English equivalent recognized by USCIS occupational classifications, not a literal word-for-word translation.
Upload your petition exhibits, get an itemized quote
Every EB-1A / NIW order includes a translator's declaration that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), plus a shared glossary so names and institutions stay consistent across every document.