Certified Diploma Translation for USCIS, NACES, or College: The Complete 2025 Guide

If you’re applying for a job, college, visa, or immigration in the United States and your diploma is not in English, you’ll likely need a certified diploma translation. This isn’t just a formality. Getting it wrong can delay or even derail your plans. At Taika Translations, we've helped thousands of students and professionals navigate this process successfully.

In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything you need to know to ensure your diploma is translated accurately, accepted on the first try, and fully compliant with USCIS, NACES, and academic or licensing requirements.

Why Certified Diploma Translations Are Required

If you studied in a non-English-speaking country and need to use your diploma for official purposes in the U.S., institutions like:

• USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)

• NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services)

• Colleges and universities

• Employers and licensing boards

...require a word-for-word, certified translation of your diploma and academic records.

These organizations are extremely specific about format, content, and certification. A minor error, such as a missing stamp translation or improper layout, can result in delays, rejections, or requests for resubmission.

When You Need a Certified Diploma Translation

You may need a certified diploma translation for:

Immigration Purposes

• Green card or visa application (USCIS)

• Adjustment of status

• Employment-based immigration cases

Academic or Credential Evaluation

• Submitting documents to NACES members (e.g., WES, ECE, SpanTran)

• College admissions

• Credit transfers or foreign degree validation

Employment or Professional Licensing

• Applying for jobs that require proof of education

• Licensing for medical, legal, or engineering professionals

What Is a Certified Translation?

A certified translation includes:

1. A full, word-for-word translation of the original document, including names, titles, stamps, and notes

2. A certification statement, signed by the translator or a translation agency, attesting to the completeness and accuracy

3. A copy of the original document, provided alongside the translation

4. Formatting that mirrors the original, maintaining the layout, headers, signatures, seals, and official formatting

What Makes a Diploma Translation Acceptable?

The translation must:

• Be complete, including all grades, dates, titles, signatures, and watermarks

• Maintain the structure and layout of the original

• Include translated versions of stamps, seals, and handwritten notes

• Be completed by a neutral, qualified professional translator

• Include a signed Certificate of Accuracy

At Taika, our certified translations meet and often exceed the strict requirements of USCIS, NACES, and U.S. institutions.

Common Diploma Translation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Only translating the diploma title or key phrases

2. Ignoring handwritten annotations, stamps, or signatures

3. Improper or inconsistent formatting

4. No certification page included

5. Using machine translation or unofficial translators

These mistakes often result in delays, requests for corrections, or outright rejection.

Taika's Certified Translation Process: Step-by-Step

We’ve designed our process to ensure accuracy, speed, and compliance with all official standards:

Step 1: Document Submission

Send a clear photo or scan of your diploma to:

• projects@taikatranslations.com

• Or upload it directly on www.taikatranslations.com

Step 2: Initial Review

Our project coordinator:

• Confirms legibility and completeness

• Checks for any additional documents (transcripts, addendums)

• Provides a timeline and quote

Step 3: Assignment to Specialist Translator

We assign your document to a translator who specializes in:

• Academic documents

• Your specific language pair

• USCIS or NACES requirements

Step 4: Translation + Formatting

We translate every word, maintain formatting, and prepare mirrored layout including:

• Headers

• Seals/stamps (translated + transliterated)

• Signatures

• Notes/handwriting

Step 5: Internal Quality Check (QC)

A second linguist or QA reviewer:

• Cross-checks the translation against the original

• Reviews formatting and layout

• Confirms the certification statement is correct

Step 6: Final Certification + Delivery

• We attach a signed Certificate of Accuracy

• Final file is delivered as a PDF, suitable for digital or print submission

• Delivery typically takes 24 to 48 hours

Additional Services You May Need

In many cases, diploma translation is just one part of the documentation process. We also offer:

Academic Transcript Translation

For full education histories required by NACES or WES.

Degree Evaluation Support

We collaborate with evaluation agencies and help you format documents accordingly.

Translation of Related Documents

• Letters of recommendation

• Course syllabi

• Internship or training certificates

• Notarized translations (upon request)

• Apostille or embassy submissions (partner services)

Interpretation Services

If you're preparing for interviews or licensing hearings in English, we offer professional interpretation services in over 300 languages.

Why Choose Taika Translations?

• Over 14 years of experience with academic and legal translations

• Trusted by law firms, schools, hospitals, and immigration attorneys

• Team of over 2,000 vetted language experts

• Native-speaking translators familiar with regional education systems

• Exceptional turnaround time and responsive communication

Our mission is simple: to empower you with clarity so you can move forward.

Ready to Get Started?

📩 Email your diploma to projects@taikatranslations.com
🌐 Or visit www.taikatranslations.com to upload your document now.
📞 Need help? Contact our support team for quick assistance.

You’ve worked hard to earn your diploma. We’ll make sure it works just as hard for you.