Documents for a United States immigrant visa
Quick answer
Applying to settle permanently through family or employer sponsorship. The documents normally translated and legalised are Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Divorce certificate, Police clearance certificate, House registration, Change of name certificate, using the translation standard United States accepts.
Document checklist
- Birth certificate
A registrar-certified copy is required, not an ordinary photocopy
- Marriage certificate
Obtain both the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) and the marriage register extract (Kor Ror 2); many destinations ask for both
- Divorce certificate
Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed
- Police clearance certificate
State the destination country and purpose when applying, because the certificate is issued for the stated purpose
- House registration
A current registrar-certified extract is required rather than the household booklet you keep at home
- Change of name certificate
File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity
Cautions
- Police records normally have to be recent under the destination rules, and older certificates are commonly asked for again
- USCIS expects every line to be translated, including stamps and signatures; partial translations frequently trigger a request for evidence.
- Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Frequently asked questions
Which translated documents are needed for a United States immigrant visa?
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Divorce certificate, Police clearance certificate, House registration, Change of name certificate. Each should carry a certified translation and consular legalisation as the receiving authority requires.
What document mistake is most common in a immigrant visa?
Police records normally have to be recent under the destination rules, and older certificates are commonly asked for again
Does a immigrant visa need an Apostille?
Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Which translation standard applies to a United States immigrant visa?
A complete English translation accompanied by the translator's certificate of translation accuracy
What if more documents are requested after filing a immigrant visa?
Work from the wording of the request itself and rebuild the bundle with the original, the translation and the certification stamps together, which reduces a second request.
Is a police clearance needed for a immigrant visa?
It is normally required, and it should be recent enough to satisfy the destination rule.
Who assesses the documents for a United States immigrant visa?
USCIS, U.S. embassy/consulate posts, and the receiving state-level agency