Malay-English Certified Translation for the US (USCIS, Visas, Study)
We provide certified Malay-English translations that meet USCIS, US Embassy and university requirements. Every translation carries the full certification statement USCIS asks for, and notarised translations are available through our notary offices in Malaysia and the United States. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Short answer
US authorities want a complete English translation of any Malaysian document in Malay, Chinese, Tamil or another language, with a signed statement from the translator that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate. That is the USCIS rule (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) and the standard the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur follows for visa documents. USCIS and the US Embassy do not ask for Wisma Putra attestation of these documents.
What the certification statement must include
A US certified translation comes with a statement signed by the translator. At a minimum it should give:
the translator's qualifications;
a statement that the translation is complete and accurate;
the document translated and the language pair; and
the translator's name, signature, date and contact details.
Ours include all of these. A few private organisations ask for a translator certified by the American Translators Association (ATA); USCIS does not, so check with the organisation if its form mentions it.
Certified or notarised translation?
The United States has no government body that certifies translators, so each receiving organisation decides what it accepts. A certified translation is the translation plus the signed statement above, and it is what USCIS and the US Embassy ask for. A notarised translation adds a notary public's stamp, seal or signature, which confirms the identity of the person who signed the statement. Some employers, state licensing boards and courts ask for notarisation; we arrange it through our notary offices in Malaysia and the United States.
What each purpose needs
Immigration (USCIS petitions, green cards, citizenship): a full English translation with the translator's signed certification. Translate every stamp, seal and handwritten note.
Visas at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur: immigrant visa applicants follow the State Department's civil document list for Malaysia, which names the Malaysian documents to bring, such as birth certificates or JPN extracts, and the police certificate. Documents not in English need certified translations.
Study: universities and credential evaluators (such as WES or ECE) ask for official English translations of transcripts and certificates. Each sets its own rules on who may translate and whether documents must be sent directly; check before you order.
Work and licensing: employers, state licensing boards and courts may ask for a notarised translation on top of the translator's certification.
Malaysian documents most often translated for the US
Birth certificates and JPN extracts: the document we translate most for US petitions and visas. We translate the whole certificate, including the registrar's stamps and any later amendments. See the birth certificate guide.
Marriage certificates and divorce decrees: marriage and divorce guide.
SPM, STPM, degrees and transcripts: academic documents guide.
Certificate of Good Conduct (police certificate): police clearance guide.
Court orders, contracts and company documents: Malay-English legal translation.
What our US translations include
A complete, word-for-word English translation laid out like the original.
A signed certification of accuracy and competence with the translator's name, signature, date and contact details, as USCIS expects.
Notarisation through our notary offices in Malaysia and the United States, when an employer, board or court asks for it.
A scan for online filing and, on request, the signed hard copy.
Our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and the Malaysian Translators Association, includes Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak High Court interpreters and NAATI-certified translators, and works with Notaries Public in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
Common questions
Does USCIS need a notarised translation?
No. USCIS needs the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence. Some employers, licensing boards and courts do ask for notarisation.
Can I translate my own documents for USCIS?
The rule requires a translator who certifies that they are competent to translate. Using an independent professional translator avoids questions about bias.
Do I need Wisma Putra attestation for the US?
Not for USCIS or US visa applications. Some state agencies or private bodies may ask for extra authentication; check with them first.
Can I submit a scan or photocopy of the translation?
For USCIS, yes: online filings take uploads and paper filings take copies, unless USCIS asks for the original. Some state agencies, courts and licensing boards want the signed original with the notary's seal, so keep it.
How fast can you translate for the US?
Translation can be done the same day; see our same-day certified translation service in Kuala Lumpur. Notarisation adds time, depending on the notary.
Why does a one-page certified translation take time?
Every certified translation goes through five steps: text extraction and formatting, translation, a first review, layout that mirrors the original, and a final review before it is signed and stamped. Each step is done or checked by a qualified translator.
What if the translation is rejected?
If an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free.
Related guides
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