Certified vs Free Translations: Why Notarized Services Are Worth It | The Signature Pros

When people hear that professional translation services can cost $85–$95 for the first page and $45–$55 for additional pages, they sometimes ask: “Why pay that much when I can use Google Translate, ChatGPT, or a $20 per page translator?” It’s an important question — and the answer lies in what official institutions actually require, what cheap services don’t provide, and why The Signature Pros guarantees compliance, accuracy, and peace of mind.

📜 What USCIS and Other Agencies Require

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) states:

“If you submit a document in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English translation of the document along with a certification from the translator that the English translation is complete and accurate, and that the translator is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.”
— USCIS Policy Manual, Chapter 2

This means that:

• The translation must include the translator’s name, signature, and certification statement.

• Machine translations (Google Translate, ChatGPT) cannot certify their work.

• Without certification and notarization, translations can be delayed or denied.

Courts, universities, and other institutions follow similar guidelines: they expect certified translations with accountability, not just raw text.

🤖 Why Free Tools Can’t Replace Certified Translations

Free tools are helpful for casual understanding, but they cannot meet the legal, academic, or immigration standards required for official use. The Signature Pros provides translations with the translator’s name, affidavit of accuracy, and notarization — exactly what agencies demand.

💸 Why $20–$25/Page Translations Fall Short

Some providers advertise translations for $20–$25 per page. But here’s what’s usually missing:

• ❌ No affidavit of translation accuracy

• ❌ No notarization

• ❌ No guarantee of acceptance

• ❌ No liability if rejected

Clients who choose these services often end up paying more in the long run — if their documents are rejected, they must start over.

✅ At The Signature Pros, we guarantee acceptance and fix issues if they arise. You’re not just paying for words on a page — you’re paying for assurance.

💰 Our Pricing — Transparent and Reliable

We’ve structured our pricing to be competitive while ensuring you receive a complete, certified, notarized translation every time:

• Non-European Languages: $95 for the first document, $55 per additional page

• European Languages: $85 for the first document, $45 per additional page

This pricing includes the affidavit of translation and notarization, which many competitors charge extra for.

👉 Even if you only need one page (such as an FBI background check), you get a legally compliant, notarized, certified translation. For multi-page documents, our additional-page pricing is far more competitive than most per-word rates.

🌍 Extra Value from The Signature Pros

• ✅ Certified translations with notarized affidavit of accuracy

• ✅ Guaranteed acceptance — we will fix any issues if they arise

• ✅ Over 120 languages supported (European and non-European)

• ✅ Sworn translations available for countries and companies that require them

• ✅ Secure and confidential handling of all sensitive documents

With The Signature Pros, you’re not just buying a translation — you’re buying certainty, compliance, and professionalism.

🚀 Ready to get your documents translated with confidence?

• Explore our Non-European Language Translations

• Learn more about our European Language Translations

• Ask us about our Sworn Translations

With The Signature Pros, you get more than words — you get certified accuracy, notarization, and guaranteed acceptance across over 120 languages.