Certified Translation of Police Clearance / Judicial Record (Vietnamese)
The Vietnamese judicial record, or police clearance, shows whether a person has any criminal-conviction record and is required for most adult immigrants. I translate it into English and sign a certificate of accuracy confirming the rendering is complete and correct. As the translator I certify the translation; I am not a notary, and USCIS does not require notarization.
Immigrant-visa applicants and many adjustment-of-status filers aged 16 and over must submit a police clearance from each country where they have lived. For Vietnam that is the ly lich tu phap, and the authority needs it in English. A certified translation makes the conviction-record status clear and reliable.
What it is
The Vietnamese judicial record (Phieu ly lich tu phap) is a police-clearance document issued by the National Centre for Criminal Records or by a provincial Department of Justice. It comes in two forms: Phieu so 1 (No. 1), issued to the individual and showing current conviction status, and Phieu so 2 (No. 2), a fuller record issued to the person or to authorities that includes more detail. The record states the holder's identity and the conviction-record status (an tich), and it is typically valid for around 3-6 months from issue.
When you need a certified translation
A certified English translation is needed when an immigration authority requires the police clearance: USCIS and, in particular, the National Visa Center (NVC) for immigrant-visa applicants aged 16 and over, plus US embassy consular processing and various foreign immigration departments. USCIS accepts the translator's certificate of accuracy without notarization. Because the record has a short validity window, you should obtain and translate a fresh copy close to filing, and make sure you have the form number (No. 1 or No. 2) that the authority actually asked for.
Key fields, and how each is handled
| Field | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| Full name and date of birth | The applicant's name is transcribed with diacritics and spelled to match the passport and the rest of the file. |
| Form number (Phieu so 1 / Phieu so 2) | I keep the form number as Phieu so 1 or Phieu so 2 and label it clearly, because the authority specifies which one it requires. |
| Conviction-record status (an tich) | The an tich wording, stating whether the person has a conviction record, is translated precisely since it is the heart of the document. |
| Issuing authority | The National Centre for Criminal Records or the provincial Department of Justice is named as printed. |
| Date of issue | The issue date is rendered unambiguously so the validity window can be checked against the filing date. |
| Reference / file number | The record's reference number is reproduced exactly for verification. |
Common pitfalls on this document
Validity window of 3-6 months
A police clearance expires quickly. I translate the issue date clearly, and you should use a fresh copy obtained close to your filing date.
No. 1 vs No. 2 must match the request
Authorities ask for either Phieu so 1 or Phieu so 2. I label the form number exactly so you do not submit the wrong type.
An tich wording rendered precisely
The conviction-record status is the key statement on the document. I translate the an tich wording faithfully rather than paraphrasing it.
🏛 Who accepts it
A certified English translation of a Vietnamese police clearance is accepted by USCIS, the National Visa Center (NVC), US embassies and consulates, and foreign immigration departments that require a criminal-record check. These bodies rely on the translator's signed certificate of accuracy; for USCIS, notarization is not required.
Send a scan of your police clearance for an exact price and turnaround, usually within 10 minutes.
✉ Request a quoteFAQ
Do I need Phieu so 1 or Phieu so 2?
It depends on what the authority requested. Phieu so 1 is issued to the individual and shows current status; Phieu so 2 is a fuller record. I translate whichever you provide and label the form number clearly, but you should confirm which one your authority asked for.
How long is the police clearance valid?
It is generally valid for about 3-6 months. Obtain and translate a fresh copy close to your filing date so it is still within the validity window when submitted.
Does the translation need to be notarized?
No. USCIS and NVC accept a certified translation with a signed certificate of accuracy. Notarization is not required.
Who needs a police clearance?
Immigrant-visa applicants and many filers aged 16 and over must submit a police clearance from each country of residence. For Vietnam, that is the ly lich tu phap.
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⏱ Typical response within 10 minutes