Answer
If the applicant cannot communicate confidently in Spanish, they must attend the in-person submission with an interpreter who meets the agency’s requirements. This helps ensure that questions, notices, and actions taken in the case are understood correctly.
An interpreter assists at the appointment by explaining the official’s questions, the signing procedure, requests to provide additional documents, and deadlines. This is especially important because dates, addresses, or the contents of the application form must not be guessed at, and signing text you do not understand is risky.
An oral interpreter does not replace an official document translator. If a traductor público is required for a certificate, official record, or court document, a qualified written translation is required. It is best to distinguish these two roles in advance to avoid disrupting the appointment.