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Interpreters in Minneapolis, MN
Yes: we book interpreters in Minneapolis by video at $80 an hour (one-hour minimum) or in person at $110 an hour (two-hour minimum), plus $0.70 per mile of travel, confirmed before you pay. Minnesota law has the court in a civil action, or the agency in an agency hearing, appoint and pay for the interpreter, and the Fort Snelling Immigration Court, which EOIR assigns the non-detained cases of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, provides one for the hearing. Depositions, preparation and client meetings are arranged by the attorneys.
In person in Minneapolis
$110 an hour per interpreter, two-hour minimum, plus $0.70 a mile from the interpreter's location.
By video or phone
$80 an hour, one-hour minimum, no travel. Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or a phone call.
Quote within minutes
We reply within minutes, four business hours at most, with the interpreter, the exact price and any travel, before you book. Asking costs nothing.
In Minnesota the court or agency appoints and pays for the interpreter, so we are booked around the hearing
In a Minnesota civil action in which a litigant or witness is "disabled in communication", a term the statute defines to include difficulty speaking or comprehending English, the presiding judicial officer appoints a qualified interpreter to serve throughout the proceedings (Minn. Stat. 546.42; 546.43, subd. 1). In a proceeding before a board, commission, agency or licensing authority of the state or of a political subdivision, that body appoints the interpreter (546.43, subd. 2). The fees are set by the presiding official and paid by the court, board, commission or agency, and by the state courts for a per diem court interpreter (546.44, subd. 3).
Under General Rule of Practice 8, whenever a court must appoint an interpreter it appoints a certified court interpreter from the statewide roster, and turns to a non-certified roster interpreter only when no certified or employee interpreter is reasonably available (Rule 8.02). Parties are to flag an anticipated interpreter need in the Civil Cover Sheet or Joint Statement of the Case (Rule 8.13). None of these provisions mentions depositions, and in the sources we read we found no rule assigning the interpreter at one, so we do not state one: the attorneys arrange it. That, with mediation, witness preparation and client meetings before a hearing, is where Minneapolis clients book us.
Somali, Hmong and Amharic are named languages in Minneapolis's own language access plan
The City of Minneapolis's Language Access Plan, revised in 2015, lists seven primary languages in rank order: Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Amharic, Vietnamese, Lao and Oromo, defined as languages spoken by at least 1,000 Minneapolis residents (City of Minneapolis). The plan says the City must offer an interpreter free of charge to people who speak little or no English, to reach City programs and services.
The Census Bureau's 2024 estimate for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area counts 3,544,248 residents aged five and over, of whom 2,975,060 speak only English at home. Spanish is spoken by 173,080, the Census group holding Amharic, Somali and other Afro-Asiatic languages by 90,646, and Hmong by 70,535, ahead of Chinese (20,944), the group for Yoruba, Twi, Igbo and other West African languages (19,092) and Vietnamese (16,517) (ACS B16001). The Census does not separate Somali from Amharic, so the 90,646 is not a Somali count.
Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian and French are standard-rate for us: a two-hour Somali meeting in person is $220, or $234 with a 20-mile round trip. Hmong, Amharic and Oromo carry the limited-availability surcharge of 25–30%, $137.50 to $143 an hour in person and $100 to $104 by video; a two-hour Hmong meeting in person with a 20-mile round trip is $289 to $300.
The "Saint Paul" USCIS field office is on Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis, and the immigration court is at Fort Snelling
For each Minneapolis ZIP code we tried (55401, 55407, 55411, 55419 and 55430), the USCIS field-office locator returned the Saint Paul Field Office at 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 710, Minneapolis, under the Kansas City district (USCIS locator). The Policy Manual says an applicant who is not fluent in English may need an interpreter at the green card interview, and that USCIS reserves the right to disqualify one provided by the applicant (USCIS Policy Manual).
The Fort Snelling Immigration Court is in the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at 1 Federal Drive, Suite 1850, and EOIR's administrative control list gives it the non-detained cases of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota (EOIR). It provides the interpreter for the hearing at government expense (ICPM 3.10). Preparation with a Minneapolis attorney, in person or by video, is where we come in.
Languages spoken at home in Minneapolis
The most common languages other than English, from the U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 2024 1-year, table B16001 (language spoken at home, population 5 years and over), Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area. A language that links has its own page on what to get right when booking an interpreter for it.
| Language | People who speak it at home |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 173,080 |
| Amharic, Somali, or other Afro-Asiatic languages | 90,646 |
| Hmong | 70,535 |
| Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese) | 20,944 |
| Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or other languages of Western Africa | 19,092 |
| Vietnamese | 16,517 |
| Russian | 13,740 |
| French (incl. Cajun) | 13,647 |
| Swahili or other languages of Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa | 12,944 |
| Arabic | 11,966 |
Where interpreters are needed in Minneapolis, and who provides them
Some of these places must provide the interpreter themselves, and then you should not be paying for one. Where that is so, the official page is linked.
| Place | Who provides the interpreter |
|---|---|
| Fort Snelling Immigration Court (EOIR), Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Suite 1850 | The court provides the interpreter for the hearing, at government expense (ICPM 3.10). EOIR's control list gives it the non-detained cases of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Attorneys book their own for client preparation and witness meetings. |
| USCIS Saint Paul Field Office, 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 710, Minneapolis | The office named "Saint Paul" is in Minneapolis. For a green card interview the interpreter is provided by the applicant, who shows a government-issued ID, signs an oath and privacy release, and interprets word for word. |
| Hennepin County District Court and the other Minnesota courts | The court appoints a qualified interpreter for a civil litigant or witness who has difficulty with English, and the court pays; the Rules of Practice call for a certified interpreter from the statewide roster when one is reasonably available. These provisions do not mention depositions, which are arranged by the attorneys. |
| Minnesota boards, commissions and agencies holding hearings | The board, commission, agency or licensing authority appoints a qualified interpreter for a witness or principal party who needs one, and pays for it. |
| City of Minneapolis, Neighborhood and Community Relations | The City must provide an interpreter free of charge to people who speak little or no English, to reach City programs and services; requests go to NCR a week ahead and the department bears the cost. |
Interpreters in cities near Minneapolis
What an interpreter costs, worked out
These are the published rates multiplied out: $80 an hour by video or phone, $110 an hour in person, $0.70 a mile of travel.
| Booking | How it is worked out | Total |
|---|---|---|
| One-hour video or phone call | 1 hour × $80 | $80 |
| Two-hour video interview | 2 hours × $80 | $160 |
| Two-hour meeting in person, 20-mile round trip | 2 hours × $110 + 20 miles × $0.70 | $234 |
| Three-hour deposition or closing in person, 40-mile round trip | 3 hours × $110 + 40 miles × $0.70 | $358 |
| Full day in person (six hours), two interpreters in relay | 2 interpreters × 6 hours × $110 | $1,320 plus travel |
The quote confirms the interpreter, the exact travel figure and the total before you book; nothing is charged until you confirm.
How the travel charge works out
Travel is charged at $0.70 per mile from the interpreter's location, which means you can work it out rather than wait for a quote: a 20-mile round trip is $14, a 60-mile round trip is $42, a 150-mile round trip is $105. There is no separate call-out fee on top.
We will not pretend to know in advance where the interpreter will be coming from — that depends on the language, the date and the venue. What we do is confirm the interpreter and the exact travel figure before you book, so it is never a surprise on the invoice. Virtual assignments carry no travel charge at all, which is one reason most of what we do is virtual.
By video, by phone or in person
Virtual interpreting runs on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, or over the telephone. It is quicker to arrange, costs less and carries no travel charge, and it suits appointments, calls and most meetings.
In person is what venues with their own rules tend to expect, and the right choice when documents are being signed or several people are speaking at once. Tell us the platform, or the city and the venue, when you send the request.
How booking an interpreter works
- You send the request with the form below: the language, the setting, the format, the date and how long it should last.
- We confirm before you commit: the interpreter, the exact price and the travel figure if there is one. We reply within minutes, four business hours at most, and no payment is taken at this stage.
- You confirm and pay, and the interpreter is booked for your date. The interpreter's name and credentials are sent to you once the booking is paid.
What to have ready
The more of this comes in the first message, the fewer exchanges before you have a price:
- The language, the date, the start time and how long it should run.
- Virtual or in person: the platform, or the city and the venue.
- The setting and the subject matter.
- How many people need interpreting for.
- Any credential the venue requires of the interpreter. We confirm before you book whether we can staff it; the interpreter's name and credentials follow once the booking is paid.
Interpreters by language in Minneapolis
- Spanish interpreters in Minneapolis
- Amharic interpreters in Minneapolis
- Somali interpreters in Minneapolis
- Hmong interpreters in Minneapolis
- Mandarin interpreters in Minneapolis
- Cantonese interpreters in Minneapolis
- Yoruba interpreters in Minneapolis
- Twi interpreters in Minneapolis
- Igbo interpreters in Minneapolis
- Vietnamese interpreters in Minneapolis
- Russian interpreters in Minneapolis
- French interpreters in Minneapolis
- Swahili interpreters in Minneapolis
- Arabic interpreters in Minneapolis
Request an interpreter
Tell us the date, the language and the setting and we will come back with the interpreter, the exact price and the travel figure if there is one — before you commit to anything.
Thank you — we have your request
We will reply within minutes, four business hours at most, with the interpreter, the exact price and the travel figure if there is one, before you commit to anything.
Sources
What this page says about Minneapolis was checked against these sources on November 3, 2026. Rules change; the source is always the authority.
- U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 2024 1-year, B16001, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area (read from the table-based summary file, acsdt1y2024-b16001.dat)
- EOIR — Immigration Court List, Administrative Control (Fort Snelling Immigration Court)
- EOIR — Immigration Court Practice Manual, chapter 3.10, Interpreters
- USCIS — Field Office Locator (Saint Paul Field Office, Minneapolis)
- USCIS Policy Manual — Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5, Interview Guidelines
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes — General Rules of Practice for the District Courts, Rule 8, Interpreters
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. 546.42, Persons disabled in communication; interpreters
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. 546.43, Proceedings where interpreter appointed
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes — Minn. Stat. 546.44, Qualified interpreter
- City of Minneapolis — Language Access Plan (2015 revision)
Frequently asked questions
Does the Fort Snelling immigration court provide an interpreter?
Yes, for the hearing, at government expense (ICPM 3.10). EOIR asks the respondent or attorney to request one no later than 30 days before the next hearing. Preparation meetings with your attorney are not covered.
Does Minnesota pay for a court interpreter?
In a civil action the presiding judicial officer appoints a qualified interpreter for a litigant or witness who has difficulty with English, and the court pays the fees; a board or agency holding its own hearing appoints and pays for one too (Minn. Stat. 546.43; 546.44).
Where is the USCIS office for Minneapolis?
The Saint Paul Field Office is at 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 710, in Minneapolis, according to the USCIS locator for the Minneapolis ZIP codes we tried (USCIS locator). Check the address on your appointment notice.
How much is a Hmong interpreter in Minneapolis?
Hmong is a limited-availability language: $137.50 to $143 an hour in person with a two-hour minimum, or $100 to $104 an hour by video with a one-hour minimum, plus $0.70 per mile of travel for in-person work, confirmed before you book.
Is the price per person or per interpreter?
Per interpreter, per hour, billed from the scheduled start time. One interpreter covers a meeting; a full-day hearing may need two working in relay.
What if the venue provides its own interpreter?
Then you should not be paying us. Immigration court provides one, and hospitals and school districts frequently must. Ask them first.
Can I see the interpreter's credentials before I pay?
Tell us the credential the venue or the other side requires when you request, and we confirm before you book whether we can staff it. The interpreter's name and credentials are sent once the booking is paid.
How is travel charged?
$0.70 per mile from the interpreter's location — a 20-mile round trip is $14. We confirm the exact figure before you book, and virtual assignments carry none.
Need an interpreter in Minneapolis?
Tell us the date, the language, the venue and how long it runs, and we will confirm the interpreter and the exact price, travel included.