Video Remote Interpreting (VRI): A Guide for Interpreters
What video remote interpreting is, where it's used, the setup you need, the federal rules for VRI quality, and how to handle the problems that come up on video calls.
Video remote interpreting (VRI) is interpreting over a live video call. The interpreter is somewhere else, often at home, and joins the conversation on a screen. Hospitals, clinics, courts and schools use it when no interpreter is on site.
VRI is used for spoken languages and for sign languages like ASL. For sign language it’s the only remote option, because the interpreter has to see the signer.
How VRI works
A hospital, for example, has a tablet or a cart with a screen and camera. A nurse taps a button, picks the language, and an interpreter answers on video, usually within a few minutes. The interpreter sees the room, the patient and the nurse, and they see the interpreter.
Most VRI goes through a language service agency. The interpreter logs in to the agency’s platform from home or a call center and takes calls one after another. Some hospitals have their own staff interpreters on video too.
VRI vs phone vs in person
| Phone (OPI) | Video (VRI) | In person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You can see | Nothing | The room and the people, through one camera | Everything |
| Sign language | No | Yes | Yes |
| How fast it starts | Usually fastest | Usually fast | Needs scheduling |
| Hardest part | No body language | Bad video, bad audio, one fixed camera | Travel time |
Video helps when what people show matters: pointing to where it hurts, a child who won’t talk, a form on the table. The phone is often fine for scheduling, billing and quick questions. For a long, sensitive or complicated visit, many organizations still send someone in person.
Our VRI vs OPI guide goes into more detail.
The federal rules for VRI quality
Two federal rules set a minimum quality for VRI in the U.S.
- Spoken languages in health care. Under the Section 1557 rule, health programs that get federal money must meet video quality standards when they use VRI for patients with limited English.
- Sign language. The ADA rules for state and local governments and for businesses open to the public set the same kind of standards for VRI with deaf and hard of hearing people.
Both ask for about the same things:
- Real-time, full-motion video and audio over a fast connection, with no lags, choppy or blurry images, or gaps.
- A picture large enough to show the interpreter’s face and the other person’s face, and for sign language, their arms, hands and fingers too.
- Clear audio.
- Staff who know how to set it up and use it quickly.
If the connection can’t meet these, say so. The staff can try another device, use the phone for a spoken language, or ask for an interpreter in person.
What you need to work VRI
Agencies set their own requirements, so check yours. These are the basics:
- A wired internet connection. Wi-Fi drops cause most frozen video. Use an ethernet cable if you can.
- A good headset with a microphone close to your mouth. Some agencies require a USB headset with noise canceling.
- A camera at eye level and a light in front of you, not behind you.
- A plain, quiet background. Many agencies ask for a solid color wall or a backdrop, and no one else in the room.
- Plain clothes in a solid color. This matters most for sign language interpreters, whose hands need to stand out.
- A second screen, if your agency allows it, for notes and glossaries.
The home office setup guide covers equipment in more detail.
Problems you’ll run into
The video freezes. Tell both sides you lost the picture. If it doesn’t come back, ask them to reconnect or switch to audio if your agency allows it for that language. Don’t guess what you missed.
You can’t hear well. Ask the staff to move the device closer to the speaker, or to turn up the volume. Say it as the interpreter: “The interpreter can’t hear the patient clearly.”
The camera points the wrong way. Ask staff to turn it so you can see the person who needs the interpreter. In sign language this is essential.
People talk to you instead of each other. Remind them gently to speak to each other, and you’ll interpret.
Something isn’t for your eyes. If a patient is undressed for an exam, staff can turn the camera away while you keep interpreting by audio.
Is VRI work right for you?
VRI work is steady at many agencies, and you can do it from home. It’s also tiring in its own way. You watch a screen all shift, you can’t control the camera, and calls can go from a routine checkup to bad news with no warning. Take breaks between calls when your agency allows it, and see our guide to interpreter burnout.
If you’re new to remote work, remote interpreter jobs explains how agencies hire.
FAQ
What does VRI stand for?
Video remote interpreting. An interpreter joins a conversation over a live video call instead of in person.
What is the difference between VRI and VRS?
VRI is used when two people are in the same room and the interpreter joins by video, like a doctor and a deaf patient. VRS (video relay service) connects a deaf person to someone on the phone through a sign language interpreter. VRS is a phone service paid for by the Interstate TRS Fund, which the FCC oversees.
Is VRI as good as an in-person interpreter?
It depends on the visit. VRI is often fine for routine care and works much faster than scheduling someone. For long, complex or sensitive visits, or when the patient can’t see the screen well, an in-person interpreter is usually better.
Do VRI interpreters need to be certified?
Not always. Agencies and hospitals set their own requirements. Many ask for a language test and training. Some ask for medical certification from CCHI or NBCMI, or for sign language, a national credential. See our certification hub.
Can I do VRI from home?
Yes, many agencies hire home-based VRI interpreters. You’ll need a private room, a wired connection and the equipment your agency asks for.
Related reading:
Ready to try live captions?
20 minutes free. No credit card.