Video remote interpreting with a professional interpreter on screen
Video remote interpreting (VRI) brings a qualified interpreter into your conversation by secure video link, so everyone can see and hear each other without anyone having to travel.
VRI sits between telephone and on-site interpreting. Participants keep the visual cues that matter in sensitive or detailed conversations, such as facial expressions, gestures and documents shown on screen, while the interpreter can join from wherever they are based. That makes it practical for urgent bookings, for meetings with people in different locations and for languages where a local interpreter is hard to find.
Sessions run on secure, encrypted platforms. You can connect through the SILA Linguists app for telephone and video interpreting, available on Google Play and the App Store, or we can add an interpreter to the video-conferencing platform your organisation already uses. Our technical support team helps with set-up and testing.
Because the interpreter is visible, VRI is also used for sign language interpreting, giving Deaf people timely access to a BSL interpreter when an on-site booking is not possible.
Why choose SILA Linguists for video (vri)
Visual context retained
Seeing each other helps participants read reactions and helps the interpreter manage turn-taking, which improves accuracy compared with audio only.
Works with your platform
Use the SILA Linguists app or invite the interpreter into the major video-conferencing platforms your organisation already relies on.
Secure and encrypted
Sessions run over encrypted connections, and personal data is handled in line with GDPR.
Access to rarer languages
Distance is no barrier, so we can connect you with interpreters for less widely spoken languages and dialects wherever they are based.
Sign language by video
VRI can make BSL interpreting easier to arrange at short notice for Deaf people in clinics, offices and classrooms.
No travel time
No interpreter travel is needed, which saves time and reduces the environmental impact of each appointment.
Video remote interpreting with SILA Linguists®: sectors, languages and settings
Video remote interpreting puts a professional interpreter on screen within your consultation, hearing or meeting, either through the SILA Linguists® app or on the video platform you already use. In the healthcare sector, VRI suits telehealth appointments and ward rounds; for law firms, client conferences with people in detention or overseas; in education, parents' meetings and student support at schools and universities; and for local authorities, reaching residents quickly without waiting for an interpreter to travel. In financial services and technology, VRI suits client presentations, multilingual team meetings and online training.
Because the interpreter can see facial expressions and gestures, VRI is the remote option of choice when visual cues matter, and it is essential for sign languages: SILA Linguists® provides BSL interpreters by video for Deaf patients, staff and clients. It also widens access to rarer languages and dialects, since the right linguist no longer needs to be nearby. Our VRI languages include Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Ukrainian, Mandarin and British Sign Language, among more than 350 we cover for clients in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Video sessions sit naturally beside our other services. A remote legal consultation can lead to certified translation of identity papers and statements; a recorded research interview can go on to transcription with time stamps and a translated transcript; immigration advisers can combine VRI with language analysis and nationality assessment. If the call drops to audio only, telephone interpreting is available around the clock. Every session is confidential, interpreters sign NDAs on request, and personal data is handled under UK GDPR.
Step by step
Book or connect
Pre-book a session by phone, email or WhatsApp, or request an interpreter through the SILA Linguists app.
Interpreter matched
We assign a vetted interpreter with the right language and subject knowledge and share the joining details.
Technical check
For scheduled sessions on your own platform, our technical support team can help confirm audio, video and access before the meeting starts.
Session and follow-up
The interpreter joins, interprets the conversation, and we arrange any follow-up sessions you need, with the same interpreter where possible.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do I need for VRI?
A device with a camera, microphone and a stable internet connection. A headset improves audio quality, and a quiet room with good lighting helps the interpreter see and hear everyone clearly.
Can the interpreter join our existing video calls?
Yes. Our interpreters can join the major video-conferencing platforms. Send us the meeting link and details when you book.
Is VRI suitable for sign language?
Yes. Video is essential for sign language, and VRI is often the quickest way to provide a BSL interpreter. For long, complex or emotional appointments, an on-site interpreter may still be the better choice.
How is VRI different from telephone interpreting?
Both are remote, but VRI adds video so participants and the interpreter can see each other. Telephone interpreting is faster to set up and needs only a phone line.
Tell us the language, the format and the date
Our bookings team will confirm the details with you and arrange the right linguist. Have the language (and dialect, if you know it), the type of assignment and the date ready.