English translations of foreign documents

[payxibka 10,044]

OK here is the deal.

My fiancee' just sent me the last few missing documents for the petition. She is Ukrainian and currently resides in Ukraine, however she spent time in Moldova and during her stay she managed to get married and divorced.

So needles to say her marriage certificate and divorce decree are in Moldovian (derivative of Romanian?).

I am not quite sure why (I will find out tomorrow) but she had the original documents translated from the native language into Ukrainian and then into English. I can't imagine why she did this but maybe for the benefit of the embassy down the road.

I hesitate to show the progression Moldovian to Ukrainian to English because I am afraid the USCIS will choke on the middle step. I am tempted to just include the English translation skipping the middle step because I am certain the USCIS adjudicators cannot read the cryllic alphabet. I know the right answer is to get it all retranslated..... but I was hoping to get thr petition out o Monday....

oy oy oy

[aussiewench 9]

USCIS requires any document to be translated if the original is in a foreign language. DOSS (consulate) will generally require any document not in the native language of ones country to be translated into english.

[payxibka 10,044]

USCIS requires any document to be translated if the original is in a foreign language. DOSS (consulate) will generally require any document not in the native language of ones country to be translated into english.

Sorry aussiewench I do not follow you.... I know that all foreign documents need to be translated into english that is a given. I just for the life of me cannot figure out why she three stepped it....

[Chris-n-Veronica 0]

Not to to make this sound to simple But Romanian and Moldovian are so close they can understand each other with little problems.. I don't really know the direction...but I think Moldovian is just a spin off Romanian..

I'm not sure on the other language..

USCIS requires any document to be translated if the original is in a foreign language. DOSS (consulate) will generally require any document not in the native language of ones country to be translated into english.

Sorry aussiewench I do not follow you.... I know that all foreign documents need to be translated into english that is a given. I just for the life of me cannot figure out why she three stepped it....

[Neonred 3,470]

No problem. Just show them a copy of the original and the English version. My wife went through the same thing with a Kyrgyz police certificate. Wasn't so easy in Russia to get it translated directly from Kyrgyz into English so was translated into Russian first then English. Just gave the embassy the original and the English version and they were happy.

[payxibka 10,044]

Here is the answer I got. Someone convinced her that she needed to have the documents translated into Ukrainian first because the English translation should come from the Ukrainian variant of her name when spelled in Latin letters.

I think she got "scammed" by a translation service looking for a little more work... Oh well.... It was only about $15 of cost and a lesson learned

[GaryC 7]

Someone correct me if I am wrong here but I always thought that any translation needs to be done by a "certified" translator? I know that whenever something gets translated to many times errors get introduced. (lost in the translation) You better make sure the translation complies with the requirements.

[payxibka 10,044]

Someone correct me if I am wrong here but I always thought that any translation needs to be done by a "certified" translator? I know that whenever something gets translated to many times errors get introduced. (lost in the translation) You better make sure the translation complies with the requirements.

I believe the requirement is actually "certified" by someone who is competent (or some word similar) in both languages. I know it does not have to be "certified" by a translator who has been "licensed" by some governmental authority. If I were competent in both Ukrainian and English there would be no technical restriction on me doing it myself. It seems the rules are a little "loose" in this area. Anyway, she had hers done at a business that does this professionally and the translations are full of official looking seals.

Edited November 12, 2006 by fwaguy

[GaryC 7]

Someone correct me if I am wrong here but I always thought that any translation needs to be done by a "certified" translator? I know that whenever something gets translated to many times errors get introduced. (lost in the translation) You better make sure the translation complies with the requirements.

I believe the requirement is actually "certified" by someone who is competent (or some word similar) in both languages. I know it does not have to be "certified" by a translator who has been "licensed" by some governmental authority. If I were competent in both Ukrainian and English there would be no technical restriction on me doing it myself. It seems the rules are a little "loose" in this area. Anyway, she had hers done at a business that does this professionally and the translations are full of official looking seals.

This is what the I-129 form says. Not really sure what the standard it though.

Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and bythe translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

[payxibka 10,044]

Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

Exactly! The ambiguous component is the definition of "competent". That is subjective at best and I never never read a post here on VJ where someone said the USCIS or Consulate has objected or taken exception with a translation..... Have you? (you have been here longer than me)

[Callina 1]

Romanian and Moldavian are one and the same language. In other words, Moldavian is the Romanian language spoken in the Republic of Moldavia. As the latter was ruptured from the territory of Romania and attached to the USSR following World War II, the language itself suffered from the process of forced Russification; it now bears the results of the influence of the Russian language at the level of pronunciation and - to little extent - to that of the vocabulary. But, linguistically speaking, it is incorrect to define the language spoken by the Romanians living in the R of M as "Moldavian". It was referred to as Moldavian by the authorities of those times so that they would develop a feeling of estrangement from their true roots and get closer emotionally to the political goals of their new country.

I regard the above explanation as a mere act of justice towards the Romanian language spoken in Moldova. I surely hope the ones of Russian or Ukrainian nationality don't feel in any way offended. Normal, ordinary people have always lived in peace and harmony there. They have established ethnically-mixed families and put into practice the policy of love and understanding.

For fwaguy: Your fiancee won't have any problems with her translated documents as long as they bear the signature of a certified translator and have been notarized at a notary public's office. And a question: Do the English translations show a phrase such as "translation from Ukrainian" or "translation from Moldavian/Romanian"? If they show the former phrase, your fiancee should also have her Ukrainian translations with her at the interview to be able to prove the course of action if they request it. God bless you both!

[Neonred 3,470]

I posted earlier but I have talked with my wife about her translated Kyrgyz police certificates and I did not tell you the correct answer. She just told me that the US embassy in Moscow mandates that a document from another country or language must first be translated into Russian then into English. Something to do with the foreign stamps on the document. I was unaware of this when I posted before. Not sure if it is the same in Ukraine. I would have her take BOTH translations to the interview.

Relax. The interviews are a lot easier than most people think. How many people have you read about that were denied? Just have all your documents prepared and all will go well.

[payxibka 10,044]

I posted earlier but I have talked with my wife about her translated Kyrgyz police certificates and I did not tell you the correct answer. She just told me that the US embassy in Moscow mandates that a document from another country or language must first be translated into Russian then into English. Something to do with the foreign stamps on the document. I was unaware of this when I posted before. Not sure if it is the same in Ukraine. I would have her take BOTH translations to the interview.

Relax. The interviews are a lot easier than most people think. How many people have you read about that were denied? Just have all your documents prepared and all will go well.

I am not worried about the embassy... I am worried about the USCIS.... The divorce decree (free to marry) and marriage certificate (name change) are needed with the initial petition.....

[Turboguy 6]

I will agree that anyone competent in both languages can do the translation as long as they have a notarized signature and the proper statement.

However, Someone correct me if I am wrong. I was under the impression that the police report was not considered a document and did not need to be translated. Birth Certificates and Divorce decrees and things like that are documents. I am not sure I am right on this but last year when my former fiancee and I did it we submitted the police report in Russian with no problems.

[payxibka 10,044]

However, Someone correct me if I am wrong. I was under the impression that the police report was not considered a document and did not need to be translated. Birth Certificates and Divorce decrees and things like that are documents. I am not sure I am right on this but last year when my former fiancee and I did it we submitted the police report in Russian with no problems.

I could be wrong as well but I believe as long as the police report is in the native language of the consulate it does not have to be translated.... but a foreign one would have to be translated......