Translation Question-Every Detail and Stamp?

[rkair 0]

Hello...I am getting ready to have my marriage certificate and the birth certificate of my step-daughter translated from Spanish into English by a competent Spanish-speaking friend of mine, to be turned in with the I-130 petition.

How detailed is it required to be compared to the markings and stamps on the original? What I mean is, do you have to transcribe the information from the little circular stamps on the document or other certified markings? Is it allowable to basically translate all of the information in summary on paper? Do I have to follow the same template on the translation?

Any feedback or examples on how you did it would be appreciated...thanks.

[JA_Martinez 81]

We had our Japanese certificate translated at the American Consulate. The Consulate had a blank form we had to translate on, that was layed out the same as the Japanese form but in English. It must be an exact translation and altho nothing says it has to be notorized, we had an official person notorize that my translation was 100% accurate. If there are stamps on your marriage certificate that have a description of the stamp written in Spanish its there for a reason and should then also be translated. Go to your Consulates website to see if they might also have a form you can use that they designed to match the format.

[Nobby7 28]

Hello...I am getting ready to have my marriage certificate and the birth certificate of my step-daughter translated from Spanish into English by a competent Spanish-speaking friend of mine, to be turned in with the I-130 petition.

How detailed is it required to be compared to the markings and stamps on the original? What I mean is, do you have to transcribe the information from the little circular stamps on the document or other certified markings? Is it allowable to basically translate all of the information in summary on paper? Do I have to follow the same template on the translation?

Any feedback or examples on how you did it would be appreciated...thanks.

I did the translations on my own when I submitted my I-130. I translated all the words but the format wasn't necessarily exactly the same.

For example, if the circular stamp was on the bottom left corner, I translated the text and placed it on one or two lines at the bottom left.

For "subtitles" that were placed under boxes where information was filled out, I just translated the subtitle and used a colon. I did try to keep the spacing somewhat similar.

I did not get an RFE and was approved.

[JA_Martinez 81]

Not that you're friend isnt competant, but how do you know that it will be 100% accurate. You should have his translation verified and notorized....esp birth certs

[rkair 0]

I did the translations on my own when I submitted my I-130. I translated all the words but the format wasn't necessarily exactly the same.

For example, if the circular stamp was on the bottom left corner, I translated the text and placed it on one or two lines at the bottom left.

For "subtitles" that were placed under boxes where information was filled out, I just translated the subtitle and used a colon. I did try to keep the spacing somewhat similar.

I did not get an RFE and was approved.

So it's not like I need an exact template of the original. I can basically summarize the information along with the certified statement of translation, correct?

[meadow 2]

When I translated my husband's Mexican birth certificate and had trouble with the formatting using Microsoft word, I did a google search for "Mexican birth certificate template" or something like that, and found a template like his certificate that I could easily use in Word. For circular stamps, I just wrote - Official seal - and then any text above or below it. We didn't have any issues or RFEs with that. I'd keep the template as similar as possible, but it doesn't need to be identical, and then have the signed statement of translation on a separate sheet paper-clipped to it.

Edited February 21, 2014 by meadow

[Nobby7 28]

So it's not like I need an exact template of the original. I can basically summarize the information along with the certified statement of translation, correct?

Well I don't know what you mean exactly by summarizing. I didn't use a template but I did translate every word, including the seal, and made sure the spacing was similar to the format of the certificate.

[Ryan H 3,810]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[NikLR 13,227]

Every word should be translated and no it doesn't need to be translated by a "professional" or notarized.

All a notarization does is say someone signed something in front of someone else. In the USA it means nothing more than that. In other countries it can mean that everything in there is true and correct, but not in the USA, which is why notarization isn't important to anything in the immigration process. I can get things notarized at the UPS store for $5. In Alberta I had to do it in front of a lawyer and it cost me $30.

As long as the statement is there that the translator is proficient in both languages and has translated to the best of their ability and certifies the translation as true and correct, you should be fine. Everything on the page should be translated and it should be relatively the same format as the original. This is my understanding from the people on VJ who have needed translations. There may be discrepancies for each country and sometimes this is a question best asked in a regional forum or embassy discussion because your consulate may be pickier about it than another one.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Not that you're friend isnt competant, but how do you know that it will be 100% accurate. You should have his translation verified and notorized....esp birth certs

This is pretty paranoid IMHO.

Plenty of normal people have done their own translation without any problems.

Why go through the process of having a second person verify and notarize it when neither is needed?

The friend's translation is sufficient.

[aaron2020 11,651]

When in doubt - translate every little thing. No harm if it's not needed.

A "summary" is not a true and accurate translation. A summary is a shorten version which is not the same as true and accurate translation.

[Tala202 27]

What a coincidence, I've been freaking out about this all morning. So if I have a professionally done translation of my birth certificate, but it isn't signed or stamped or anything (does say true translation, though), that would be okay for the NVC stage?