Do we need a marriage certificate from the U.S.?

[Ling Ling 22]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

BZZZZT wrong again.

I did in fact say "translated marriage certificate" from the start. Any intelligent person knows a "translated marriage certificate" is synonymous with "translation of a marriage certificate". Likewise, it should be obvious that only a document signed in front of the notary can be notarized.

You are also wrong on the issue of the translator needing to be a USC. As I've stated, "I did this". I'm not guessing.

I am not making an assumption, as you have and continue to.

That said, I will agree that "consulates have their own requirements for marriage certificates used to secure visas" which furthers my argument that

having the TRANSLATION of the marriage certificate at the Embassy is a good thing to do.

Again...Small Town Bank, inc. will notarize anything you put in front of them. The Consular officer HAS TO DO AT LEAST a ministerial review of the documents,

and make sure that they are formatted in accordance with their guidelines.

I know you're used to being right all the time...and I commend you for your contributions. I'm sure that one day I will benefit from your generous experience...

but please stop trying to make this into something it's not. First you accuse me of "ginned up" theories, then you start telling un-truths about my contribution,

and now you're backhandedly agreeing with me. Your position on this issue has lost so much ground that it's dug it's way to China.

You made an incorrect assumption. I posted a correction based on knowledge and EXPERIENCE.

I don't know if you're dieting, but you really need to have a slice of that humble pie, or at least take a small bite of reality.

[pushbrk 13,076]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

[Ling Ling 22]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

[pushbrk 13,076]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

A "notary seal"?

If a signature is notarized, it's understood it's on a document.

[Ling Ling 22]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

A "notary seal"?

If a signature is notarized, it's understood it's on a document.

I believe the entire time we were discussing notary, so yes it would be a US Embassy NOTARY seal.

Have you noticed your posture and attitude at all? Have you noticed how you just can't come to grip with being wrong?

I'm on several BMW and Mercedes forums. I see all the guys with the small ####### who have to come in and prove their superiority.

Please, don't be one of those guys. I feel that you're bigger than that. Please prove me right.

Here, I'll make it easy for you...I'll give you a template.

"Thank you for the correction, and adding your experience. I was wrong. Sometimes my passion for this site gets in my way of good judgement.

I'm sorry for taking this thread somewhere it didn't need to go. I'm apologize for the "ginned up theory" comment. You're right, I am one of the good guys".

[Ling Ling 22]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

A "notary seal"?

If a signature is notarized, it's understood it's on a document.

I believe the entire time we were discussing notary, so yes it would be a US Embassy NOTARY seal.

Have you noticed your posture and attitude at all? Have you noticed how you just can't come to grip with being wrong?

I'm on several BMW and Mercedes forums. I see all the guys with the small ####### complex, who have to come in and prove their superiority.

Please, don't be one of those guys. I feel that you're bigger than that. Please prove me right.

Here, I'll make it easy for you...I'll give you a template.

"Thank you for the correction, and adding your experience. I was wrong. Sometimes my passion for this site gets in my way of good judgement.

I'm sorry for taking this thread somewhere it didn't need to go. I apologize for the "ginned up theory" comment. You're right, I am one of the good guys".

[pushbrk 13,076]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

A "notary seal"?

If a signature is notarized, it's understood it's on a document.

I believe the entire time we were discussing notary, so yes it would be a US Embassy NOTARY seal.

Have you noticed your posture and attitude at all? Have you noticed how you just can't come to grip with being wrong?

I'm on several BMW and Mercedes forums. I see all the guys with the small ####### complex, who have to come in and prove their superiority.

Please, don't be one of those guys. I feel that you're bigger than that. Please prove me right.

Here, I'll make it easy for you...I'll give you a template.

"Thank you for the correction, and adding your experience. I was wrong. Sometimes my passion for this site gets in my way of good judgement.

I'm sorry for taking this thread somewhere it didn't need to go. I apologize for the "ginned up theory" comment. You're right, I am one of the good guys".

I believe all that is going to be proved here, has already been proved. The reader can simply decide for themselves whether taking a marriage certificate to a Consulate to be notarized is a good idea. I can assure you no such thing as you describe could happen in Guangzhou.

If a "marriage certificate", whether originally in English or the combination of foreign original and translation are prepared as prescribed or required by USCIS for petition filing, there is no need for any other "notarizing" whether by a US Consulate or otherwise. If it's good enough for USCIS and the Consulate issuing the visa, it's good enough for any purpose in the US.

I'm aware of no US Consulate that requires a marriage certificate with it's translator be presented before a Consular officer for notarial services.

There's never been any question about whether Notary services were available. Consulates do vary as to whether foreigners can even get inside the area where a signature could be witnessed. You've described an unusual circumstance that only tangentially appies to "notarizing a marriage certificate".

[Ling Ling 22]

Let's assume all that can be done. Sending a US Citizen translator into the Consulate to have their signature witnessed is an entirely different animal from the US Citizen simply taking their marriage certificate into the Consulate to have it notarized. Without somebody signing something, there's nothing to notarize. Your advice was not to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized. The post you seconded advised a USC to take their marriage certificate to the Consulate to have it notarized.

Read my lips...we don't have to ASSUME it can be done. I have done it.

Second, please show me where I advised anyone NOT to have the translator's signature witnessed/notarized.

I only corrected YOUR assumption that Consular notary was not possible.

But instead of admitting that you were making a "ginned up" assumption, you chose to go down a path of debate and

now telling untruths about a course of events that is clearly documented.

You were wrong...it's going to happen every once in a while. It's not a big deal.

Please, sit back and have a slice of humble pie. If it doesn't go down smoothly, then have a nice cup of shut the frigg up.

Horse feathers. The advice given (not by you) was to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate and have it notarized. That won't work. What could work is to have the translator take his translation to the Consulate and have it notarized but the translator would need to be a US Citizen. Of course you didn't say "not to have the translator's signature witnessed". You said nothing at all about a translator. That's the point. The marriage certificate isn't being notarized. The translator's signature is. The original advice to take the marriage certificate to the Consulate to be notarized, won't work. They can only notarize a signature.

Further, Consulates have their own requirments for marriage certificates used to secure visas. If they will accept it, it's good enough for anything in the States.

Anybody can read post 4 of this thread, see the orignal advice, you response then yours and draw their own conclusion. Consulates don't notarize marriage certificates. They notarize signatures.

You keep saying you've done "it" but never actually describe what was done, under what circumstances, for whom or where. Here's your chance.

Hmmm, they certify signatures...or they certify signatures on DOCUMENTS?

Come on, you're really reaching now....and finally asked the question you should have, instead of continuing to make assumptions and generally act a jerk.

After we received our marriage certificate in Tokyo, we went to the US Embassy. They have a specific form for translations of marriage certificates.

My wife translated the document, I paid the fees, the Consular officer reviewed both documents, bound them together, reviewed my wife's identification,

and placed a US Embassy seal on the translated DOCUMENT.

There "it" is, or do I need to fax the documents for your review?

So are you ready to admit that you're wrong...not to mention that you owe me an apology for your "ginned up" comment.

These are people's LIVES that we're talking about. These are people who just like you and I, want to be with their loved ones.

These people...or I should say, WE, really can't afford assumptions or egos....we need "straight talk". We all need honest direction or honest silence.

A "notary seal"?

If a signature is notarized, it's understood it's on a document.

I believe the entire time we were discussing notary, so yes it would be a US Embassy NOTARY seal.

Have you noticed your posture and attitude at all? Have you noticed how you just can't come to grip with being wrong?

I'm on several BMW and Mercedes forums. I see all the guys with the small ####### complex, who have to come in and prove their superiority.

Please, don't be one of those guys. I feel that you're bigger than that. Please prove me right.

Here, I'll make it easy for you...I'll give you a template.

"Thank you for the correction, and adding your experience. I was wrong. Sometimes my passion for this site gets in my way of good judgement.

I'm sorry for taking this thread somewhere it didn't need to go. I apologize for the "ginned up theory" comment. You're right, I am one of the good guys".

I believe all that is going to be proved here, has already been proved. The reader can simply decide for themselves whether taking a marriage certificate to a Consulate to be notarized is a good idea. I can assure you no such thing as you describe could happen in Guangzhou.

If a "marriage certificate", whether originally in English or the combination of foreign original and translation are prepared as prescribed or required by USCIS for petition filing, there is no need for any other "notarizing" whether by a US Consulate or otherwise. If it's good enough for USCIS and the Consulate issuing the visa, it's good enough for any purpose in the US.

I'm aware of no US Consulate that requires a marriage certificate with it's translator be presented before a Consular officer for notarial services.

There's never been any question about whether Notary services were available. Consulates do vary as to whether foreigners can even get inside the area where a signature could be witnessed. You've described an unusual circumstance that only tangentially appies to "notarizing a marriage certificate".

OK