Language and Translations---Non-employed on Affadavit of Support

[mamaronga 2]

Hi VJers! I'm new to this forum and SO happy to have found it, I have learned so much already!

I've been looking around a LOT, and still haven't found the answers to some specific questions, so if you don't mind helping me out I'd greatly appreciate it.

1. Translations: My fiance is Ecuadorian and still doesn't know English (he's learning!). All of our "evidence" (letters, emails) are in Spanish. Do we need to translate all of those for our 129F Petition?

Can I translate them, or does it need to be a third-party translator? Also the forms, and the letter of "intent to marry" from him--do they need to all be in English also? And if so, can I translate them?

When it gets to be the interview and forms in his OWN country--are these also in English? Is the interview in English? Or will that all be in his native language, Spanish.

2. Affadavit of Support. No way do I meet the requirements. In fact, I was living in Ecuador mostly and traveling last year so I won't even file income tax. At the time of doing the I-134 Affadavit of Support I will be in Ecuador volunteering and recieving a stipend...aka, "unemployed". Should I get a letter from the NGO I will be recieving the stipend from? Or just say "unemployed" and nothing else? Do I need proof that I didn't need to file taxes, or since I have the co-sponsor is that all a mute point?

3. I heard a rumor that everyone who files the I-134 also needs a G 325A biographical information form filed as well. is that true?

4. If living abroad while waiting for the processing, should I give a permanent address in the US (my parent's address), or is it okay to give an address in Ecuador where I'll actually be? (or do they only accept US addresses to send NOA's, etc)

THANK YOU so much for your time. I hope I am not being redundent... but I know this info always changes so it's good to have up to date 2008 info out there anyway.

Take care, and good luck everyone.

Claire (US) and Cristhian (ECUADOR)

[JBean 0]

Hi VJers! I'm new to this forum and SO happy to have found it, I have learned so much already!

I've been looking around a LOT, and still haven't found the answers to some specific questions, so if you don't mind helping me out I'd greatly appreciate it.

1. Translations: My fiance is Ecuadorian and still doesn't know English (he's learning!). All of our "evidence" (letters, emails) are in Spanish. Do we need to translate all of those for our 129F Petition?

Can I translate them, or does it need to be a third-party translator? Also the forms, and the letter of "intent to marry" from him--do they need to all be in English also? And if so, can I translate them?

When it gets to be the interview and forms in his OWN country--are these also in English? Is the interview in English? Or will that all be in his native language, Spanish.

2. Affadavit of Support. No way do I meet the requirements. In fact, I was living in Ecuador mostly and traveling last year so I won't even file income tax. At the time of doing the I-134 Affadavit of Support I will be in Ecuador volunteering and recieving a stipend...aka, "unemployed". Should I get a letter from the NGO I will be recieving the stipend from? Or just say "unemployed" and nothing else? Do I need proof that I didn't need to file taxes, or since I have the co-sponsor is that all a mute point?

3. I heard a rumor that everyone who files the I-134 also needs a G 325A biographical information form filed as well. is that true?

4. If living abroad while waiting for the processing, should I give a permanent address in the US (my parent's address), or is it okay to give an address in Ecuador where I'll actually be? (or do they only accept US addresses to send NOA's, etc)

THANK YOU so much for your time. I hope I am not being redundent... but I know this info always changes so it's good to have up to date 2008 info out there anyway.

Take care, and good luck everyone.

Claire (US) and Cristhian (ECUADOR)

Hi Claire,

I think I can answer all of this based on similar experiences.

1. Everything needs to be in English. At the time of the initial application it is fine if you do the translations yourself but you need to sign a doc certifying that your translations are accurate. At the time of the interview however you will need official translations (although you may just be able to pay an official translator to certify that your translations are accurate). I would not bother having him write the intent form in Spanish and then having it translated. You can just write it in English and have him sign it (after explaining to him what he is signing of course).

At least in India, there are interviewers that can conduct the interviews in the local language. You should double check though that the same is true in Ecuador. Also, I really regret trusting that the govt. interviewer would speak adequate Hindi (he could not) and feel we should have hired out own translator and done the interview in English. THis may not be a concern for you though, as there are a lot more government employees that can speak decent Spanish than decent Hindi...

2. If you don't meet the income requirement you need someone to co-sponsor that does. They say this is not so important for a fiance visa, but you don't want to give them this excuse to reject you. In addition to the co-sponsor, do get a letter from the NGO on official stationary with your stipend on it. That counts as an income too. And supply your bank statements, etc. as well.

3. Yes, you need to file the G325A, both you and your fiance.

4. I would give your parents or some other close relative/friend's US address. Getting mail overseas is a headache, as is switiching the address back to a US one later, and you don't want to risk not getting the notification when your case is approved...they do accept foreign addresses though, and I somehow got my NOA1 overseas even though they botched the address in two places...

Jillian