translation of passport stamps and work visa?

[nutmeg 0]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have just spent the last hour-plus searching for an answer to my question, but probably because of my unfamiliarity with the forum, haven't been able to find it. So I apologize if this question has already been answered.

Here's the question: when I, the petitioner, submit primary evidence for the I-129F, do I need to translate the stamps on my (American) passport that show entrances to and exits from Ecuador in Spanish? Also, do I need to translate my Ecuadorian work visa (stamped onto a page of my passport and written in Spanish), which constitutes evidence that I have been living and working in my SO's country?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[pushbrk 13,033]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have just spent the last hour-plus searching for an answer to my question, but probably because of my unfamiliarity with the forum, haven't been able to find it. So I apologize if this question has already been answered.

Here's the question: when I, the petitioner, submit primary evidence for the I-129F, do I need to translate the stamps on my (American) passport that show entrances to and exits from Ecuador in Spanish? Also, do I need to translate my Ecuadorian work visa (stamped onto a page of my passport and written in Spanish), which constitutes evidence that I have been living and working in my SO's country?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You do not need to translate anything in a passport.

[Cuchita 1]

I agree, you don't have to translate from the passport, but if you can translate spanish you can translate yourself the work permit, remember this is only the first evidence you are sending, so maybe pictures and phone bills will be enough. There are even people that don't have seen each other and just explain their situation in the form and their visas have been approved.

Good luck

Cuchita

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have just spent the last hour-plus searching for an answer to my question, but probably because of my unfamiliarity with the forum, haven't been able to find it. So I apologize if this question has already been answered.

Here's the question: when I, the petitioner, submit primary evidence for the I-129F, do I need to translate the stamps on my (American) passport that show entrances to and exits from Ecuador in Spanish? Also, do I need to translate my Ecuadorian work visa (stamped onto a page of my passport and written in Spanish), which constitutes evidence that I have been living and working in my SO's country?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[KimandRuss 0]

For future reference and those curious...

FAQ's on translation

[payxibka 10,047]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have just spent the last hour-plus searching for an answer to my question, but probably because of my unfamiliarity with the forum, haven't been able to find it. So I apologize if this question has already been answered.

Here's the question: when I, the petitioner, submit primary evidence for the I-129F, do I need to translate the stamps on my (American) passport that show entrances to and exits from Ecuador in Spanish? Also, do I need to translate my Ecuadorian work visa (stamped onto a page of my passport and written in Spanish), which constitutes evidence that I have been living and working in my SO's country?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You do not need to translate anything in a passport.

Not disagreeing but it is inconsistent with:

Per the USCIS, documents not in English must be translated (I am referencing only to the work permit)

Edited November 3, 2008 by payxibka

[pushbrk 13,033]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and have just spent the last hour-plus searching for an answer to my question, but probably because of my unfamiliarity with the forum, haven't been able to find it. So I apologize if this question has already been answered.

Here's the question: when I, the petitioner, submit primary evidence for the I-129F, do I need to translate the stamps on my (American) passport that show entrances to and exits from Ecuador in Spanish? Also, do I need to translate my Ecuadorian work visa (stamped onto a page of my passport and written in Spanish), which constitutes evidence that I have been living and working in my SO's country?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You do not need to translate anything in a passport.

Not disagreeing but it is inconsistent with:

Per the USCIS, documents not in English must be translated (I am referencing only to the work permit)

Passport stamps and visas in passports don't fit the definition of "documents" in this context. USCIS can understand the coding on any visa. By definition, all passport entries are universal enough to be understood without translation.

[payxibka 10,047]

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

I am not sure where the exception lies... but it is not for me to decide

Edited November 3, 2008 by payxibka

[pushbrk 13,033]

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

I am not sure where the exception lies... but it is not for me to decide

Ask any K1 filer with a Chinese fiance(e) whether they translated their China visa and/or entry and exit stamps as a part of their proof of meeting. They'll tell you no. The quoted statement isn't talking about passports or anything in them as all must have sufficient English to be understood without translation.

Check the passports you have access to and verify this yourself.

[payxibka 10,047]

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

I am not sure where the exception lies... but it is not for me to decide

Ask any K1 filer with a Chinese fiance(e) whether they translated their China visa and/or entry and exit stamps as a part of their proof of meeting. They'll tell you no. The quoted statement isn't talking about passports or anything in them as all must have sufficient English to be understood without translation.

Check the passports you have access to and verify this yourself.

What part of the for the WORK PERMIT ONLY did you miss... Considering in the OP's own words it is (100%) in Spanish. I never intended nor do I call to question the entry/exit stamps...

Edited November 3, 2008 by payxibka

[pushbrk 13,033]

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

I am not sure where the exception lies... but it is not for me to decide

Ask any K1 filer with a Chinese fiance(e) whether they translated their China visa and/or entry and exit stamps as a part of their proof of meeting. They'll tell you no. The quoted statement isn't talking about passports or anything in them as all must have sufficient English to be understood without translation.

Check the passports you have access to and verify this yourself.

What part of the for the WORK PERMIT ONLY did you miss... Considering in the OP's own words it is (100%) in Spanish. I never intended nor do I call to question the entry/exit stamps...

The work visa will have a category code and dates that are readable by any English speaker/reader, just like any other visa would from any country or for any purpose. With the dates and category code, USCIS has all they need to know.

Again, there is never any need to translate anything in a passport. They follow international standards.

[TBoneTX 45,825]

this is only the first evidence you are sending, so maybe pictures and phone bills will be enough.

For the Guayaquil consulate, this is wrong wrong wrong! Regardless of whether USCIS itself does not require the inclusion of "proof of relationship" evidence, the consulate will. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to include copious and complete phone records, e-mail or chat logs, originals of greeting cards, copies of DHL or FedEx waybills, and all primary evidence, such as airline boarding-passes, luggage receipts, etc. Include all of this IN your I-129F filing, or this consulate will pull some serious monkeyshines.

There are even people that don't have seen each other and just explain their situation in the form and their visas have been approved.

Perhaps, and they're either being interviewed at the low-fraud embassies or they're overwhelmingly lucky. This is naive, uninformed, perilous advice to follow. Do not trifle with any Latin American embassy, especially not the truly rogue Guayaquil consulate! My heart sank when I saw that you plan to be another Ecuador filer, but at least you're asking in time to fend off a large part of what several of the rest of us were blindsided by.

And, as usual, pushbrk is right.

[nutmeg 0]

thanks to everyone for their quick replies! and thanks to TBoneTX and pushbrk for their specific insights--very much appreciated