Translation of Divorce Decree

[bobb 0]

Is it common in Russia when a woman goes to the registry office and asks for a copy of her marriage certificate and/or divorce decree she can also ask for it to be translated into English and certified?

[Brad and Vika 129]

I don't think that is common anywhere, but I wouldn't swear to it. I think official translations are paid deals made separately. There are offices that do this (not coincidentally) close to the embassies conducting interviews.

[bobb 0]

I don't think that is common anywhere, but I wouldn't swear to it. I think official translations are paid deals made separately. There are offices that do this (not coincidentally) close to the embassies conducting interviews.

Thanks, but this is required for filing the I-129F and the interview is further down the road. I am suggesting, in an email I will send within an hour or two, other options for her to obtain the translation and certification, if the registry office doesn't do this.

1. She works at a University. She could contact someone in the language department to do the translation and certification if this can't be done at the registry office.

2. She should just email me the scanned documents and I have someone here who can translate and certify.

3. She should see if there is a marriage agency in town who could suggest how to have this done.

I thought I had read sometime ago a post in a thread that said the registry offices in Russia will do what I'm looking for. If I do find out from her the registry office will do this I will make a post back to this topic.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I don't think that is common anywhere, but I wouldn't swear to it. I think official translations are paid deals made separately. There are offices that do this (not coincidentally) close to the embassies conducting interviews.

Thanks, but this is required for filing the I-129F and the interview is further down the road. I am suggesting, in an email I will send within an hour or two, other options for her to obtain the translation and certification, if the registry office doesn't do this.

1. She works at a University. She could contact someone in the language department to do the translation and certification if this can't be done at the registry office.

2. She should just email me the scanned documents and I have someone here who can translate and certify.

3. She should see if there is a marriage agency in town who could suggest how to have this done.

I thought I had read sometime ago a post in a thread that said the registry offices in Russia will do what I'm looking for. If I do find out from her the registry office will do this I will make a post back to this topic.

I am curious now myself.

Edited to suggest that you post this on the Russian forum, and contact a VJer called Sattelite by PM. He isn't on every day, but seems very knowledgeable. Also, Pshbrk and paxbixa (previously FWAguy) are really good sources of info for requirements, if not how to in Russia.

Edited October 31, 2008 by Brad and Vika

[slim 1,525]

Keep in mind the "certification of translation" doesn't have to be done by anyone official. It can be done by anyone who knows English so long as they "certify" that they're translating it accurately.

Don't get that confused with the "certification" of the divorce decree. That still has to be certified by a govt. office but when it's translated over the only cert. it needs is from the translator.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Keep in mind the "certification of translation" doesn't have to be done by anyone official. It can be done by anyone who knows English so long as they "certify" that they're translating it accurately.

Don't get that confused with the "certification" of the divorce decree. That still has to be certified by a govt. office but when it's translated over the only cert. it needs is from the translator.

And how could I forget Slim. Now we know the rest of the story. If I understand, the translation is not typically done at the government office.

[bobb 0]

Keep in mind the "certification of translation" doesn't have to be done by anyone official. It can be done by anyone who knows English so long as they "certify" that they're translating it accurately.

Don't get that confused with the "certification" of the divorce decree. That still has to be certified by a govt. office but when it's translated over the only cert. it needs is from the translator.

Thanks,

She will be going on Wednesday to the one office which deals with this. Monday and Tuesday is a holiday in Izhevsk...

[slim 1,525]

And how could I forget Slim. Now we know the rest of the story. If I understand, the translation is not typically done at the government office.

By all means though, defer anything serious to Satellite, I'm just here for comic relief with the occasional useful tidbit thrown in there. He's the "expert." I'm like the neighbor you go to when you need to find out where to go to get something done, not the guy that actually does the stuff!

[Jen&James 0]

I don't think that is common anywhere, but I wouldn't swear to it. I think official translations are paid deals made separately. There are offices that do this (not coincidentally) close to the embassies conducting interviews.

Thanks, but this is required for filing the I-129F and the interview is further down the road. I am suggesting, in an email I will send within an hour or two, other options for her to obtain the translation and certification, if the registry office doesn't do this.

1. She works at a University. She could contact someone in the language department to do the translation and certification if this can't be done at the registry office.

2. She should just email me the scanned documents and I have someone here who can translate and certify.

3. She should see if there is a marriage agency in town who could suggest how to have this done.

I thought I had read sometime ago a post in a thread that said the registry offices in Russia will do what I'm looking for. If I do find out from her the registry office will do this I will make a post back to this topic.

Hello Bobb! I think I can help you. You don't need to go to any kind of Registry Office to get a copies. You fiancee have to go to the Public Notary Office. But she has to choose one with translator. Not all Public Notary Offices has translator in Russia. I'm pretty sure she will be able to find one. Anyway, she have to bring with her original divorce certificate, birth certificate and her passport. At the Notary office they will make a copy and translation of the documents. It cost me around $25 per each document. But the price depends of the city and the Notary office. Believe me this is enough for sending with petition. We did the same and got the approval already without RFE. You see if she will go to the Registry Office they can give her the duplicate of the original document only if she got lost one. If your fiancee will need more help you can send me a message and I'll give you my russian cell phone number, so she can call. I'll help her if she need.

Jen

Edited November 3, 2008 by Jen&James

[bobb 0]

Hello Bobb! I think I can help you. You don't need to go to any kind of Registry Office to get a copies. You fiancee have to go to the Public Notary Office. But she has to choose one with translator. Not all Public Notary Offices has translator in Russia. I'm pretty sure she will be able to find one. Anyway, she have to bring with her original divorce certificate, birth certificate and her passport. At the Notary office they will make a copy and translation of the documents. It cost me around $25 per each document. But the price depends of the city and the Notary office. Believe me this is enough for sending with petition. We did the same and got the approval already without RFE. You see if she will go to the Registry Office they can give her the duplicate of the original document only if she got lost one. If your fiancee will need more help you can send me a message and I'll give you my russian cell phone number, so she can call. I'll help her if she need.

Jen

Thanks Jen,

I'll find out tomorrow how things went today. She does have a girlfriend who is married to a Canadian, and is in the waiting state right now, who is helping her a bit. If I find she still needs some help I'll take you up on your offer of your cell phone. She did tell me that she had to surrender her marriage certificate when she was issued her divorce decree and wondered if it was really necessary. I did inform her that yes, I would need the marriage certificate, translated and with certification.

[bobb 0]

I just received by email the divorce decree, translation and certification. The translation was done in November 2002 by Chief of Civil Registry Office in Izhevsk with no signature. There is a line that shows:

Chief of Civil Registry Office Signature L.Z. Guzeva

and no actual signature.

She took this to a notary who on the bottom quarter of this document certified to it's accuracy and dated 8 November 2008.. But, like the translation above there is no signature, only the following after the certification:

Notary _______________________Signature of Garifullina A.Y.

Is this adequate or common in Russia? Or, does the notary have to sign, as I believe they do. At least according to the directions for certifications. It would be easy for her to obtain the notaries signature. It might be harder to obtain the Registry Office signature

[bobb 0]

I think I have it under control. With the excellent original copy, in color, and the official translation I figure I can use these two documents to have someone else translate and certify locally, or with the assistance of 1 or 2 other offers of help I've received. My first thought is to just type up the translation in a Word document (exactly as the official translation is), add the certification boilerplate text at bottom. Send to whomever is the lucky recipient. Have them insert there name, sign, date it, and insert their address. Scan me copies and send originals in mail. If I really have to have them do the translation one offer is for 5c/word and it is 137 words. Certification no cost, only additional cost is postage back to me...42 cents. Voila!

Now I don't have to ask her to go obtain the notary's signature, which from my understanding can't really be done because a notary is basically for witnessing a signature, which the notary would not be able to do for the original translation from back in 2002. I would still need to include all the info showing:

Chief of Civil Registry Office Signature (this is just signifying a signature is here on original) L.Z. Gusseva

At least that is my interpretation of what is necessary. If anyone feels I am out in left field feel free to comment. Now if I can just get the same info for the Marriage certificate. Then it's 1,2,3 and FILE!!!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Best of luck to you both.

Edited November 14, 2008 by Brad and Vika

[slim 1,525]

I wouldn't even sweat not having that signature on there. There's so much BS that goes into getting Russian paperwork done. As long as you have a copy and translation, you should be fine. With three documents saying the same thing in two languages, it ought to work!

Good luck!

[bobb 0]

Slim, I will take your comment into consideration as a last resort - Thanks

This is an interesting situation. Try to imagine, if you possibly can, that Colorado has a separate language which is not considered THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. This is the situation I am in with her living in the Udmurt Replublic - 1300km East of Moscow and maybe 500km from the Urals. You can learn something new every day. So, from my understanding, there is no requirement for this document to be translated into Russian with a further translation into English.

At work later this morning I will call USCIS and try to clarify if what I believe is necessary, after understanding the above concept , is accurate. Basically do I only need the 'front' of her Udmurt Divorce Decree and have this translated and notarized by a notary. Not as has been done, which is translated years ago and notarized on 5 November 2008 with no signature.

If I am in the same position I am now after Thanksgiving I might give Slim's option a go. Although I still need the correct info for her Marriage Certificate.

An offer to help from a member here, very shortly on her way to Moscow from Siberia for her interview, has been very helpful to me and I relayed her offer to my SO to talk with her. I have no idea why she has declined to accept this offer. That's really not that important though. My energy is being focused on how to get this issue resolved. Someday in the future I will ask her why she did not want to accept this offer.

If my next few suggestions do not bring any results I will give her the Visa section phone number of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow for her to call.

Hahahahahahaha - I can still laugh...a good sign

Edited November 14, 2008 by bobb