Translation

[bradam2001 0]

Hello

We are applying for my wife's citizenship this month. I have a question. My wife was married before and she has to state that she was married before in the application form. We have a divorce degree in her language. Do you we need to have it translated professionally , or Can she do that ?(Is it accepted?)

Thanks

[lucyrich 20]

In the "general tips on assembling applications" page of the USCIS website, you'll find the following:

Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

That page generally applies to any documents accompanying any type of petition being sent to a USCIS office in the US. (Slightly different rules may apply for foreign language documents presented to a consulate abroad).

Note that it says the translation must be certified, but that's not the same thing as saying the person doing the translation must be certified. Any person who has the necessary language competence can translate and certify. I personally did the translations for documents for our own case, and I have no formal language credentials or certifications. If you're concerned about avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest, of course you might want to hire someone else to translate and certify. But if the document is very uncontroversial, and if you're sure you can translate it without misleading, you might want to do it yourself.

I see the USCIS is revamping their site soon, and the link to that page is very long, so I won't post the full link here. But if you go to USCIS.gov, click on "Immigration forms", then click on "General directions on Immigration Forms" (in upper right of the page), and finally click on "tips for assembling applications" (in upper right of the page), you'll find that text. I suspect you'll have to use some different sequence of links to find it in a few weeks after the site is redone.

[NickD 203]

In the "general tips on assembling applications" page of the USCIS website, you'll find the following:

Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

That page generally applies to any documents accompanying any type of petition being sent to a USCIS office in the US. (Slightly different rules may apply for foreign language documents presented to a consulate abroad).

Note that it says the translation must be certified, but that's not the same thing as saying the person doing the translation must be certified. Any person who has the necessary language competence can translate and certify. I personally did the translations for documents for our own case, and I have no formal language credentials or certifications. If you're concerned about avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest, of course you might want to hire someone else to translate and certify. But if the document is very uncontroversial, and if you're sure you can translate it without misleading, you might want to do it yourself.

I see the USCIS is revamping their site soon, and the link to that page is very long, so I won't post the full link here. But if you go to USCIS.gov, click on "Immigration forms", then click on "General directions on Immigration Forms" (in upper right of the page), and finally click on "tips for assembling applications" (in upper right of the page), you'll find that text. I suspect you'll have to use some different sequence of links to find it in a few weeks after the site is redone.

In addition to translating the text, a translator also makes notes to explain any seals on the documents. Adhering to the original text takes preference over employing proper English grammar, but with over 680,000 words in the English language, you do have a choice in selecting the most meaningful word.

We did pay to have our translations done for us doing the AOS phase, just had way too many other things to do, but as things slowed down, did those ourselves with no problems.

[bradam2001 0]

Thanks so much

In the "general tips on assembling applications" page of the USCIS website, you'll find the following:

Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

That page generally applies to any documents accompanying any type of petition being sent to a USCIS office in the US. (Slightly different rules may apply for foreign language documents presented to a consulate abroad).

Note that it says the translation must be certified, but that's not the same thing as saying the person doing the translation must be certified. Any person who has the necessary language competence can translate and certify. I personally did the translations for documents for our own case, and I have no formal language credentials or certifications. If you're concerned about avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest, of course you might want to hire someone else to translate and certify. But if the document is very uncontroversial, and if you're sure you can translate it without misleading, you might want to do it yourself.

I see the USCIS is revamping their site soon, and the link to that page is very long, so I won't post the full link here. But if you go to USCIS.gov, click on "Immigration forms", then click on "General directions on Immigration Forms" (in upper right of the page), and finally click on "tips for assembling applications" (in upper right of the page), you'll find that text. I suspect you'll have to use some different sequence of links to find it in a few weeks after the site is redone.

In addition to translating the text, a translator also makes notes to explain any seals on the documents. Adhering to the original text takes preference over employing proper English grammar, but with over 680,000 words in the English language, you do have a choice in selecting the most meaningful word.

We did pay to have our translations done for us doing the AOS phase, just had way too many other things to do, but as things slowed down, did those ourselves with no problems.

[Sand 5]

well about me, when i went for my GC. i dint have my wife's birth certificate in English so i took her Italian birth certificate and the interviwer accept it

[NickD 203]

well about me, when i went for my GC. i dint have my wife's birth certificate in English so i took her Italian birth certificate and the interviwer accept it

Not knowing Italian, can clearly read my grandfathers birth ceritififcate, the date of his birth, city, and the names of his parents. Can do the same with my wife's Spanish birth certificate, but the instructions state that all these documents need to be translated. So we did, never know what kind of an IO you will get and can cause major delays.

September 12, 2009 translated to Turkey reads, 12 Eylül 2009, that may require translating.

09年9月12日 really needs translating.

[Sand 5]

well about me, when i went for my GC. i dint have my wife's birth certificate in English so i took her Italian birth certificate and the interviwer accept it

Not knowing Italian, can clearly read my grandfathers birth ceritififcate, the date of his birth, city, and the names of his parents. Can do the same with my wife's Spanish birth certificate, but the instructions state that all these documents need to be translated. So we did, never know what kind of an IO you will get and can cause major delays.

September 12, 2009 translated to Turkey reads, 12 Eylül 2009, that may require translating.

09年9月12日 really needs translating.

And yes for better has to Translated.

[NickD 203]

well about me, when i went for my GC. i dint have my wife's birth certificate in English so i took her Italian birth certificate and the interviwer accept it

Not knowing Italian, can clearly read my grandfathers birth ceritififcate, the date of his birth, city, and the names of his parents. Can do the same with my wife's Spanish birth certificate, but the instructions state that all these documents need to be translated. So we did, never know what kind of an IO you will get and can cause major delays.

September 12, 2009 translated to Turkey reads, 12 Eylül 2009, that may require translating.

09年9月12日 really needs translating.

And yes for better has to Translated.

It's crazy, we were dealing with Spanish, and while the USCIS has a Spanish speaking line, still wanted all of our documents translated into English. At my wife's interview, I had problems understanding the receptionist, could barely speak English as my wife did with her IO. Think the USCIS should hire interpreters for their employees.