No Name on Birth Certificate

[kramer 0]

Original birth certificate is in a foreign language and for name it shows "Name not given" (Which is common)

What should the translation say? Should it be an exact translation, word for word ("Name: Name not given")? Or should it say ("Name: Sally Smith")?

Or, does it really matter?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The certified translator should know how to translate properly. That's why it's so goddamn difficult to get certified, even for people who master several languages perfectly. If not, I would go with Sally Fields instead of Sally Smith.

Edited October 26, 2009 by Just Bob

[kramer 0]

The certified translator should know how to translate properly. That's why it's so goddamn difficult to get certified, even for people who master several languages perfectly. If not, I would go with Sally Fields instead of Sally Smith.

Huh?

[Otto 83]

So you're having a birth certificate translated and the person's name is not listed. (Is there an addendum or amended birth certificate somewhere?)

As for the name/translation - a translator should translate word for word.

[kramer 0]

So you're having a birth certificate translated and the person's name is not listed. (Is there an addendum or amended birth certificate somewhere?)

As for the name/translation - a translator should translate word for word.

No amended birth certificate or addendum, but we do have an affidavit from mother verifying all the complete information.

Should we translate it word for word and include the affidavit?

[Otto 83]

Should we translate it word for word and include the affidavit?

I would - one without the other doesn't seem right.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You do not translate anything. Any translation of documents for USCIS purposes must be done by a translator who is certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). A cerfied translator will know how to translate a document, as that's the reason he's certified. If a certified translator inserts a name where in the original doesn't have one, he is losing his certification and you are facing charges or immigration fraud.

I have no idea how this could been stated clearer.

[JERIII 8]

You do not translate anything. Any translation of documents for USCIS purposes must be done by a translator who is certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). A cerfied translator will know how to translate a document, as that's the reason he's certified. If a certified translator inserts a name where in the original doesn't have one, he is losing his certification and you are facing charges or immigration fraud.

I have no idea how this could been stated clearer.

Where on earth did you get this idea?

The only thing that the USCIS requires in a translation is that the translator sign a statement that he or she is competent to translate. No official certification is necessary. From the USCIS website

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

Lots of people on VJ have done their own translations.