Translation

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Oh, and I just read your latest post. If it turns out they don't need to be notarised, having them sworn as being a true translation in front of a solicitor is just fine. Indeed, none of the affidavits attesting to the validity of our marriage that we had to submit when we had an RFE for the I-130 were notarised, but sworn in front of a solicitor. (I paid her in margaritas. )

Yep, call the Embassy extortion line, and get the weekly email code. You can do this on Monday morning. Write an email with this code in the subject line and mark urgent. You will get an auto-response saying your email will not be read, but if you have the code it will be handled. Don't expect a reply for at least a few days.

Edited February 20, 2010 by elmcitymaven

[lucyrich 20]

Note that the link which elmcitymaven points out includes the following language:

Translations must be in single copy and certified by a qualified independent translator that the translation is accurate.

I'm not sure exactly what's meant by the word "independent", but it sure sounds to me like that is intended to rule out having the petitioner or beneficiary do the translations themselves, since they're probably not independent. (BTW, USCIS doesn't seem to have a problem with petitioner or beneficiary doing translations for their own cases, but consulates aren't bound by USCIS rules and procedures).

Since that's also from the website of the US embassy in London, it sounds like there's some inconsistency within the organization, both on this "independent" issue and on the issue of notarization.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

London has accepted "home-grown" translations before. This is just a total muddle, as lucyrich points out. The Embassy website has been a total shambles for years -- I remember trying to get info from in in 2001 about getting a new passport and it sent me in an infinite loop.

I'm moving this thread to the UK sub-forum for at least a little while, because Jamie (londonhornet) might benefit from the experience of people who went through London who have had to supply translated documents. If we get no substantive responses, I'll move it back to the Embassy/Consulate forum.

[pushbrk 13,087]

Certified, not notarised. But the link you provide (I think I understand the problem pushbrk is referring to -- I could only see the link in Firefox, but not when I used Chrome) is in conflict with this.

Right, I'm using Chrome. Looks totally different in IE.

[londonhornet 0]

I'm more and more confused with the more I read, my brain is absolutely fried.

I appreciate the fact everyone is trying to be helpful, but when it comes to legal and immigration issues I need to be spoken to as a 10 year old!!

To be perfectly honest, I don't even know the difference between having something certified and notarized.

What I think I need to know is if something needs to be certified what do I do. And likewise if something needs to be notarized.

Ultimately, I have 3 documents and although none of which are compulsary to the visa application, they provide additional evidence of financial security to prove I wont be a burden on the US Government.

In truth I'm sooo disappointed at the lack of detail the official US Embassy website provide, and if there are queries we should be able to speak to someone without spending £76 per minute on the phone. What a blessing VJ is because without it, we would all be lost!! I am mentally exhausted with the whole process!!! MUST KEEP THE FAITH!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi

I think I am very close to my interview date, and have suddenly had a bit of a panic attack!! My wife and her family are Puerto Rican US citizens, and although my wife is fluent in both Spanish and English, a couple of supporting documents are in Spanish (such as my mother in laws evidence of financial income). They are not documents such as Birth Certificates etc, but do evidence the fact that my MIL earns 'x' amount per year and is employed by so and so...

Is it worth finding somewhere to get these translated, or can my wife translate the letters into English as she is fluent in both?! I've read through several posts on these forums and some state people do them themselves others take them to get notarized/certified etc etc... Please help!!!

Thank you everyone

Consulates will generally accept a translation by anyone fluent in both languages. There is no rule against one doing their own translations. They must be certified and SOME consulates require notarization of the signature, not a big deal, but something to check. Most do not require notarization.

Your wife would needs to "certify" the documents thusly...

I, (full name) certifiy that I am fluent in both the Spanish and English languages and that this is a true and correct translation of the (name of document). Translated from the original on (date).

________________________

Signature

Name Printed

Address printed

Phone number printed

NOTARY STAMP (if required)

Alla puts this statement on the translation itself when possible, if necessary she adds a second (or more) pages then marks them "page 1 of 2" for example.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm more and more confused with the more I read, my brain is absolutely fried.

I appreciate the fact everyone is trying to be helpful, but when it comes to legal and immigration issues I need to be spoken to as a 10 year old!!

To be perfectly honest, I don't even know the difference between having something certified and notarized.

What I think I need to know is if something needs to be certified what do I do. And likewise if something needs to be notarized.

Ultimately, I have 3 documents and although none of which are compulsary to the visa application, they provide additional evidence of financial security to prove I wont be a burden on the US Government.

In truth I'm sooo disappointed at the lack of detail the official US Embassy website provide, and if there are queries we should be able to speak to someone without spending £76 per minute on the phone. What a blessing VJ is because without it, we would all be lost!! I am mentally exhausted with the whole process!!! MUST KEEP THE FAITH!

see above about the certification. A notary is just an official witness that it is your wifes ( or whoever's) signature. If a notary is required she would prepare the document, then take it to a notary and sign in front of them and the notray witnesses her signature. When Alla needs to notarize a translation she usually takes it to the bank where they notarize for bank customers for free.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

When Alla needs to notarize a translation she usually takes it to the bank where they notarize for bank customers for free.

Gary, in general I agree with the advice that you've given above, but the matter is complicated because getting documents notarised in the UK is not as easy or inexpensive as it is in the US. (They are filing DCF.) The OP's first line of attack (after having a great weekend with his wife and drinking at least one pint for me) still needs to be to get the official word from the consulate on whether or not it needs to be notarised, and what constitutes an "independent" translator due to conflicting information on the embassy website.

Jamie, I would highly recommend booking that 9.30am slot on the 26th for Tati at the Special Consular Services unit just in case it does need to be notarised. If it turns out you don't need it, it can be cancelled through the website. First thing Monday morning call the Extortion Line: 09042-450-100 (120p/min). See if they can answer your question (usually they can't) and if they can't, ask for the email code. The email address you'll need to send it to is londonconsular@state.gov.

I would ask them the following questions, after giving background on the nature of the documents and stating that the info on the website is contradictory (provide links as guideposts):

• Do these documents need to be notarised?
  
• If not, does a certified translation need to be sworn to in front of an officer of the court, or can it be self-certified? (as per the method Gary states above)
  
• Who is an "independent" translator? Can my wife be considered independent?
  

If you need to get them notarised, and Tati can't get to the Embassy, we'll sort this out.

[londonhornet 0]

Hey Meagan

The appointment date is a little inconvenient as we're supposed to be visiting Italy for the weekend 25th to the 1st (a late valentines day celebration!) But...

I've been doing some thinking. I know the website contradicts itself. However, the insturuction I initially read from the guidelines is:

"All documents not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that state that the translation is accurate, and sworn to before a Notary Public. "

If you hadn't found the other link regarding the independant translation I don't think I would have even considered it...

Surely if I follow the guideline set above, and have Tati OR even better another bilingual person that we know translate the documents, then get it notarized with a solicitor, we are still abiding by the 'rules' set in the sentence above?

I phoned a couple of solicitors this morning and they have said the fee I will be looking at is £40 for the first document and £10 thereafter for any more. In total thats £60, well worth it to avoid any dramas, wouldnt you say?! Or is that deemed expensive in the notary world!

[londonhornet 0]

P.s I've also scanned and forwarded the documents to an indpendant translator who can also notarize the documents... lets see what the damage would be financially when he gets back to me!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My wife and her family are Puerto Rican US citizens, and although my wife is fluent in both Spanish and English, a couple of supporting documents are in Spanish (such as my mother in laws evidence of financial income). They are not documents such as Birth Certificates etc, but do evidence the fact that my MIL earns 'x' amount per year and is employed by so and so...

Since these aren't official documents like birth certificates, would it be possible for MIL to get an employment letter written in English? If you're looking to show support from MIL, then her most recent tax return and photocopies of some pay stubs should do it if you have those in English. Just wondering if you could avoid the translation thing by going back to the source and providing English documents. If she lives in the US, I'm a little puzzled as to why she has Spanish proofs of income.

[londonhornet 0]

Since these aren't official documents like birth certificates, would it be possible for MIL to get an employment letter written in English? If you're looking to show support from MIL, then her most recent tax return and photocopies of some pay stubs should do it if you have those in English. Just wondering if you could avoid the translation thing by going back to the source and providing English documents. If she lives in the US, I'm a little puzzled as to why she has Spanish proofs of income.

Thank you for your input - she lives in Puerto Rico which is considered a part of the United States. And Puerto Rican's first language is Spanish. I have photocopies of pay stubs and tax returns but they aren't something which are easy to translate as there are so many abbreviations etc... The letters I want to get translated are from her employers stating she is in a stable job, earns so much per year and is entitiled to so much pension etc.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

P.s I've also scanned and forwarded the documents to an indpendant translator who can also notarize the documents... lets see what the damage would be financially when he gets back to me!!

This would be ideal. The problem with the other plan you list above is that solicitors are not authorised to notarise documents unless they are also qualified as notaries. Dorky notary note: all notaries must be barristers, solicitors, or completed the legal education to become a barrister or solicitor, but not all barristers or solicitors are notaries. Solicitors can have you swear to the document, but this is not the same as notarisation.

And the 60 quid you quote is pretty much par for the course, so I wouldn't put myself out to try to find anything cheaper. If the translator's fee turns out to be insane, I think the best route would be to have a bilingual friend translate it, and then have it notarised. The friend will need to be present to have the process done.

Just be thankful that you will not have to do this again in 2 years when you lift conditions!!!

[londonhornet 0]

Just for anyone else's information that may get themselves into the dilemma of what to do under these circumstances, I finally have a result for you!

I spoke to the US Embassy directly via the 'extortion line' - as long as all documents in a foreign language are translated to English via a bilingual person, (irrespective of whether they are sponsor, beneficiary etc) that is absolutely fine. The translator can certify the documents as a true record of the translation.

As far as the notarisation goes, they prefer documents to be notarised, however wont refuse admissibility of documents if they are not notoarised. Hope this helps. Thanks to everyone for your assistance!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Yay Jamie! Thanks for coming back and giving us this info -- it could really be of help to someone else in the future.