Here's one for the experts

[kruel 0]

Hello everyone, I have been extensively researching the steps I should take to get my girlfriend at my side as soon as possible. But here is the deal, I met her 7 years ago, and we were married in the Dominican Republic in 2001, I joined the military in 2002 and that destroyed our marriage, but not our love for eachother. Now I have a dilema, I left the military and I am now looking for the fastest most effective way to have the love of my life at my side. So I have a few questions for you.

How will the fact that we were married and now divorced affect our chances of approval?

Will it slow the process down?

What about Immigration Attorneys? Are they worth it? What ones would you recommend?

Translation of papers...Is there a cheap specific service that I can use? I am fluent in Spanish, I can

probably translate them myself, although I am not sure how this would look or if indeed I need some sort

of stamp or something?

Thats about it, thanks for your responses ahead of time!! Please help me!!

- Nelson -

PS What does "touched" mean, I know RFE (request for more evidence), not sure about all that NOA and NVC business an acronym dictionary would be golden right now

[JenT 0]

The fact that you were married and divorced before should have no bearing on your case, but be prepared to explain your history.

You'll get a variety of opinions about attorneys here... I personally did not use one because I felt like I could wade through this process on my own. My case is not complicated. Some posters have admitted that their attorneys' incompetence had delayed their processing or made things worse for them... others have been quote satisfied with their counsel. "Buyer beware" is the key here.

Translations should be done by someone who is certified to translate... some have done their own translations, but you may be risking an RFE if the USCIS is not satisfied.

As far as touches go, read up on it here....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=300

There is an acronym guide here somewhere... I haven't had the need for it, so I don't have the link...

Jen

Edited August 17, 2006 by JenT

[neptune970 0]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=definition

this is the acronym dictionary you wanted

[kruel 0]

wow thanks for fast responses, what about the immigration attorneys? "Buyer Beware" doesnt sound too hot.

[Mew 0]

wow thanks for fast responses, what about the immigration attorneys? "Buyer Beware" doesnt sound too hot.

About lawyers, you can read these two threads:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=25217&hl=

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=23070&hl=

Good luck!

[kruel 0]

Ok, thank god i found this site, I was getting ready to spend 1500 dollars on a lawyer, I figured I can follow the instructions that this site lays out, god bless you guys

[Yodrak 7]

JenT,

Where did you get this from?

Certified by what entity?

Yodrak

...

Translations should be done by someone who is certified to translate....

.....

Jen

[JenT 0]

JenT,

Where did you get this from?

Certified by what entity?

Yodrak

...

Translations should be done by someone who is certified to translate....

.....

Jen

2D, per the attached link to the I-129F...

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...iles/I-129F.pdf

[john_and_marlene 162]

JenT,

Where did you get this from?

Certified by what entity?

Yodrak

...

Translations should be done by someone who is certified to translate....

.....

Jen

2D, per the attached link to the I-129F...

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...iles/I-129F.pdf

The certification mentioned there is the certification by the translator that the translation is complete and correct and that they are competent to translate the foreign language into English. It does not say that the translator has to be "certified".

[BlueSurf 0]

My fiance had her documents translated by someone local to her... my "certified" translator took one look at that work and said it wouldn't pass any review here. I was quite happy with the work of my certified translator and I did see the difference. It always helps to have things as "official" looking as you can make them IMO. Then again, our app hasn't been approved yet...

[twellspeak 0]

My fiance had her documents translated by someone local to her... my "certified" translator took one look at that work and said it wouldn't pass any review here. I was quite happy with the work of my certified translator and I did see the difference. It always helps to have things as "official" looking as you can make them IMO. Then again, our app hasn't been approved yet...

Be sure to check out the Embassy reviews HERE. Do a little research into timelines for the DR HERE.

[Yodrak 7]

BlueSurf,

You've piqued my curiosity by putting quotes around the word 'certified' - is the translator certified or not?

And if so, certified by what entity?

Yodrak

My fiance had her documents translated by someone local to her... my "certified" translator took one look at that work and said it wouldn't pass any review here. I was quite happy with the work of my certified translator and I did see the difference. It always helps to have things as "official" looking as you can make them IMO. Then again, our app hasn't been approved yet...

[JenT 0]

So the certification could simply be a notarized statement, or equivalent? How to prove/disprove that someone is translating correctly?

Jen

[lucyrich 20]

The USCIS does not recognize any agency to certify translators.

When a translation is given, the person doing the translation must certify that he/she is competent to do the translation and that the translation is correct.

There's no notarized statement or anything else like that needed.

The complete guidelines, including a suggested wording of the certification statement, are in The USCIS General Tips Page, among other places. Item D on the I-129F instructions contains the following brief summary of that policy: Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

I did the translation of my wife's birth certificate, and it didn't present a problem whatsoever. I'm not certified -- my formal credentials are limited to two years of college instruction in the language, but most of my fluency comes from lots of informal conversational practice since then.

If we had been required to submit a document where subtle shades of meaning in the precise language were crucial to our case, then in order to avoid an appearance of conflict of interest, I probably would have hired someone else to do the translation. But I felt confident that I was translating a routine birth certificate accurately without distorting any of the material facts of our case in the least. Everyone should be prepared for the possibility that translations will be reviewed at the consulate by someone fluent in both languages, so it is in your best interest to make sure the translations are complete, accurate, and not misleading.

[lady 0]

Hello everyone, I have been extensively researching the steps I should take to get my girlfriend at my side as soon as possible. But here is the deal, I met her 7 years ago, and we were married in the Dominican Republic in 2001, I joined the military in 2002 and that destroyed our marriage, but not our love for eachother. Now I have a dilema, I left the military and I am now looking for the fastest most effective way to have the love of my life at my side. So I have a few questions for you.

How will the fact that we were married and now divorced affect our chances of approval?

Will it slow the process down?

What about Immigration Attorneys? Are they worth it? What ones would you recommend?

Translation of papers...Is there a cheap specific service that I can use? I am fluent in Spanish, I can

probably translate them myself, although I am not sure how this would look or if indeed I need some sort

of stamp or something?

Thats about it, thanks for your responses ahead of time!! Please help me!!

- Nelson -

PS What does "touched" mean, I know RFE (request for more evidence), not sure about all that NOA and NVC business an acronym dictionary would be golden right now

time line is approx 18 months

don't think you need an attorney

try this site www.dominicanstotheusa.com

good luck!

Edited August 19, 2006 by lady