Chinese Marriage Certificate

[mashume 0]

First Posting, been reading here abouts for a while...

Question is this: Our marriage certificate (married in 2009 in PRC) is in the form of a small red book roughly 6 pages long plus cover. On a single two-page spread is all the pertinent information (ID numbers, names, dates, photos, chop (stamped seal) etc... the other pages contain information about Chinese law regarding marriages and such things.

How many of these pages need to be translated for inclusion with an I-130?

Thanks for all your help so far,

Mashume

[bigdog 376]

My wife translated the total documents on divorce and settlement, if that helps, better safe than sorry - attach both copies

[bullmastiff 1]

Go to Gong Zen Ban ( notarial office ) ; costs about 400- 500 yuan ; they will take care the rest . you need not tell how many pages ,etc... they know what to do.

The beauty of China is every one knows how to do business . They often said " women jiecheng wei ni fuwu " ( we will service you whole heartedly ) . yes, bring that cash , they will take care of you .

I am surprised that they have not offered the notarial service when you got married in 2009 at the Ming Zen Ban ( Marriage Bureau office ).

[Palladin 18]

I translated all pages and everything. I scan the image of each page and put into a word document. Next to the image I put English translations. I did not use an official translation agency. I hope that works. You need to bring the original marriage certificate anyway at visa interview time.

Edited June 30, 2011 by Palladin

[My_Wife_and_I 1]

I translated all pages and everything. I scan the image of each page and put into a word document. Next to the image I put English translations. I did not use an official translation agency. I hope that works. You need to bring the original marriage certificate anyway at visa interview time.

The advise we got here, is that the translation needs to be certified and that this can only be done in the beneficiary's Hukou, so that's what we did. We were told that it was not acceptable to just translate it yourself. I'm no expert on any of this stuff so we just followed what others here said they had been successful with. We only filed CR1 recently so there has not been enough time to know if what we did is truly right or not. BTW- the translations we received for our marriage certificate (red book) and my wife's divorce decree were bound in larger "white books".

Hope this helps-

David

Edited June 30, 2011 by My_Wife_and_I

[Palladin 18]

The advise we got here, is that the translation needs to be certified and that this can only be done in the beneficiary's Hukou, so that's what we did. We were told that it was not acceptable to just translate it yourself. I'm no expert on any of this stuff so we just followed what others here said they had been successful with. We only filed CR1 recently so there has not been enough time to know if what we did is truly right or not. BTW- the translations we received for our marriage certificate (red book) and my wife's divorce decree were bound in larger "white books".

Hope this helps-

David

David:

You married in January. Why did you wait until recently to file? If I were you I will try to file as soon as possible with whatever documents I have in hands. The USCIS only requires copies of documents. My understanding is they are pretty loose on authenticity of initial filing documents, as long as you attach a statement saying all copies are authentic copies of the original. It is at visa interview time when you are required to present all original documents and all official English translations, and they will scrutinize things more closely.

[My_Wife_and_I 1]

David:

You married in January. Why did you wait until recently to file? If I were you I will try to file as soon as possible with whatever documents I have in hands. The USCIS only requires copies of documents. My understanding is they are pretty loose on authenticity of initial filing documents, as long as you attach a statement saying all copies are authentic copies of the original. It is at visa interview time when you are required to present all original documents and all official English translations, and they will scrutinize things more closely.

Yes, we filed much longer after getting married than we planned to. We were missing a critical document (on my side) that we had to get from the State of California and this just took forever! Regarding the translations, I was just sharing the guidance we received here at VJ.

David

[bullmastiff 1]

Correct, correct ! you did it right . as long as you have the notarial translation ( red stamps from the Gong Zen Ban ) ; it is authentically translated . all set. as good as it can be.

[LBeachey 45]

The advise we got here, is that the translation needs to be certified and that this can only be done in the beneficiary's Hukou, so that's what we did. We were told that it was not acceptable to just translate it yourself. I'm no expert on any of this stuff so we just followed what others here said they had been successful with. We only filed CR1 recently so there has not been enough time to know if what we did is truly right or not. BTW- the translations we received for our marriage certificate (red book) and my wife's divorce decree were bound in larger "white books".

Hope this helps-

David

While USCIS may accept a self translation or even an 'official' translation from the US. Guangzhou is usually (always?) insistent on getting the official Chinese notarization in the form of 'white books'. When it comes to the interview, make sure you have the 'white books'.

[foofurrah 4]

Additional question: Did you need translations of both marriage certificates? We were issued two (one for me, one for my wife) which have the same information on them except for who it is issued to (one for her, one for me). Did any other China visa seekers have this? Did you have them both translated and certified or just one? Thanks.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Additional question: Did you need translations of both marriage certificates? We were issued two (one for me, one for my wife) which have the same information on them except for who it is issued to (one for her, one for me). Did any other China visa seekers have this? Did you have them both translated and certified or just one? Thanks.

One is enough. I've seen USCIS send an RFE or the customary Notarial Translation from the Gong Zheng Chu. I doubt the self translation mentioned about made it through USCIS but it will definitely NOT cut it with the Consulate.

[foofurrah 4]

One is enough. I've seen USCIS send an RFE or the customary Notarial Translation from the Gong Zheng Chu. I doubt the self translation mentioned about made it through USCIS but it will definitely NOT cut it with the Consulate.

Thanks for the quick response. We're getting it translated and notarized at the gongzhengchu as suggested on this forum. No reason to give any extra cause for delay. I did send a self-translation to USCIS, haven't heard anything either way on that yet. I'll report back when I do.

Edited March 7, 2012 by foofurrah

[pushbrk 12,898]

Thanks for the quick response. We're getting it translated and notarized at the gongzhengchu as suggested on this forum. No reason to give any extra cause for delay. I did send a self-translation to USCIS, haven't heard anything either way on that yet. I'll report back when I do.

Expect an RFE. Good thing you'll already have the correct document. Just have the pages scanned in order and emailed. No need for the original except to carry to the interview.

[foofurrah 4]

Expect an RFE. Good thing you'll already have the correct document. Just have the pages scanned in order and emailed. No need for the original except to carry to the interview.

One more question, we just got the official white books back from the Gongzhengchu. It has the translations inside, but for attestation only says:

Notarial Matter: The translation version is in conformity with its original. This is to certify that the English translation of (...) attached hereto is in conformity with its Chinese original.

Then the translation of the official stamp and the notary office information. Is this sufficient? Doesn't it need something about the competence of the translator, or is it okay because it's an official document?

Edited March 14, 2012 by foofurrah

[pushbrk 12,898]

One more question, we just got the official white books back from the Gongzhengchu. It has the translations inside, but for attestation only says:

Notarial Matter: The translation version is in conformity with its original. This is to certify that the English translation of (...) attached hereto is in conformity with its Chinese original.

Then the translation of the official stamp and the notary office information. Is this sufficient? Doesn't it need something about the competence of the translator, or is it okay because it's an official document?

Not for these documents. What you'll send is a copy of the entire white book, from cover to cover.