Police & Birth Certificate Translation

[P A U L 14]

The police and birth certificates for my fiancee are Russian... do they HAVE to be translated into English? Some say that it is not necessary because the officers at the embassy speak Russian.

someone please shine some light on this, my fiancee is about to receive her packet from the embassy

Edited May 31, 2013 by P A U L

[stevie b 141]

The police and birth certificates for my fiancee are Russian... do they HAVE to be translated into English? Some say that it is not necessary because the officers at the embassy speak Russian.

someone please shine some light on this, my fiancee is about to receive her packet from the embassy

translate everything that is not in English.. it doesn't have to be a professional, just accurate

[Jeffrey S 5]

Yes they need to be translated. I have been using a company called Trustforte for this, they have been very professional and quick, I think they are in New York.

[St&Sv 33]

It's Russian and going to the Russian embassy, though having it in English will not hurt, you can have the documents in her native language. Give me a few and I will go through my links confirming what I said.

Also you may want to double check Paul if she is actually going to get a Packet or not. If I remember correctly your fiancee is on the other side of the country, yes? I know that Moscow embassy does not send a packet, but I believe you can request it to be mailed.

Edited June 1, 2013 by St&Sv

[St&Sv 33]

Look at the second outlined box, second bullet point:

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/supplements/MOS-SUP-ENGL-0001-1210.pdf

Though this one is for Moscow, However

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html

Look under "Required Documents" and Notes in red. (second notes at bottom)

You can also email the embassy directly and ask. Also you may want to schedule her medical asap because i've heard cases where they went to medical and needed a TB test done. The results for this test I hear take 2 months.

Edited June 1, 2013 by St&Sv

[St&Sv 33]

Well I guess my edit time is timed out, but wanted to add this:

I would say that if you get everything translated now though, if that is easier, then you'll already be one step ahead on the AoS game. I would also throw in the immunization records too, because that will need to be translated for later use too. At least this is what I've read, i'm still in the NoA1 waiting for NoA2 status, everything I know is purely researched to the ends of the earth, and read many times on the forums. I've tried to look as far into the process(es) as I can to see if my Fiancee and I can kill two birds with one stone later down the road.

For translations, this might be a good guideline:

http://www.***removed***/immigration/document-english-translation.html

[paws057 9]

The police and birth certificates for my fiancee are Russian... do they HAVE to be translated into English? Some say that it is not necessary because the officers at the embassy speak Russian.

someone please shine some light on this, my fiancee is about to receive her packet from the embassy

Yes, it is my understanding that everything must be translated into English. I did read the police certificate does not have to be certified though, in other words it doesn't have to have that little blue stamp on it. You are right they do speak Russian but when you come through passport control it is doubtful if they do? Since they will open the packet and look at the documents they better be in English. My finacee's daughter is a certified translator so believe me that helps.

Edited June 1, 2013 by paws057

[vbtwo 54]

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

Says you need an English translation for the birth certificate and police certificate.

Russia seems to be an exception to the general rule of "you don't need to have translations of things that are in the native language of the country" that most other consulates follow. Even here on top it says you only need to have translations of documents that are not in English or Russian, but then goes on to say that you do need translations of the birth certificate and the police report.

Edited June 2, 2013 by vbtwo

[ONA 133]

The police and birth certfcates do have to be translated into English. The good news is that if your fiancee's English is good, she can do the translations herself - I did my own translations.

[P A U L 14]

ok, what confuses me is the very first sentence on this page says translations are not needed: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

All documents not written in English or Russian must be accompanied by certified translations

however, it does go on to say that Russian Police certificates need to be translated:

In addition, U.S. Embassy Moscow requires that all Russian police certificates and military records be translated into English; these translations need not be certified.

Edited June 9, 2013 by P A U L

[St&Sv 33]

ok, what confuses me is the very first sentence on this page says translations are not needed: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

however, it does go on to say that Russian Police certificates need to be translated:

Welcome to Russia I would say If ONA said they need to be translated I woud listen to her. She's already been through the process after all.

Thank You ONA for clarifying this for us.

[vbtwo 54]

ok, what confuses me is the very first sentence on this page says translations are not needed: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

however, it does go on to say that Russian Police certificates need to be translated:

Yeah, that page is confusing. I don't know what documents they mean that don't need to be translated. For every document it lists later on that page, it also says you need an English translation.

I guess the only thing that doesn't need to be translated is your proof of ongoing relationship.

[baron555 934]

We never translated the police cert for my wife but we did translate the BC, not for the Embassy but for the county clerk for our marriage cert and for AOS.

Always look ahead in this process; too many folks only focus on the present.

[St&Sv 33]

When in doubt email them directly, this is the response I received from them today. Though I did not ask about the birth certificate.