RFE translation of birth certificate

[Pitaya 2,577]

My fiancee in China got all documents professionally translated and notarized.

Both service was provided by the same company for us.

Please take the time to review the numerous threads in the China Regional Forum that speak about the use of Notarial Certificates (AKA-White Books) that is primarily a China-specific requirement, and is very likely not applicable to immigration processes from other countries.

There have even been instances where the beneficiary was born in China, domiciled in another country, attempting to get a K1 visa with a simple translation of their birth certificate. Only to be given an RFE and instructed by the non-China-based US embassy/consulate to obtain a Chinese Notarial Certificate of their birth/death/divorce, etc. Here are a couple of similar-themed threads: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/288884-chinese-birth-certificate/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/445106-new-zealand-police-certificate-and-chinese-birth-certificate/

[CowBoE 429]

Please take the time to review the numerous threads in the China Regional Forum that speak about the use of Notarial Certificates (AKA-White Books) that is primarily a China-specific requirement, and is very likely not applicable to immigration processes from other countries.

There have even been instances where the beneficiary was born in China, domiciled in another country, attempting to get a K1 visa with a simple translation of their birth certificate. Only to be given an RFE and instructed by the non-China-based US embassy/consulate to obtain a Chinese Notarial Certificate of their birth/death/divorce, etc. Here are a couple of similar-themed threads: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/288884-chinese-birth-certificate/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/445106-new-zealand-police-certificate-and-chinese-birth-certificate/

My fiancee was born and raised in China, and always been a Chinese citizen,

and she will is scheduled for interview at Guangzhou embassy in mid August.

She did study in Russia for 5 years to get her second college degree

so we obtained the Russian police certificate (in English) for that as well.

So far she has gotten all required certified documents from official (Chinese) government offices

on government stationary papers with official stamps, and we had them all English translated

and notarized by a local translation company that (supposedly) specializes in these type of documents.

[zbd142 12]

When I went through my AOS process, my lawyer had told me that if I translate it myself, it wouldn't work. So upon her recommendation, I asked a friend who is not related to me and fluent in my native language review the documents I translated and sign the affidavit of translation. I didn't get them notarized or professionally translated. This worked with no problems for me.

I feel like they might have found it insufficient because you translated it yourself. If you have a friend fluent in both English and Italian, ask him/her to sign the affidavit of translation and attach that with your documents.

[CowBoE 429]

I'm no expert in this matter, but based on people's feedback on this and

other previous threads related to this matter, I can conclude..

1. Safest Choice

Get it professionally translated and get affidavit of translation notarized

2. Likely Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by someone fluent in English and get their affidavit of translation

3. Possible Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by someone fluent in English

4. Lower Possible Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by you

This is what makes VJ site so great, because we are all able to

share various experiences that worked or failed.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Anyone fluent in both languages can do the translation, even the applicant or the USC petitioner/sponsor. You have to do the translation completely and correctly though, and you must add the certification by the translator on the translated document. No notarization needed. I do not believe the information on that other site to be correct. I would like to see a USCIS source back up that stuff. We are speaking about AOS and dealing with the USCIS and not DoS/consulate abroad. > http://www.visajourney.com/content/translations

To add to the feedback on this, my husband translated his own birth certificate without any issues. I have seen others state the same.

All that said, I agree with Harpa. Since the first translation received an RFE, then the OP should probably just be safe and pay someone for a translation this time around.

[CowBoE 429]

Just want to follow up with another similar thread for this, and this was my post.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/507191-foreign-language-translation-of-documents/

[Pitaya 2,577]

My fiancee was born and raised in China, and always been a Chinese citizen,

and she will is scheduled for interview at Guangzhou embassy in mid August.

She did study in Russia for 5 years to get her second college degree

so we obtained the Russian police certificate (in English) for that as well.

So far she has gotten all required certified documents from official (Chinese) government offices

on government stationary papers with official stamps, and we had them all English translated

and notarized by a local translation company that (supposedly) specializes in these type of documents.

johnim,

All I am saying is that what works for China-related immigration journeys is not necessarily applicable to other countries. Please keep that in mind when you are making recommendations about other countries specific instructions and requirements.

[Pilou 1]

Thank you so much for replying! Freaking out over here.

Rev.com is reliable I used it as well.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

To reiterate, people can do their own translations, but the translation must be COMPLETE and free of errors. If there are errors in the english, then it is likely to get rejected because the statement about fluency in both languages is incorrect. If the translation does not look like the original, then it risks getting rejected. I believe the OP's was rejected because she only translated the "main text" and not the whole thing. You couldn't for instance, have a whole BC, and then just write on another piece of paper, "John X. was born on May 13." and call it a translation.

I have seen two recent rejections (maybe three) for translations, which I initially suspected might be a change of the tide at USCIS, but in those cases after second thought, seem to have been "homemade" looking and unacceptable for other reasons.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[FROWNcat 24]

I'm no expert in this matter, but based on people's feedback on this and

other previous threads related to this matter, I can conclude..

1. Safest Choice

Get it professionally translated and get affidavit of translation notarized

2. Likely Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by someone fluent in English and get their affidavit of translation

3. Possible Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by someone fluent in English

4. Lower Possible Acceptable Choice

Get it translated by you

This is what makes VJ site so great, because we are all able to

share various experiences that worked or failed.

I guess I have no choice but to go with number 1. I'll do it through rev.com today, everyone here seems to have had a great experience with them. I translated it again, so I guess I'll send my birth certificate, again, and their translation with the notarization and whatnot. Hopefully I can keep the original documents and just send them a photocopy -I'd like to have the originals.

Would it be confusing if I also sent my own translation again or would their suffice?

I think I made a hug mistake when I only translated the main text with my parents name and time and date of birth. I really do think I could translate it but I don't wanna take chances on this, especially after I can't get an RFE twice for the same thing.

[FROWNcat 24]

To reiterate, people can do their own translations, but the translation must be COMPLETE and free of errors. If there are errors in the english, then it is likely to get rejected because the statement about fluency in both languages is incorrect. If the translation does not look like the original, then it risks getting rejected. I believe the OP's was rejected because she only translated the "main text" and not the whole thing. You couldn't for instance, have a whole BC, and then just write on another piece of paper, "John X. was born on May 13." and call it a translation.

I have seen two recent rejections (maybe three) for translations, which I initially suspected might be a change of the tide at USCIS, but in those cases after second thought, seem to have been "homemade" looking and unacceptable for other reasons.

Yeah, I admit it was my fault for doing a quick translation only of the main text when they wouldn't understand the rest of it. I'm upset I now have to pay for it when I could have done it right the first time. For some reason I thought a scrap of paper was going to be good enough...

The only thing people have different opinions about is whether it should be notarized or not. I can't seem to find anything specific on the USCIS web site or the guidelines for AOS.

Since I got an RFE for this, does it mean the rest of my documents were filed correctly or is it wishful thinking?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You won't send the originals to rev.com. You will just scan a copy to them. DO NOT confuse things by sending in another version of your own translation back to USCIS along with a professional one. Just do the professional and leave it at that. Good luck.

[FROWNcat 24]

You won't send the originals to rev.com. You will just scan a copy to them. DO NOT confuse things by sending in another version of your own translation back to USCIS along with a professional one. Just do the professional and leave it at that. Good luck.

I wasn't planning to. I just want to send the letter back to them, my birth certificate (so they know what has been translated) and the official translation with the extra paper saying who translated it etc. That's all.

Thank you for always replying to me.

[Ryan H 3,812]

***One non responsive post contributing nothing to the discussion removed along with one post quoting. Please be responsive to the OP's situation or refrain from posting in this thread. Anymore non responsive posts will result in a thread ban.***

[ayf0308 3]

I did my own trnaslation, and they accepted it, I just signed the back of the paper with the legend I do hereby certify that I am capable of translate Spanish to English and that this is and accurate translation of the original... my printed name and my signature