DCF Frankfurt Please Help!!!

[Baby's Girl 1]

Hello everybody,

Hubby just got back from the Frankfurt Consulate. They told him we need translations of all my german documents (divorce decree, name change etc.) but I do remember quite well some fellow VJ User saying that documents in German AND English will be accepted for the petition.

Can please somebody provide me with a link?? I can't find it anymore

Thanks a lot

Edited July 30, 2014 by Baby's Girl

[quimolum 12]

Unfortunatly I think they are right.

I found this link: photos.state.gov/libraries/frankfurt/9318/consular_pdf/I130%20Instructions%20and%20Checklist.pdf

it says:

<quote>

5. Any document presented to USCIS that is not in English MUST have a COMPLETE translation into the English language. The person that completes the translation must list his/her name and indicate he/she is fluent in both the English and foreign language and that the translation is complete and accurate.

<\quote>

I think it is at NVC stage or consulate stage (after USCIS accepted your I130) that the document can be in local language (German).

Translators in Germany are insanely expensive!

I asked for a quote in Karlsruhe: it was 230 euros total for 3 documents of less than one page each.

So we chose to make the translation in the US instead (I hope they will accept it).

If you find cheaper in Germany please share....

[Baby's Girl 1]

This is what I have found:

9. TRANSLATIONS (original & one copy): All documents not in English or German must be accompanied by an English translation. Translations must be certified by a competent and registered translator. The original document that is being translated must also be presented with the original translation.

So I am confused... Its my husband's second visit to the embassy and he keeps getting different info's each time (not only on the translation but on documents that aparently have to be submitted)!! Argh....

Edited July 30, 2014 by Baby's Girl

[sandra68 10]

Hi,

I had some document in Greek, and it was translated into German, which was acceptable(it was the police report),on the checklist of the Consulate it only states 'mandatory english translations'when it concerns court and prison records.

good luck

Sandra

[quimolum 12]

The police certificate is only given at the NVC/Consulate stage. It is not needed at the USCIS stage.

Even if you file through DCF in Frankfurt it seems from the link I have sent that the requirement of translating all documents necessary for I-130 application should be translated in English. Then the police certificate, birth certificate, wedding certificate and military document of the applicant for the next step can either be in English or in the language of your consulate.

Where did you find point 9 that said that all document can be in English or German? Could you send me the link?

You are just beginning to apply right? You didn't get your I-130 yet?

[awaywego 28]

Baby's Girl, your husband was dropping off the I-130 and accompanying items, yes? Those should all be translated into English, as they are for USCIS. (The #5 instruction that quilmolum quoted above is from the I-130 packet submission instructions.) The IV packet items can be in either English or the consulate's local language, German. (The #9 instruction that Baby's Girl quoted above is from the IV packet submission instructions.) It's confusing to have these different rules, since we DCFers send all of our paperwork to the same place, but it makes sense if we think that others send them to different places. It might help to think about the packets as separate. (It also might not.)

To the translation question, you (general you) can do the translations yourselves if at least one of you is proficient in both English and the document's language. For reference, here is the VJ page on translations, and here is the FAQ on USCIS's site that includes translation information.

[awaywego 28]

Sorry, to add to the translation bit, as that info is incomplete: The above holds for the items to accompany the I-130. For the IV packet items, it looks like Frankfurt requires that documents that are not in English or German be certified by a "competent and registered translator." That information, including a list of translators, is linked from this page. (Someone who knows more about this could perhaps say more if anyone needs that info.)