Translation of documents

[ladywhite 0]

Hi there:

I have a quick question.

I have done all the translations myself. But, I couldn't find the statements I need to put at the bottom of the documents (saying something like 'I am good at English so capable of correctly translating this..') before I sign my name as a translator. I found those statements somewhere on VJ but unfortunately can't find them now.

Please direct me to that page, please. Thank a lot.

Ladywhite

[Silke 1]

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I (typed name) , certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English language and language xyz , and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled xyz .

Signature

Date Typed Name

Address

Edited April 3, 2007 by silke

[Otto 83]

May I ask which documents you translated yourself? (Curious)

[Cécy 44]

USCIS link

This is the 'offical way' the USCIS presents it.

[Ephesus 0]

You are 'good' at English?

[ladywhite 0]

May I ask which documents you translated yourself? (Curious)

I translated the evidence of my name change.

[ladywhite 0]

All your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot, everyone.

Ladywhite

[MM_MS 0]

You are 'good' at English?

LOL

[jaime+leo 0]

Wait, does all this mean that anyone who is fluent in English and the language in question can translate the foreign documents? It'd be a lot easier for my fiance to translate his police report than to pay a certified translator to do it and take two weeks.

Sometimes reading these forums give me more questions than I started out with!

[athena_ny 1]

Wait, does all this mean that anyone who is fluent in English and the language in question can translate the foreign documents? It'd be a lot easier for my fiance to translate his police report than to pay a certified translator to do it and take two weeks.

Sometimes reading these forums give me more questions than I started out with!

The best way I've seen this described is: it says certified translatION not translatOR. From a professional translator, she said that there really is no such thing in the US, she can pull out her certificate recognizing her a translator from some association but that really means nothing and no one ever wants to see it, anyway. You're certifying the translation is accurate and you're competent to translate it. Many "professional" translators will do the same thing you do yourself, down to the statement saying they're competent to translate.

We translated my husband's birth certificate for AOS, and our interview is already scheduled, so I'm assuming there's no RFE coming about it - many people do it themselves with no issues.

[ladywhite 0]

Wait, does all this mean that anyone who is fluent in English and the language in question can translate the foreign documents? It'd be a lot easier for my fiance to translate his police report than to pay a certified translator to do it and take two weeks.

Sometimes reading these forums give me more questions than I started out with!

The best way I've seen this described is: it says certified translatION not translatOR. From a professional translator, she said that there really is no such thing in the US, she can pull out her certificate recognizing her a translator from some association but that really means nothing and no one ever wants to see it, anyway. You're certifying the translation is accurate and you're competent to translate it. Many "professional" translators will do the same thing you do yourself, down to the statement saying they're competent to translate.

We translated my husband's birth certificate for AOS, and our interview is already scheduled, so I'm assuming there's no RFE coming about it - many people do it themselves with no issues.

Meow mix: Thank you for your explanation.

And some people should realize that not everyone was born with English as their first language like you were.

[Otto 83]

We should use caution when self-translating legal documents. Check with the laws of your home-country before doing so. It is/may not (be)enough to be fluent in a language. It might (might) be good enough for USCIS/Dept of State, etc -but don't rely on that for future legal use. Just be cautious.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, wills, diplomas, legal documents all need to be certified.

Certified translations are governed by local laws in each country.

In a non-certified translation the translator is sometimes entitled to give a personal style and tone to the text, to make it more appropriate for the target audience.

Certified translations often must be an exact translation of the source and must always include a clause from the certifier together with a round seal affixed which only Certified Court translators may use, and must be certified by the translators signature, in order to be accepted by the courts and the authorities.

@ - Someone said Certified Translators don't exist in the US - of course they do.

[ladywhite 0]

We should use caution when self-translating legal documents. Check with the laws of your home-country before doing so. It is/may not (be)enough to be fluent in a language. It might (might) be good enough for USCIS/Dept of State, etc -but don't rely on that for future legal use. Just be cautious.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, wills, diplomas, legal documents all need to be certified.

Certified translations are governed by local laws in each country.

In a non-certified translation the translator is sometimes entitled to give a personal style and tone to the text, to make it more appropriate for the target audience.

Certified translations often must be an exact translation of the source and must always include a clause from the certifier together with a round seal affixed which only Certified Court translators may use, and must be certified by the translators signature, in order to be accepted by the courts and the authorities.

@ - Someone said Certified Translators don't exist in the US - of course they do.

I do greatly appreciate your input.

From the experiences of successful Thai beneficiaries, documents such as House registration, ID card that are translated by the beneficiaries themselves are accepted by Consulate officers at the US consulate in Bangkok. You just have to certify that your translation is accurate and submit both the original and translation copies on your interview. I believe the consulate officers (both American and Thai) are fluent in both languages and are able to tell if the translation is accurate.

For documents submitted to USCIS, I kind of wondered if they'd accept documents translated by either the petitioner or beneficiary themselves, plus I couldn't find approriate statements to say on the translated copies. On my BC I requested from the government office responsible for Birth records in thailand, it doesn't have anything written on the translated document other than the phrase "Certified accurate translation" and then the signature of the translator and his printed name (who actually is a certified translator for that government office). So, what difference would it be if that was me who translated it? USCIS didn't ask for the certification of the translator to be submitted, right?

According to meow mix's posting, USCIS accepts documents translated by petitioners themselves.

Again, I do appreciate the time, help, inputs, and everything you guys provided here.

It is always good knowing you can get help when you need it.

[trueimage 0]

I live on the Texas/Mexico border. I have been using a notary to do my translations. (Everyone who lives in these border towns are bilingual) She translated the document and stated that she is bilingual (in different terms I think) and then notarized it. I think she had a stamp also (other than the notary stamp). She does translations frequently. Being a border town, people are always needing documents translated for official use. (I heard of her by word of mouth. They also do notaries and tax services and stuff like that.) She has only charged me $3 per translation to-date. Maybe there is a notary in your fiance(e)'s home country that is bilingual and will offer this same service?

[athena_ny 1]

Wait, does all this mean that anyone who is fluent in English and the language in question can translate the foreign documents? It'd be a lot easier for my fiance to translate his police report than to pay a certified translator to do it and take two weeks.

Sometimes reading these forums give me more questions than I started out with!

The best way I've seen this described is: it says certified translatION not translatOR. From a professional translator, she said that there really is no such thing in the US, she can pull out her certificate recognizing her a translator from some association but that really means nothing and no one ever wants to see it, anyway. You're certifying the translation is accurate and you're competent to translate it. Many "professional" translators will do the same thing you do yourself, down to the statement saying they're competent to translate.

We translated my husband's birth certificate for AOS, and our interview is already scheduled, so I'm assuming there's no RFE coming about it - many people do it themselves with no issues.

Meow mix: Thank you for your explanation.

And some people should realize that not everyone was born with English as their first language like you were.

If they aren't competent, they shouldn't do it. But if you are, I see no reason not to if you want to. My husband's first language isn't English, so I'm well aware some people's first language is not English. But, he was also able to translate....