Translate civil documents... or not?

[Googoozum 24]

 Ok just submitted my I- 130, but trying to stay ahead of the game.  My husband got all of his civil documents today,  i.e. birth certificate,  police records,  etc.  I read on the U.S. dept of state website it says..."All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which you are applying for a visa, must be accompanied by certified translations." Now I know what it says but has anyone actually just sent the documents in the ' official language of the country' and had no problems?  Or should I get it all translated? 

[AMW 6]

We did... kinda. After applying for my husbands k-1 we noticed one of the documents we sent in was in English and his native language on the front, but the back was only in his native language. Turns out the English part wasn't even translated correctly! We didn't get any RFEs or notifications, and we're approved for the K-1 with no problem. This was either luck or a common case for his country (Ethiopian documents are rarely translated correctly to English).

 

If there's no English on the document that gives the details needed I would definitely get it all translated. Better safe than sorry. Save yourself the worries. Good luck!

[SabRob 154]

I think you should probably go ahead and get them translated...better safe than sorry. It will slow your case down if you get a checklist at the NVC.

[Sol1427 23]

I would get them translated so that it doesn't become a problem for you guys alter on n the process.  I sent in all my docs with an official English translation.  AMW I think you got lucky...

[cyanmavi 101]

You should get them translated. Doesn't have to use an official translator necessarily, your husband can translate them himself if he is able to.

I translated the documents myself, but I was also working as a translator then and got them certified through my office.

The cost is a lot less if you translate them yourself and go to a translation office to get them approved and certified.

[Googoozum 24]

Thanks all for the advice. I guess I'll get the docs translated. Glad he hasn't sent them to me yet because trying to get them translated in Phoenix is nearly impossible as I tried to do that for our marriage certificate.  I ended up just taking it to Turkey on one of my trips and had them translate it. So I know it's easier for my husband to do in Istanbul. 

Thanks again,  good luck all

[Ryan H 3,834]

***Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.***

 

**Moderator hat off**

 

Document translation requirements vary from country to country; some countries require translations even if they document is in the official language of the country (China is an example of this); while other countries such as Mexico or Italia do not require document translations.