How to translate foreign documents that are part of AOS

[montgomery 0]

When a document is in a foreign language (as in NOT English) and it will be sent along with an AOS application, does it matter who does the translation?

 

My wife will be applying for AOS soon. If any document is in Spanish (her language) can I be the one to translate to English (I am fluent in English and Spanish)?

[CopperChem 328]

You need to have the documents translated by a certified translator that can also notarize the work. At least in my area the lawyer I was working with gave me the name of the translation service he uses for these sorts of cases. The owner is a notary and employees everyone as contract work I suspect.

[Pennycat 880]

You can do it as long as you can honestly claim that you are fluent or conversant in both languages and sign a document staying such. This is "self certification". If you cannot (or are nervous to), there will be professional translation services in your area who can and probably have many times. No need for a notary. I had a friend of mine from college who was a Spanish major and has worked with the local Spanish speaking community for a long time do ours. Many people have done their own. I think I could have myself but didn't want to. AOS went off without a problem (or, rather, without a translation problem. They lost our medicals and gave us an RFE for it but that's nothing to do with this).

 

See this statement as an example:

 

http://www.visajourney.com/content/translations

[Pennycat 880]

4 minutes ago, CopperChem said:

You need to have the documents translated by a certified translator that can also notarize the work. At least in my area the lawyer I was working with gave me the name of the translation service he uses for these sorts of cases. The owner is a notary and employees everyone as contract work I suspect.

This is overkill. It's certainly not a bad way to go, but it's not required at all. It is possible that during the *visa* process, certain embassies want notaries/ apostilles/ whatever. But for the adjustment of status process, USCIS just wants someone to be able to sign a "certificate of translation" basically claiming that they are competent to translate between the two languages. 

[J/G 85]

3 hours ago, montgomery said:

When a document is in a foreign language (as in NOT English) and it will be sent along with an AOS application, does it matter who does the translation?

 

My wife will be applying for AOS soon. If any document is in Spanish (her language) can I be the one to translate to English (I am fluent in English and Spanish)?

Salut Montgomery -- 

 

My Birth Certificate was not in English. I translated the document myself as I speak / read / write both my native language and English fluently. Also, it's cost-effective. No fee and no waiting period. Make sure you do it as accurate and as detail as possible. 

 

The only thing that you need to include in the English translation is a  Certificate of Translation. And make sure you / whoever the translator will be SIGN the certificate of translation. I've submitted my AOS (and EAD and AP) in August; no RFE and I have the interview scheduled in a couple of weeks.

 

CONGRATULATIONS, HAVE FUN, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE!!!

 

J/G.

 

Bellow is a copy of my certificate of translation:

 

CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION

 

I, __(My Name)__, certify that I am fluent in both English and __(name of my language)__ languages. I also certify that the translation of my __(My Country Name)__ Birth Certificate number No. __(Document's Number / Details)__ under the name of __(My Name)__; dated __(issued date)__ originally issued in __(City)__, __(Country)__ is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.

 

___(MyCurrent City, State)___; __(Date)__ 2017

 

 Name: __(My Name)__

Address: __(My Address)__

Mobile: __(My US Mobile Number)__

 

 

 

[Tella&T 183]

9 hours ago, J/G said:

Salut Montgomery -- 

 

My Birth Certificate was not in English. I translated the document myself as I speak / read / write both my native language and English fluently. Also, it's cost-effective. No fee and no waiting period. Make sure you do it as accurate and as detail as possible. 

 

The only thing that you need to include in the English translation is a  Certificate of Translation. And make sure you / whoever the translator will be SIGN the certificate of translation. I've submitted my AOS (and EAD and AP) in August; no RFE and I have the interview scheduled in a couple of weeks.

 

CONGRATULATIONS, HAVE FUN, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE!!!

 

J/G.

 

Bellow is a copy of my certificate of translation:

 

CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION

 

I, __(My Name)__, certify that I am fluent in both English and __(name of my language)__ languages. I also certify that the translation of my __(My Country Name)__ Birth Certificate number No. __(Document's Number / Details)__ under the name of __(My Name)__; dated __(issued date)__ originally issued in __(City)__, __(Country)__ is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.

 

___(MyCurrent City, State)___; __(Date)__ 2017

 

 Name: __(My Name)__

Address: __(My Address)__

Mobile: __(My US Mobile Number)__

 

 

 

But do you know if Certificate of Translation is also necessary if the translator is the Certified Translator ( she's not in the US but in my country)?

[J/G 85]

6 hours ago, Martella&T said:

But do you know if Certificate of Translation is also necessary if the translator is the Certified Translator ( she's not in the US but in my country)?

from my experience, if the translator is a Certified Translator / professional translator he / she will also provide you with an official certificate of translation for you along with the translated document. I THINK basically however you decide to proceed with translating the document (i.e. do it yourself or pay for a professional service) you will need to provide a certificate of translation (either from you OR from the professional translator if you decided to hire one). 

[Tella&T 183]

1 minute ago, J/G said:

from my experience, if the translator is a Certified Translator / professional translator he / she will also provide you with an official certificate of translation for you along with the translated document. I THINK basically however you decide to proceed with translating the document (i.e. do it yourself or pay for a professional service) you will need to provide a certificate of translation (either from you OR from the professional translator if you decided to hire one). 

Thank you!

[J/G 85]

7 hours ago, Martella&T said:

Thank you!

You're welcome. Have fun, Good luck!!!

[Willy Wilcox 38]

On 11/9/2017 at 4:20 PM, CatherineA said:

You can do it as long as you can honestly claim that you are fluent or conversant in both languages and sign a document staying such. This is "self certification". If you cannot (or are nervous to), there will be professional translation services in your area who can and probably have many times. No need for a notary. I had a friend of mine from college who was a Spanish major and has worked with the local Spanish speaking community for a long time do ours. Many people have done their own. I think I could have myself but didn't want to. AOS went off without a problem (or, rather, without a translation problem. They lost our medicals and gave us an RFE for it but that's nothing to do with this).

 

See this statement as an example:

 

http://www.visajourney.com/content/translations

@CatherineA This is what I have been looking for.  I would love to be able to do the translation myself and self-certify (as I am bilingual English/Spanish).  I just want to make sure that you are as sure as can be that the sponsor doing the translation for the birth certificate is kosher.  I have heard that sponsor's cannot do the translation for the beneficiary's documents.