Interpreter for Green Card interview

[Ms. Arely C. 3]

Hi Guys! So my husband’s interview for his green card is in 2 weeks. I am wondering if we would need to hire someone to be an interpreter for my husband or will I be able to translate for him during the interview? Can anyone be an interpreter or does it need to be someone that is licensed or do they just have to be fluent in English & Spanish?

 

Thanks!!

[mushroomspore 3,044]

USCIS' page on interpreters.

 

Most recent memo on using interpreters with USCIS

 

Doesn't look like you can be his interpreter due to obvious conflicts of interest. Best bet would be to get someone else with proper certifications and to bring those papers with them to the interview. 

[ItsSunny2Day 17]

If you are attending the Ciudad Juarez Consulate, the Consul Officer conducting the interview is able to speak in both Spanish and English.

 

If your husband speaks another language other than Spanish or English, you or someone you know who is competent in that language + English can be used. The interpreter does not need to be licensed or certified.

 

MushroomSpore's link also answers the issue of being "Impartial and Unbias"

 

3. Impartial and Unbiased Individual

The interpreter must be impartial and able to interpret without bias. An impartial and unbiased individual is one who does not have a predisposition or preconceived opinion about a matter. A predisposition or preconceived opinion may prevent the individual from interpreting information accurately, literally, and fully or making a reliable interpreter declaration. Officers must consider potential conflicts of interest between an interviewee and his or her proposed interpreter, as well as any other circumstances that might interfere with the interpreter’s ability to provide an accurate, literal, and full interpretation. Interpreters and the interviewees must disclose any relationship, predisposition, or preconceived opinion that could affect the interpreter’s objectivity and consequently his or her ability to provide impartial and objective interpretation during the interview. For example, some friends, family members, or persons with financial connections to the interviewee (e.g. business partners) could have either actual conflicts of interest with the interviewee or have a strong personal interest in the interviewee obtaining the immigration benefit at issue such that the proposed interpreter is not able to provide impartial and unbiased interpretation services. 12 As such, family members will generally be disfavored as interpreters if there is another qualified interpreter available to the customer. Upon disclosure, the officer must use his or her discretion in making a determination as to whether the circumstances will interfere with the interpreter’s ability to interpret objectively and provide an accurate and truthful interpretation of the information conveyed during the interview. If the officer determines that despite the relationships or 10 Immigration laws typically permit the parents or guardians of minors under 14 years of age to act on their behalf. To illustrate, minors under 14 can have their parents or guardians sign immigration benefit forms or appear for naturalization interviews. Additionally, minors under age 14 are not required to submit to fingerprinting. 11 The interviewing officer always monitor for indications of interpretation problems between the parties regardless of certification. 12 For example, if the proposed interpreter may derive a financial benefit from approval of (or suffer detriment due to denial of) an immigration benefit for the interviewee, the proposed interpreter might not be permitted to interpret due to a potential conflict of interest. PM-602- 0125.1: The Role and Use of Interpreters in Domestic Field Office Interviews without USCIS-Provided Interpretation Page 6 other circumstances disclosed, the interpreter can still provide competent, impartial and unbiased interpretation, then the interpreter may normally be accepted. 13 Where the proposed interpreter is a derivative (e.g., spouse or child) of the interviewee and could obtain an immigration benefit if the interviewee’s application or petition is granted, the officer should be particularly vigilant in making his or her determination as to whether the derivative may, nevertheless, be able to meet the impartiality and unbiased requirement. The officer should continue such vigilance throughout the interview for any signs that the interpreter is violating the interpreter’s Declaration. 14 However, the officer must not predetermine that a derivative beneficiary is disqualified from serving as an interpreter, due to a conflict of interest, solely because he or she is a derivative beneficiary.

Edited June 21, 2018 by ItsSunny2Day

[Umka36 781]

My wife didn't know any English before she met me, but I signed her up for ESL class at a local community college when she first arrived in the US. While she was is not fluent in English, she was able to get by at the AOS interview (she only attended 2 quarter of ESL before her AOS interview).

 

Is your husband currently attending ESL classes?, if not I highly recommend it.

 

If you need an interpreter for the interview, it'll be up to you to get one.