Question about translations required for I-130 of stepson

[Barry and Mila 5]

I'm a US Citizen, wife is Ukrainian with an unconditional green card.  We are starting the process to obtain a visa for her adult son.  Takes several years, I know :-(.  

The online application says to provide translations of any documents in a foreign language.  Unlike my wife's documents, however, that is all it says.  It doesn't say the translator needs to provide a statement of professional qualifications, it doesn't say anything about certifications on company letterhead, it doesn't say anything other than a "translation".  

 

I can save us a little money and do the translations myself.  Frankly, I'm unimpressed with a lot of the "professional" translators out there, I can usually do as well or better.  But I don't want USCIS to come back after a year or two and say a professional translator with certifications is required, particularly if that means they'll toss the application and we have to start over.

 

Thoughts?  War stories and/or actual experiences with this process?  All advice welcome.

 

Regards,

 

--Barry and Mila

[Lil bear 4,201]

3 minutes ago, Barry and Mila said:

I'm a US Citizen, wife is Ukrainian with an unconditional green card.  We are starting the process to obtain a visa for her adult son.  Takes several years, I know :-(.  

The online application says to provide translations of any documents in a foreign language.  Unlike my wife's documents, however, that is all it says.  It doesn't say the translator needs to provide a statement of professional qualifications, it doesn't say anything about certifications on company letterhead, it doesn't say anything other than a "translation".  

 

I can save us a little money and do the translations myself.  Frankly, I'm unimpressed with a lot of the "professional" translators out there, I can usually do as well or better.  But I don't want USCIS to come back after a year or two and say a professional translator with certifications is required, particularly if that means they'll toss the application and we have to start over.

 

Thoughts?  War stories and/or actual experiences with this process?  All advice welcome.

 

Regards,

 

--Barry and Mila

You can do it yourself. It does not  require a professional translator nor a “ certified” translation 

[Barry and Mila 5]

5 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

You can do it yourself. It does not  require a professional translator nor a “ certified” translation 

Thank you very much!  Would be great to get confirmation from others, but this is much appreciated.  FYI your login is the name of one of the most challenging mountain peaks in Colorado.  Needless to say, I have yet to attempt it.

 

https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=litt6&peak=Little+Bear+Peak

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

“Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.” Ref 8 cfr 103.2(b)(3)

 

Note that you can self-certify, it does not need to be a company. Some people have preference to use someone unrelated to the case to translate but I have have seen reports of sponsor translating being accepted.

[Barry and Mila 5]

55 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

“Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.” Ref 8 cfr 103.2(b)(3)

 

Note that you can self-certify, it does not need to be a company. Some people have preference to use someone unrelated to the case to translate but I have have seen reports of sponsor translating being accepted.

If I can self-certify, I'll do that, though I'm guessing I'll have to sign in the presence of a notary.

[Lil bear 4,201]

Just now, Barry and Mila said:

If I can self-certify, I'll do that, though I'm guessing I'll have to sign in the presence of a notary.

No notary required .. 

[Barry and Mila 5]

3 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

No notary required .. 

OK.  Just curious, have you actually gone through this process and is that exactly what you did?

[Lil bear 4,201]

1 minute ago, Barry and Mila said:

OK.  Just curious, have you actually gone through this process and is that exactly what you did?

Two IR applications twice.

One of the challenges with understanding the forms and instructions is to not read more into it than is intended. Often you have to look for what “isn’t said “ 

If the translation instructions do not specify professional /registered translator only then one is not needed 

If the signature section for the translator to sign does not specify Notarised then no notary is needed 

[Barry and Mila 5]

53 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Two IR applications twice.

One of the challenges with understanding the forms and instructions is to not read more into it than is intended. Often you have to look for what “isn’t said “ 

If the translation instructions do not specify professional /registered translator only then one is not needed 

If the signature section for the translator to sign does not specify Notarised then no notary is needed 

Yeah, I agree it's easy to read more into it than is intended.  Then again, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you :-).

[payxibka 10,045]

11 minutes ago, Barry and Mila said:

Yeah, I agree it's easy to read more into it than is intended.  Then again, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you :-).

Read carefully,  interpret literally.   Don't add or subtract words.  

[Mollie09 1,543]

19 hours ago, Barry and Mila said:

OK.  Just curious, have you actually gone through this process and is that exactly what you did?

I didn't want to do it myself so I asked a friend who spoke English to help and self-certify. No questions asked.