Translations

[Ladylethal 12]

Some of you remember me saying I was gonna include a translation of my certificate from college, that stated my graduation ceremony took place on Jan 13th, 2006, the ceremony in which we get our diplomas and get to wear the cape and silly hat.

Aussiewench mentioned that I could translate it myself, if I included a declaration where I stated I was apt to do this translation, dated and signed. She also recommended that to make a stronger proof, I could use the legal way and do a notarized translation.

I went with the legal way, and sent my certificate to a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado), who translated and notarized it for me. Now, I heard that once you get a document translated by a sworn translator, this document becomes as official as your original one.

So my question is, since it´s a notarized document (which I may be able to use for other purposes, for example, for a college application, to prove I´m a graduate student), do I have to send in the original or can I send a copy? If I send the original, then I will have to get it translated again. Will they give me an RFE for sending a copy of a translation done by a sworn translator?

And lastly, do I have to send in the copy of the document in the original language as well?

Thanks!

[aussiewench 9]

Not my exact words but close enuf

A photocopy of the original in foreign language along with the translation submitted as an original.

[Ladylethal 12]

Do I really need to send in my original translation? I didn´t want to miss a perfectly good, and well paid for, translation.

Also, with the birth certificate (for SS#, etc, when I get to US) I heard I can just submit copies of my translation, hence why I thought it´d be the same with this

[aussiewench 9]

How Do I Know If I Need Original Documents?

Applications and Petitions must be submitted in the original.

The USCIS requires documentation to prove the existence of relationships and facts in support of petitions and applications. The following will clarify when originals are required and when photocopies may be submitted.

Submission of Supporting Documents - Original vs. Photocopy - If a supporting document is prepared by the issuing authority solely for the purpose of presentation to USCIS, an applicant or petitioner must submit the original document with the application or petition. Examples of supporting documents which must be presented in the original are:

Form I-20 issued by a Designated School Official to a foreign student

Form DS-2019 issued by a Program Officer to an Exchange Visitor

Labor Certification issued by the Department of Labor

Labor Condition Agreement with the Department of Labor endorsement

Form I-693 Medical Examination issued by a authorized civil surgeon

Vaccination Sign-off Supplement to Medical Examination Certificate

Attestations, formal consultations and advisory opinions (e.g., a letter from a recognized expert attesting to someone’s extraordinary professional skills)

Affidavits prepared in place of unavailable documents (e.g., an affidavit in place of a birth certificate where the official records were destroyed by fire)

Translations of documents (even when the rules allow submission of a photocopy of the document itself.)

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/hdiorig.htm

Edited March 28, 2006 by aussiewench

[Ladylethal 12]

*sigh* Now you just threw it at my face, Aussie.

I´ve got no other excuses. I guess I´ll FEDEX it to my fiance asap and ask for another translation of it later.

Once again, thanks for the fast replies and patience in dealing with our questions, even though everything is online, we just have to look all over for it when we don´t know where it is. You´re a great help and addition to this site, and I dunno how us silly couples would manage without the help of people like you!

[motu 5]

I don't underestand why you are using a college diploma (certificate) that surely doesn't qualify as a substitute for a birth certificate - if that's your intent. If that's not the intent then why submit it at all - they don't care for your college diploma etc.? Good Luck

[almaty 19]

i agree also, confused by this too..

[aussiewench 9]

I don't underestand why you are using a college diploma (certificate) that surely doesn't qualify as a substitute for a birth certificate - if that's your intent. If that's not the intent then why submit it at all - they don't care for your college diploma etc.? Good Luck

She is submitting the certificate which is dated along with pics of her and her fiance who attended the ceremony, as part of their evidence of having met.

[Ladylethal 12]

No no, I´m not using it to substitute my birth certificate, I don´t even have to send my birth certificate to the USCIS.

You see, I´ve been reading about lots of RFE´s from Vermont, our jurisdiction, and in order to make sure we won´t get one, I´m sending as much evidence of us having met in person in the past 2 years as possible. Appart from Pics, boarding passes and tickets, the only certain proof I have that we indeed meet within the 2 year gap is the fact my fiance came to Brasil for my graduation, I have pictures from both my graduation ceremony, with me and my family, and of us at the graduation ball, and ir order to set a date to it, I´m providing a translation of my Law School degree certificate, which states that my graduation ceremony took place on Jan 13th, 2006, which would place Luis here in Brasil just a couple of months ago. They wouldn´t be able to deny this proof.

The reason I ask if it needs to be the original translation or the copy to be sent is that I already sent him my signed forms and passport pic, so he can start the K1 process, and we´ll be delayed if I need to send the original, if it´s just the copy I can scan it and e-mail him it, and he can print it there. If for sure it needs to be the original, then I must find a way to FEDEX it to him so it won´t delay the process two more weeks, which is the average time stuff takes to get to Puerto Rico from Brasil.

[motu 5]

Ja Ja JA JA Its overkill in my opinion as I only sent in 2 pictures of us together and a copy of my itinerary - ah yes I did write one line "I went to Colombia and met her from Feb 3 to Feb 21" on the petition. So! Go ahead and send in as much as you want and notarize and certify and do all that which makes you feel good. Just remember you are killing another tree in Brazil (or Costa Rica.)

[Ladylethal 12]

Oh, we have forests here planted for the sole purpose of making paper.

Other people sent in the same evidence as you and still got an RFE, I am trying to avoid getting one.

[Ladylethal 12]

Double posting to bother you again but I just wanted an opinion.

So they don´t look at my Law School certificate and dump in the trash clueless about what it means, I thought we might as well explain what is it doing in the package my fiance sends to USCIS.

So I wanted to know how we can put this to sound proper?

[Mike n Huong 1]

I am not familar with this question, but thought I would ask one myself. I have some receipts from hotels and resteraunts when I visited my fiancee, I doubt it, but do these need translated?

[Ladylethal 12]

I don´t think they have to be translated, if the dates and location is shown and can be understandable for them, I think it´s fine.

I wrote down (well, my fiance will write down on the bottom of the certificate copy).

"I am submitting Laura´s certificate (copy) and translation (original) to further evidence that I met her in person on 01/13/2006 ( as seen on her graduation´s pictures)"

Do you think that´s alright?

[aussiewench 9]

I don´t think they have to be translated, if the dates and location is shown and can be understandable for them, I think it´s fine.

I wrote down (well, my fiance will write down on the bottom of the certificate copy).

"I am submitting Laura´s certificate (copy) and translation (original) to further evidence that I met her in person on 01/13/2006 ( as seen on her graduation´s pictures)"

Do you think that´s alright?

Yes. You have to use what you have and this puts you in the same place at the same time.

Ja Ja JA JA Its overkill in my opinion as I only sent in 2 pictures of us together and a copy of my itinerary - ah yes I did write one line "I went to Colombia and met her from Feb 3 to Feb 21" on the petition. So! Go ahead and send in as much as you want and notarize and certify and do all that which makes you feel good. Just remember you are killing another tree in Brazil (or Costa Rica.)

Tell that to the member that posted here yesterday when they only sent photographs as the main evidence and received an RFE to supply further evidence as well as further written explaination of how they met, obviously because the one sentence answer to question 18 hadnt surficed. And there has been plenty of others. Just because you were lucky enough to only need what you supplied does not mean others wont need more. There is plenty of members on here past and present who can vouch for that. Why risk it when one has further evidence to submit. Overkill.....hardly, when it could mean the difference between an RFE and not.