Marriage Certificate Translation Question

[Puravida4ver 0]

I need to translate my Costa Rican certificate of marriage prior to submission of the I-130. I cannot find any requirements about the potential translator's credentials. As long as the translation is accurate, does it matter who has translated the document from Spanish to English? It would not be me or my wife translating, but a third party.

Also - does the same apply for the affidavits of a bonafide marriage? These will be from Spanish speaking wtinesses.

Thank You,

Kelly

[Urge To Race 2]

I need to translate my Costa Rican certificate of marriage prior to submission of the I-130. I cannot find any requirements about the potential translator's credentials. As long as the translation is accurate, does it matter who has translated the document from Spanish to English? It would not be me or my wife translating, but a third party.

Also - does the same apply for the affidavits of a bonafide marriage? These will be from Spanish speaking wtinesses.

Thank You,

Kelly

Hi,

Even you or your wife could do the translations if you were proficient in both English and Spanish. The translation must have a certification statement that the translator is proficient in both languages signed by the translator. Thats all thats needed. The text of such certification is widely available. You could just google it.

[Mononoke28 135]

I can send you a copy of the translation we got for our marriage certificate, it's pretty simple and the translator, no matter who it is just have to sign the translation saying that they are fluent in both languages.

As far as the affidavits, they also have to be translated. Rule of thumb is anything you send to the USCIS or the NVC that is not in English, will need to be translated.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Hi,

Even you or your wife could do the translations if you were proficient in both English and Spanish. The translation must have a certification statement that the translator is proficient in both languages signed by the translator. Thats all thats needed. The text of such certification is widely available. You could just google it.

I agree! As long as you are fluent/proficient in both languages you (or anyone else) can translate the documents. At the bottom of the translation, you have to insert a sentance that says"

I (INSERT NAME) certify that the above document is a true & accurate translation from the Spanish language to English"

Sign & date

You don't have to have it notarized either

[Puravida4ver 0]

I can send you a copy of the translation we got for our marriage certificate, it's pretty simple and the translator, no matter who it is just have to sign the translation saying that they are fluent in both languages.

As far as the affidavits, they also have to be translated. Rule of thumb is anything you send to the USCIS or the NVC that is not in English, will need to be translated.

Thanks, if you'd like to send me the translation of your MC, it can only help. Is that something you can send via a message? if not , send me a message and I can send you my email).

I appreciate your feedback, as well as the responses from the other members.

Gracias,

Kelly

[pushbrk 12,881]

I can send you a copy of the translation we got for our marriage certificate, it's pretty simple and the translator, no matter who it is just have to sign the translation saying that they are fluent in both languages.

As far as the affidavits, they also have to be translated. Rule of thumb is anything you send to the USCIS or the NVC that is not in English, will need to be translated.

Thanks, if you'd like to send me the translation of your MC, it can only help. Is that something you can send via a message? if not , send me a message and I can send you my email).

I appreciate your feedback, as well as the responses from the other members.

Gracias,

Kelly

I just want to add a caution to other readers. What is true for Spanish or other languages that use the Roman alphabet may not be true for other languages or other countries. Also what USCIS will accept and what a specific Consulate will expect are not always the same thing. Some Consulates don't even care about translations from Spanish to English even though the USCIS does.

It is always best to check to see what is expected by the specific Consulate with regard to translating official government documents. For instance, for China, you cannot simply do your own translation. The Consulate expects to see an official Chinese Goverment Notarial Translation of Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificates, Police Certificates, Divorce Decrees, Custody Documents etc. as applicable and will not accept anything else.