Appointment Processing Consulate

[Zil 1]

Hi Everybody,

Can someone who is not from an English speaking country help me clarify the translation requirements for documents need to be sent to NVC with DS-230? I did not have receive Packet 3, yet but it is likely that it will be generated tomorrow. I would like to get everything prepared before it arrives in the mail.

Quote from NVC's website: " Note: All documents not in English or in the official language of the country in which the interview takes place MUST be accompanied by a certified translation into English"

Is there any instructions in packet 3 received from NVC regarding the translation? All of my documents are in the official language of the country in which the interview will take place.

Thanks in advance,

Zil

[RandyandRina 2]

Packet 3 or the Instruction Agent Packet will ask you to go to a link and will eventually take you to your specific consulate. On that site, it will tell you to translate any documents not in English and attach it with your ORIGINAL or CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES. This is true statement for everyone.

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth had to get her German police clearance translated

[Zil 1]

Thanks Guys,

I actually know the link. The quote is from there.

After I choose my consulate I get here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html

This link is common for all Appointment Processing consulates. If I click on the links that deal with documents all have the same note I quoted:

"All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations. "

But I keep reading here that people are sending in (or requested to send in) translated copies to NVC with their application.

[Chris Parker 11]

Can someone who is not from an English speaking country help me clarify the translation requirements for documents need to be sent to NVC with DS-230? I did not have receive Packet 3, yet but it is likely that it will be generated tomorrow. I would like to get everything prepared before it arrives in the mail.

My general advice: Translation should be certified by a disinterested party competent in both languages.

That doesn't mean the third party has to necessarily prepare the translation, though most professionals would insist that they do the translation so they know exactly what they are certifying (translation errors can be hard to spot). However, the third party can just review the translation and then certify it. The translation can be attached to a photocopy of the original document, but NVC will still want to receive the original document to compare the copy to the original in that case. I have not tried submitting certified copies of the original.

The third-party and certification does not have to be in the U.S. Ideally, the certification should be in an affidavit format at the bottom or the back of the translation or attached to it, executed before a notary. The affidavit statement I've been using, taken from professional translations done for me in the past (I haven't received a decision from NVC accepting this yet):

Affidavit of Translation Accuracy

STATE OF _________ )

COUNTY OF _________ )ss.:

I, __________________, residing at ________________________ U.S.A. hereby certify under the penalties of perjury that I am competent in __________ and in English and that the above is a true and faithful translation of the attached document in _______________ language.

_______________________

Signature

Sworn to before me this

______ day of _____________, 2007.

__________________________________

Notary Public

Edited October 14, 2007 by Chris Parker

[Zil 1]

Can someone who is not from an English speaking country help me clarify the translation requirements for documents need to be sent to NVC with DS-230? I did not have receive Packet 3, yet but it is likely that it will be generated tomorrow. I would like to get everything prepared before it arrives in the mail.

My general advice: Translation should be certified by a disinterested party competent in both languages.

That doesn't mean the third party has to necessarily prepare the translation, though most professionals would insist that they do the translation so they know exactly what they are certifying (translation errors can be hard to spot). However, the third party can just review the translation and then certify it. The translation can be attached to a photocopy of the original document, but NVC will still want to receive the original document to compare the copy to the original in that case. I have not tried submitting certified copies of the original.

The third-party and certification does not have to be in the U.S. Ideally, the certification should be in an affidavit format at the bottom or the back of the translation or attached to it, executed before a notary. The affidavit statement I've been using, taken from professional translations done for me in the past (I haven't received a decision from NVC accepting this yet):

Affidavit of Translation Accuracy

STATE OF _________ )

COUNTY OF _________ )ss.:

I, __________________, residing at ________________________ U.S.A. hereby certify under the penalties of perjury that I am competent in __________ and in English and that the above is a true and faithful translation of the attached document in _______________ language.

_______________________

Signature

Sworn to before me this

______ day of _____________, 2007.

__________________________________

Notary Public

Thanks Chris for the detailed information. My original question meant to find out the actual policy of NVC regarding document that are on the official language of the country where the interview takes place. The website indicates that it is NOT necessary to do a translation.

Was any of you instructed by the NVC (in a form of an RFE or verbally) to provide an English translation of such documents?

[Chris Parker 11]

Thanks Chris for the detailed information. My original question meant to find out the actual policy of NVC regarding document that are on the official language of the country where the interview takes place. The website indicates that it is NOT necessary to do a translation.

Was any of you instructed by the NVC (in a form of an RFE or verbally) to provide an English translation of such documents?

NVC is a bunch of contractors in New Hampshire charged with collecting and reviewing documents in advance of submitting the case file to an embassy abroad. The official language in New Hampshire is English, so I think a document in any other language will need a certified translation or else NVC will not be able review it.

[Nutty 2]

Hi Everybody,

Can someone who is not from an English speaking country help me clarify the translation requirements for documents need to be sent to NVC with DS-230? I did not have receive Packet 3, yet but it is likely that it will be generated tomorrow. I would like to get everything prepared before it arrives in the mail.

Quote from NVC's website: " Note: All documents not in English or in the official language of the country in which the interview takes place MUST be accompanied by a certified translation into English"

Is there any instructions in packet 3 received from NVC regarding the translation? All of my documents are in the official language of the country in which the interview will take place.

Thanks in advance,

Zil

Verbatim instructions from DS-230:

RE: Translations

Translations

Applicants must obtain English language translations of any documents that are written in another language.

The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:

Translation is accurate, and Translator is competent to translate.

RE: Certified Copies

Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity)

* This means if you get a copy of a document, IT MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE SAME DEPARTMENT WHERE YOU GOT THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.

Edited October 15, 2007 by Nutty

[Zil 1]

Thanks Chris for the detailed information. My original question meant to find out the actual policy of NVC regarding document that are on the official language of the country where the interview takes place. The website indicates that it is NOT necessary to do a translation.

Was any of you instructed by the NVC (in a form of an RFE or verbally) to provide an English translation of such documents?

NVC is a bunch of contractors in New Hampshire charged with collecting and reviewing documents in advance of submitting the case file to an embassy abroad. The official language in New Hampshire is English, so I think a document in any other language will need a certified translation or else NVC will not be able review it.

Thanks Chris,

I called NVC today because they processed my choice of agent form incorrectly. Althouh it was a no-brainer they managed to do so.

I also asked the person about the translation requirements. She insisted on English translation of the documents although she could not tell me why the website informs applicants differently. I may send an email asking them to fix the problem.

Zil

[Zil 1]

Hi Everybody,

Can someone who is not from an English speaking country help me clarify the translation requirements for documents need to be sent to NVC with DS-230? I did not have receive Packet 3, yet but it is likely that it will be generated tomorrow. I would like to get everything prepared before it arrives in the mail.

Quote from NVC's website: " Note: All documents not in English or in the official language of the country in which the interview takes place MUST be accompanied by a certified translation into English"

Is there any instructions in packet 3 received from NVC regarding the translation? All of my documents are in the official language of the country in which the interview will take place.

Thanks in advance,

Zil

Verbatim instructions from DS-230:

RE: Translations

Translations

Applicants must obtain English language translations of any documents that are written in another language.

The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:

Translation is accurate, and Translator is competent to translate.

RE: Certified Copies

Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity)

* This means if you get a copy of a document, IT MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE SAME DEPARTMENT WHERE YOU GOT THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.

Thanks, Nutty!