Birth Certificate Translation

[PG2006]

Hi everybody,

Can anybody help me with the following question?

I'm about to apply for my parents. The instruction for I-130 says:

"Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English"

Now, can I translate myself the Birth Certificates of my parents and certify on the bottm of the page that the translation is complete and correct and that I'm competent to translate from my native language in English?

People who sponsored their parents, like Anahit for example, what kind of translation have you attached to the I-130 for the foreign documents?

Thank you

[payala]

What I did is I just scanned my birth certificate and sent it to one of those online translator sites. They do the translation for you and a notary signs it. I think for the translation to be certified it needs to have the signature of a notary. I might be wrong though. I just wanted to play it safe.

[myjuls]

Birth Certificates have to be not only translated but also notorized by a notary public. I don't think it's a good idea if you'll translate your parents' BCs and then get your own signature notorized. As a person involved in the process you can not be impartial ,so it's better if somebody else will do it.
Another thing is that not just anybody but a person who is qualified has to do it.
There are lots of places which provide translation services for foreign language documents:

-Consulate or Embassy of the country that issued the document
-translation services or agencies, immigration /refugee associations

Here are some links of the agencies that provide translation services

www.wes.org
www.universitylanguage.com
www.globelanguage.com

[PG2006]

Thank you, payala and myjuls

[Anahit]

This is what you could find on USCIS website (http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffic...al/index.htm#H):
"Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.
The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I typed name , certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled .


Signature
Date Typed Name
Address"

Nowhere it says that foreign document translations must be notarized. Before I filed for my parents I called the 800 number several times, and talked to an immigration officer (for other issues), and asked him/her the same question. I was told that there is no need to notarize them, and that I can do it if I am competent in both languages.
We had a discussion about this before. I know a lot of people don't agree with me. The fact is that I translated all our documents, including my birth certificate, and had no problems.

And, here is what Rajiv Khanna's answer is to that question:
"FAQ" General Questions And Answers

Q2:- What are the formalities for translation of foreign language documents?

Ans:- [From Rajiv S. Khanna, rskhanna@immigration.com ]

[Addition suggested by Siegfried Rambaum] Immigration related documents may be translated by any person who is competent in both the foreign language as well as English. It is best to ask a person not related to you to translate. Each translation must be accompanied by substantially the following words:

"I, [Name of Translator], do hereby certify that I am proficient in both English and [Foreign Language], and accordingly I am competent to perform translations, and that I have translated the foregoing/attached document accurately and to the best of my knowledge and ability.

/Sign/
-----------------------
Name
Address
Date:

http://www.immigration.com/faq/gqa1.html

[PG2006]

Originally Posted by Anahit

This is what you could find on USCIS website (http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffic...al/index.htm#H):
"Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.
The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I typed name , certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled .


Signature
Date Typed Name
Address"

Nowhere it says that foreign document translations must be notarized. Before I filed for my parents I called the 800 number several times, and talked to an immigration officer (for other issues), and asked him/her the same question. I was told that there is no need to notarize them, and that I can do it if I am competent in both languages.
We had a discussion about this before. I know a lot of people don't agree with me. The fact is that I translated all our documents, including my birth certificate, and had no problems.

And, here is what Rajiv Khanna's answer is to that question:
"FAQ" General Questions And Answers

Q2:- What are the formalities for translation of foreign language documents?

Ans:- [From Rajiv S. Khanna, rskhanna@immigration.com ]

[Addition suggested by Siegfried Rambaum] Immigration related documents may be translated by any person who is competent in both the foreign language as well as English. It is best to ask a person not related to you to translate. Each translation must be accompanied by substantially the following words:

"I, [Name of Translator], do hereby certify that I am proficient in both English and [Foreign Language], and accordingly I am competent to perform translations, and that I have translated the foregoing/attached document accurately and to the best of my knowledge and ability.

/Sign/
-----------------------
Name
Address
Date:

http://www.immigration.com/faq/gqa1.html

From the language of the I-130 instruction I understood the same thing. It makes 100% sense what you're saying.

Unfortunately we are so paranoid when it's about CIS and so fearful that they may reject our papers...that we're ready do whatever it takes to make sure our documents are perfect and...much more than perfect

[myjuls]

If you want your translation to look professional it has to be notorized.

By notorizing a translation (or any other document) , actually a notary public notorizes the signature of the signer ( the translator's signature in our case ), notary public acknowledges the fact that the signer ( the traslator ) of such document has declared that the signer's identity, signature, and reasons for signing such instrument are genuine and allow persons in trade and commerce ( for whoever the document is intended for )to rely upon the truth and veracity of the Notary Public as a third party who has no personal interest in the transaction.

Now, when somebody else does a translation for you and the signature is not notorized how do you prove that it wasn't you yourself ( a person involved in the process ) who translated it or that a person who translated this for you is really qualified to translate.

[payala]

Yeah, just sent it to a translator that will notarize it for you too. I think i paid like $60 and I got two notarized translations in a week or less. I think it's worth it.

[Suzy977]

Originally Posted by myjuls

Now, when somebody else does a translation for you and the signature is not notorized how do you prove that it wasn't you yourself ( a person involved in the process ) who translated it or that a person who translated this for you is really qualified to translate.

I agree, when someone else translate the document, and the translation is notarized that proves that the signature is genuine and is not signed by yourself.

Question is: how a notarization can prove that the translator is competent to do the translation?

[myjuls]

Question is: how a notarization can prove that the translator is competent to do the translation?

Good question!
In fact, it really doesn't prove that the translator is competent to translate. In my understanding what matters here is that when you notorize smth you kind of take an oath before a notary public and state that whatever's there in the document is "nothing but the truth ". But you know, even under oath people lie sometimes.