Birth certificate translation

[fabulous02 1]

A friend of mine just got married to his GF who is a US citizen. I know that for AOS, his birth certificate needs to be in english. The birth certificate he currently has is in an indian language. My question is, who can translate his birth certificate for him? Can it be anyone (a friend etc.) who knows english and the indian language well? How do you prove that the person knows both the languages well enough?

[Ryan H 3,812]

The USCIS will require the person translating a document to sign an attestation statement that the translation of the document is accurate and that the translator is competent to translate the foreign language into English.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ff053d146a7ee010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

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

[paojack 41]

I translated mine and got it notarized. My language is spanish so I know its easier to find someone that speaks both languages fluently. Anyways.. what I did was I translated the document myself, with some help from Google of course and at the bottom of the page I wrote something like "I______, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and Spanish languages, and that the above document is an accurate translation of the document...blah blah".... then I took both (the spanish version and english version) to a bank in the US and the NOtary (?) signed and notarized for me.... U indeed can get a friend to do it (better if is a USC) and you dont have to get it notarized but I think that is a BIG help, it would make it like more 'official' to them.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I translated mine and got it notarized. My language is spanish so I know its easier to find someone that speaks both languages fluently. Anyways.. what I did was I translated the document myself, with some help from Google of course and at the bottom of the page I wrote something like "I______, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and Spanish languages, and that the above document is an accurate translation of the document...blah blah".... then I took both (the spanish version and english version) to a bank in the US and the NOtary (?) signed and notarized for me.... U indeed can get a friend to do it (better if is a USC) and you dont have to get it notarized but I think that is a BIG help, it would make it like more 'official' to them.

This is VERY bad advice and you lied on your document because if you needed assistance from google to translate the document (at ANY stage) then you were not "fluent" in English and Spanish enough to translate that document.

OP do NOT translate your own documents, let alone if you need google to assist you. Take it to a friend or family member... whatever but NOT google.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I translated mine and got it notarized. My language is spanish so I know its easier to find someone that speaks both languages fluently. Anyways.. what I did was I translated the document myself, with some help from Google of course and at the bottom of the page I wrote something like "I______, certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and Spanish languages, and that the above document is an accurate translation of the document...blah blah".... then I took both (the spanish version and english version) to a bank in the US and the NOtary (?) signed and notarized for me.... U indeed can get a friend to do it (better if is a USC) and you dont have to get it notarized but I think that is a BIG help, it would make it like more 'official' to them.

You cannot state it is accurate if you used Google.

My husband translated his own, and it was fine. However, he actually IS fluent in both languages, and would never use an online translator. He knows how inaccurate they are.

The translation does not need to be notarized. It just needs the signed certification statement, as I quoted above from the USCIS web site.

[paojack 41]

You cannot state it is accurate if you used Google.

My husband translated his own, and it was fine. However, he actually IS fluent in both languages, and would never use an online translator. He knows how inaccurate they are.

The translation does not need to be notarized. It just needs the signed certification statement, as I quoted above from the USCIS web site.

Relax people! I did not use Google translator, I used google only to see some examples and the formats they use. As I said, I got a bilingual Notary (a USC) that checked it out for me and he said the translation was accurate!

[paojack 41]

This is VERY bad advice and you lied on your document because if you needed assistance from google to translate the document (at ANY stage) then you were not "fluent" in English and Spanish enough to translate that document.

OP do NOT translate your own documents, let alone if you need google to assist you. Take it to a friend or family member... whatever but NOT google.

I never said I use google translator. I translated myself and took it to the notary (a USC who happens to be bilingual), he checked it and he was the one signing the document since it was completely accurate!! Please dont judge if u dont know!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I never said I use google translator. I translated myself and took it to the notary (a USC who happens to be bilingual), he checked it and he was the one signing the document since it was completely accurate!! Please dont judge if u dont know!

You can't go back on what you wrote, it's there in black and white:

I translated mine and got it notarized. My language is spanish so I know its easier to find someone that speaks both languages fluently. Anyways.. what I did was I translated the document myself, with some help from Google of course ....

You admitted you had help from Google. This means you didn't know enough to translate the document. Whether it be you don't know English or Spanish. Someone who knew what they were doing wouldn't use google.

However, if you're saying that the Notary was the one who signed YOUR translation then he lied because HE wasn't the one that translated it (which is what the certification means). So either you translated it using google and signed it when you shouldn't, or someone else signed saying they were the translator when it was you that did the translation.

No matter which way you look at it you did it wrong should NOT advise people to do it this way. The person who does the translation does the certification and MUST be fluent enough to do it without google or other assistance.

Edited May 22, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[P & A 0]

You cannot state it is accurate if you used Google.

My husband translated his own, and it was fine. However, he actually IS fluent in both languages, and would never use an online translator. He knows how inaccurate they are.

The translation does not need to be notarized. It just needs the signed certification statement, as I quoted above from the USCIS web site.

Great to know! I thought I needed to hire a certified translator for mine. I feel so much better knowing that I can do it my self. Did he also translate the police records or were those ok in spanish? Thanks

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Great to know! I thought I needed to hire a certified translator for mine. I feel so much better knowing that I can do it my self. Did he also translate the police records or were those ok in spanish? Thanks

Unless you have been convicted of a crime, police records are not needed for a K-1 at Juarez. My husband never had to get any. Also, you won't need the birth certificate translated until you AOS. Juarez won't require it translated, if it is in Spanish or English.

[fabulous02 1]

Thank you all for your responses. They have been very helpful.

[paojack 41]

You can't go back on what you wrote, it's there in black and white:

You admitted you had help from Google. This means you didn't know enough to translate the document. Whether it be you don't know English or Spanish. Someone who knew what they were doing wouldn't use google.

However, if you're saying that the Notary was the one who signed YOUR translation then he lied because HE wasn't the one that translated it (which is what the certification means). So either you translated it using google and signed it when you shouldn't, or someone else signed saying they were the translator when it was you that did the translation.

No matter which way you look at it you did it wrong should NOT advise people to do it this way. The person who does the translation does the certification and MUST be fluent enough to do it without google or other assistance.

yeah I said 'help from Google!' not Google translator, duh! They are 2 different things you know??.. The notary is a professional man that works on a well known US bank chain, he was not a friend of mine and I am sure if this was something bad, he would not have signed. I dont really have to give more explanations or tell you how good or bad in english/spanish I am... IMO I dont think that was a bad thing, I honestly know more people that have gone that route and I am sure it will work just fine, that's why I gave that advise... anyways... Good luck everyone!

Edited May 23, 2011 by paojack

[poolhall 3]

This is a funny discussion about using help in translating. Vanessa, are you at all aware that professional translators don't translate everything out of their heads? They use various dictionaries very actively, in fact. There's no difference it's a hard copy or an online dictionary.

Edited June 7, 2011 by poolhall

[♥Yllen 3]

This is a funny discussion about using help in translating. Vanessa, are you at all aware that professional translators don't translate everything out of their heads? They use various dictionaries very actively, in fact. There's no difference it's a hard copy or an online dictionary.