Divorce Decree Translation

[Jonnievito 0]

Hi guys! I'm in the process of starting my K1-fiance(e) Visa and she is working on the divorce decree part of the process. I know that we need it translated from Japanese to English and have to send both the Japanese and English versions in to USCIS. She is telling me that if she does a word for word translation that it might not make a lot of sense in English and is wanting to know if she can change the wording around to make more sense in English. My question is, When she translates the divorce decree does it have to be, word for word? Or can it be taken more loosely. It's in regards to the custody of her child. Thanks for the help!

[Pitaya 2,580]

Hi guys! I'm in the process of starting my K1-fiance(e) Visa and she is working on the divorce decree part of the process. I know that we need it translated from Japanese to English and have to send both the Japanese and English versions in to USCIS. She is telling me that if she does a word for word translation that it might not make a lot of sense in English and is wanting to know if she can change the wording around to make more sense in English. My question is, When she translates the divorce decree does it have to be, word for word? Or can it be taken more loosely. It's in regards to the custody of her child. Thanks for the help!

Welcome to the forum.

IMO, pay the money and have it professionally translated and notarized/certified that the translation is a true and accurate translation. It would be very sad if your visa petition was delayed/denied due to an inadequate "loosely" translated document.

Good luck on your visa journey.

YMMV

[Gaijinsan 3]

I will have to be contrary and difficult and disagree.

Translate in the best way that preserves the meaning (although most of the vital information is probably just names and dates, like on the family register - which of course can be translated/transliterated exactly) and do it herself with the signed statement that the foregoing is a true and complete translation.

We didn't have any divorce decrees in our process, but we translated the koseki, etc., all ourselves and had zero problems.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

I also agree do not pay for it to be translated because when you come to the USA and try to get married you might have to have it translated by another company so you are paying twice. I say translate it yourself that is what I am doing. As long as it makes sense in English and still keeps the idea of what the sentence is saying you are okay. That is exactly what you will be paying a translator to do. I've paid for several documents to be translated from English into Spanish (for a completely different reason) and I basically wasted $80 per page because I could've done the whole thing myself. I say translate it yourself and remember the most important things on the divorce decree are the names, dates and that a judge signed it. I've heard of several people having their divorce decree returned to them because there was no signature from a judge. Good luck!