Help Please - Marriage Certificate Translation

[imegyptchun 1]

Hello all,

Thank you in advance for looking and hopefully responding to this lengthy email.

I'm looking for some help please. I just came back from Egypt a couple weeks ago. I was there to complete all necessary paperwork over there so that I can complete the I-130 process so my wife can immigrate here to be with me. Everything had gone smoothly until i went back to the U.S. embassy with my english translation of our Egyptian marriage certificate.

• Before I went to the embassy I called them to ask if i could come to have my english translation authenticated without an appointment (I had already visited the embassy a few days earlier to begin the process of marriage in Egypt, and at that point NOBODY indicated that the end of the process I needed to come back to the embassy, NOR was it indicated in the step by step paperwork I found on the embassy's website), I was informed that I could come the following day and i would be helped.
• So i went to the embassy the following day, and i was informed by them that they can/will not help me without an appointment (mind you appointments are booked 2 months in advance, as i had booked the first appointment 2 months before). When i explained my explanation further the lady told me to leave or she would have me escorted out by security!
• I went back to my hotel and emailed the embassy to express my frustration and concern. Below is the response i received:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email message.

If you obtain an English marriage certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Translation office, you DO NOT need to have it authenticated at the American Embassy to use for immigration in the United States.

Regards,

American Citizens Services

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy, Cairo

However,

here is what the Embassy website states:

To use the marriage certificate in the U.S., it should be translated into English at the Notary Public Authority-located on 57 Ramses Street, Cairo. The fee is 15.00LE for each page. It takes 1-2 days to receive the translation, which must then be authenticated by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (11.00 LE) and authenticated by the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo ($50.00).

Please note: If you do obtain an English marriage certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Translation office, you DO NOT need to have it authenticated at the American Embassy to use for immigration in the United States.

Here is the problem. I called the Egyptian Embassy in Chicago and spoke with the liaison who deals with this constantly and he indicated that WE MUST have the U.S embassy in Cairo authenticate the document. I am now back in the states with the Original Marriage Translation Document. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice? I'm so confused and angry about this. All this could have been avoided if the lady would have just authenticated the document when i showed up.

[BEBO&BEBO 20]

Hello all,

Thank you in advance for looking and hopefully responding to this lengthy email.

I'm looking for some help please. I just came back from Egypt a couple weeks ago. I was there to complete all necessary paperwork over there so that I can complete the I-130 process so my wife can immigrate here to be with me. Everything had gone smoothly until i went back to the U.S. embassy with my english translation of our Egyptian marriage certificate.

• Before I went to the embassy I called them to ask if i could come to have my english translation authenticated without an appointment (I had already visited the embassy a few days earlier to begin the process of marriage in Egypt, and at that point NOBODY indicated that the end of the process I needed to come back to the embassy, NOR was it indicated in the step by step paperwork I found on the embassy's website), I was informed that I could come the following day and i would be helped.
• So i went to the embassy the following day, and i was informed by them that they can/will not help me without an appointment (mind you appointments are booked 2 months in advance, as i had booked the first appointment 2 months before). When i explained my explanation further the lady told me to leave or she would have me escorted out by security!
• I went back to my hotel and emailed the embassy to express my frustration and concern. Below is the response i received:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email message.

If you obtain an English marriage certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Translation office, you DO NOT need to have it authenticated at the American Embassy to use for immigration in the United States.

Regards,

American Citizens Services

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy, Cairo

However,

here is what the Embassy website states:

To use the marriage certificate in the U.S., it should be translated into English at the Notary Public Authority-located on 57 Ramses Street, Cairo. The fee is 15.00LE for each page. It takes 1-2 days to receive the translation, which must then be authenticated by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (11.00 LE) and authenticated by the American Citizen Services Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo ($50.00).

Please note: If you do obtain an English marriage certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice Translation office, you DO NOT need to have it authenticated at the American Embassy to use for immigration in the United States.

Here is the problem. I called the Egyptian Embassy in Chicago and spoke with the liaison who deals with this constantly and he indicated that WE MUST have the U.S embassy in Cairo authenticate the document. I am now back in the states with the Original Marriage Translation Document. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice? I'm so confused and angry about this. All this could have been avoided if the lady would have just authenticated the document when i showed up.

what sup my egyptian brother ?

just relax man everything will be ok ,

if you have the marriage certificate in arabic with you just find an arabic translation agent in your state ,and they will don it for you ..

USCIS ACCEPT THAT?

let me know if this help you ?

salam

[imegyptchun 1]

Salam brother,

Thank you for your reply,

I have the marriage certificate in arabic AND the translation in English with the proper stamps from the Egyptian Ministry. But the person i spoke with today told me that I MUST have the translation authenticated by the Embassy in Cairo.

Nothing I can do now I guess except mail everything with my I-130 packet and pray USCIS accepts it.

Inshallah everything will be ok.

[nomadnoor 29]

Asalaam alaikum!

So the US Egyptian Consulate Website says -

Translations (Foreign Language Documents)
A consular officer may provide notarial services to non-English speaking applicants. However, the officer must be able to understand the document in question. Translations of a foreign language text should be provided by the applicant. If the consul is not comfortable providing the service, s/he will decline and direct the person to a local notary or foreign consul who can communicate in the same language.

For the consular officer to notarize an affidavit of a translation, the translator must appear with photo identification.

See the attached file from the US Egyptian Consulate for their recommended translators on this response. Some of them may allow your to scan and email the document - then your spouse could go pay and pick up the translation - then scan and email it back to you.

However I dont think thats needed because according to the I -130 instructions - "Any foriegn language document must be accompanied by a full English translaton that the translator has certified complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English."

In your case - I would submit with the I -130 a copy of your original marriage certificate and a copy of the translation - it doesnt need to be certified by the US Embassy to be used for the I -130 or the I -129F.

translators.pdf

[imegyptchun 1]

Nomadnoor,

thank you so much for your response, that is very helpful.

Inshallah everything will be approved when i send the form in.