Getting Quality Birth Certificate Translation Services

By Ryan Ross


There are circumstances where a person may need to produce documents, that will serve as proof of identity. This can include situations such as being hired for a new job, embarking on a huge business venture, enacting a foreign adoption, marriage, applying for a passport, visitor visa, immigration, or getting a green card. For some of these purposes, one may need to acquire a birth certificate translation if it is not in English already.

The most common reasons people are required to take this step tend to involve travel and immigration. Security is a concern, so the government has the requirement that all applicants must provide documents such as this, to prove their identity. Each of the various actions listed above will have their own guidelines and specifications.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has set standards in place for any documentation they will accept in each of the matters that involve foreign nationals. They take into account that not every country has the same protocols when issuing these documents, so that is always a consideration. For each process, there will be specifications included in the instructions.

No matter what country issued the document, if it is not prepared in English, then it will be necessary to be translated accurately before it can be submitted. Any person - as long as they are neither the petitioner nor the beneficiary - can perform the action as long as they have fluency in both languages. Copies of originals should accompany all translations.

Certain factors need careful attention, so that complications and delays can be avoided. As an example, documents are to be translated word-for-word, exactly as shown, include all punctuation, dashes, signatures and stamps. Any part that is smeared, damaged, or otherwise unclear, should be marked as "non-legible" by the translator, instead of being skipped or assumed.

It is also required that the translated document follow the same visual layout as the original. This means that if the form was in blocked format, the translator should skip spaces on their paper to indicate the separations as they appear on the first. Even the information contained in stamps, seals and signatures should be placed in the same area on both papers.

The one translating the documents is required to provide attestation of their qualifications to perform this task accurately. They may include this on the bottom of the paper, or attach a standard affidavit. Their name, address, and a statement of their dual fluency, should be included in this section.

It is usually not necessary to notarize documents that are being submitted to agencies, like the USCIS, that are in the United States. However, when delivering to consulates and embassies in other countries, notarization is a requirement.

A petitioner is not required by law to use professional translating services, though it is strongly recommended since any discrepancy may be cause for a delay or dismissal of the case. Whichever option one chooses, it is a good idea to carefully compare and review the accuracy of both the original and translated documents. This is especially important in immigration circumstances as submitting incorrect data may be considered false information that could get the entire petition immediately denied.




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