Filing I-130

[Randy W]

I am also in the final stages of preparing my I-130 for submission. Regarding the English translation of our Chinese marriage certificate... Should I include the actual translation booklet (white cover, red stamps, embossed seal) or submit copies? I have more than one of the booklets, so I could include one of the originals. Also, the translation is on A4 sized paper... would it be better to copy it onto LTR size?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

They are used to both A4 and the US 8 1/2x11, and accept either format.

[Corbin]

I am also in the final stages of preparing my I-130 for submission. Regarding the English translation of our Chinese marriage certificate... Should I include the actual translation booklet (white cover, red stamps, embossed seal) or submit copies? I have more than one of the booklets, so I could include one of the originals. Also, the translation is on A4 sized paper... would it be better to copy it onto LTR size?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Normally, or I should say, the Notary in Guangzhou, took the information from our marriage certificate and then produced their own certification, both in Chinese and in English, which certified they had reviewed the information (either that we had provided and/or what is now in the government computer) with respect to the legitimacy of our marriage in China.

 

The notarized document they provided us, with the water embossed and stamped seals, is a little larger than standard letter page size.

 

Copies are acceptable for the submission of the I-130 or I-129F; however, I had multiple copies of the original produced at the notary office, and I thought they looked much better than the photocopies, so I included orig¡¯s.

 

They would not fit in my top-hole punched, acco-clipped case file book, so I neatly trimmed off the bottom inch or so of the paper, while still leaving the sequential page numbers in tact.

 

This is what I submitted.

What did it cost you to get the marriage certificate translated and notarized? Plus how many copies should one get when having it done?

[Shadowman]

The cost for one notarized translation was 380 RMB. Lao Po wisely had three copies made. The cost for each additional copy was 40 RMB. I don't know if I'll need all three, but I would recommend getting at least two as the additional cost is nominal.

 

Also, FYI... we originally tried to get the translation done in Guangzhou (where Lao Po now lives), but we were told that in order to get a notarized translation, it had to be done in the Province where the marriage was registered (Hunan). We were able to send the Marriage Certificate (Wife's copy only) to Changsha and have it mailed back to her (for an additional 40 RMB). Lao Po then mailed the documents to me in USA. I had the docs in hand about a week and a half after she submitted them for translation.

[Corbin]

The cost for one notarized translation was 380 RMB. Lao Po wisely had three copies made. The cost for each additional copy was 40 RMB. I don't know if I'll need all three, but I would recommend getting at least two as the additional cost is nominal.

 

Also, FYI... we originally tried to get the translation done in Guangzhou (where Lao Po now lives), but we were told that in order to get a notarized translation, it had to be done in the Province where the marriage was registered (Hunan). We were able to send the Marriage Certificate (Wife's copy only) to Changsha and have it mailed back to her (for an additional 40 RMB). Lao Po then mailed the documents to me in USA. I had the docs in hand about a week and a half after she submitted them for translation.

 

 

Yes, this is true. Also, at the central notary in GZ, the cost for three is the same as two copies, so we always get the three.

 

It never hurts to have extra copies of these doc's for some later use in the US.

Off topic a little......

Does our loved one have to get their Passport in their home town/province? What kind of cost is it?

[Shadowman]

My wife just renewed her passport and yes, she needed to return to her home town/province to do it. Not sure about the cost.