Affidavit from friends and family

[TLB]

"they can be written in Chinese and then brought to a notary office for a notary translation."

 

So what's the process here? You start with an affidavit in Chinese, and then, rather than take it to be translated somewhere, you take it to the notary and ask for it to be notarized and translated there? And then are you done?

[dnoblett]

"they can be written in Chinese and then brought to a notary office for a notary translation."

 

So what's the process here? You start with an affidavit in Chinese, and then, rather than take it to be translated somewhere, you take it to the notary and ask for it to be notarized and translated there? And then are you done?

If in the USA simply write the letters in English, and have notarized.

[TLB]

If in the USA simply write the letters in English, and have notarized.

 

Yeah I can do that; I'm talking about the ones in Chinese from her family and friends.

[dnoblett]

Yeah I can do that; I'm talking about the ones in Chinese from her family and friends.

From USCIS:

 

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

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

 

Translator could get their signature notarized.

 

Translator can be anyone conversant and fluent in both languages, need not be a professional service.

[Highlander 08 09 10 11]

If in the USA simply write the letters in English, and have notarized.

Do the forms filled out in China need to be notarized if they were written by somone who is fluent in English?

[dnoblett]

Do the forms filled out in China need to be notarized if they were written by somone who is fluent in English?

They should be to show that this is a Sworn Affidavit.

 

This can be handled by a notary officer at a US Consulate, if is a US Citizen providing the affidavit.

[concert500]

My wife Xiaoyan carried ten notarized Affidavits of Relationship from my mom and friends etc... into her interview and they wouldn't look at them.

[dnoblett]

My wife Xiaoyan carried ten notarized Affidavits of Relationship from my mom and friends etc... into her interview and they wouldn't look at them.

Typically these affidavits need to be included in the I-130 petition filing to USCIS per the I-130's instructions.

[tsap seui]

Typically these affidavits need to be included in the I-130 petition filing to USCIS per the I-130's instructions.

 

 

I can't stress enough, especially to someone starting an application....the first bunch of paperwork and evidence you send in is usually the only thing that the DOS will ever take from you or your woman. Her interview is NOT the time to hand in stuff. Those visa officers rarely ever take anything from your woman at her interview....Yes, there are a few folks whose VO's took something from them...THEY are the exception NOT the rule folks.

 

My wife's (then girlfriend) VO would not even look at my passport, she quickly and angerly threw it back through the window, as well as my consulate notorized "new" EOR letter. Then she proceeded to ask my wife eight or ten questions about my four trips to China "as she looked at her computer". Chances are, the VO already had my info from returning to POE and customs in America, from my trips and their dates to China.

 

An insider hint, the American VO's don't have the time to read all your evidence, it's the Chinese workers in the consulate that actually read your application and input things to the Americans. Hence, all the Chinese "visa people" who have offices in the consulate building. You think they are paying all that high rent and not making any money? Their real help is before the Americans see what the consulate staff writes in your case, not after you get a blue or white slip. Most of you have no clue how you've been helped, your girlfriend or wife ain't gonna tell ya.

 

TLB, it would have cost us a ton of rmb to get white books made up for the 7 Chinese friends and family members who wrote affadavits for us to send in with our I-130,,,,believe you me we tried every trick in the book and it came down to having to have a "white book" for each and every affadavit.

 

So, we had each person write their affadavit in Chinese, the lil' rabbit translated them into english on the computer and each person sat there and copied the translation onto a sheet of paper in their own hand and with a black pen.

 

Then that person went to a copy shop and at the bottom of the last page of their affadavit they had a color copy of their Chinese ID card (front and back) put onto their affadavit.

 

Each affadavit had their name, address, relationship to us, phone number, etc.

 

For the four Americans that wrote affadavits for us I had them include and sign a statement that read, "I hereby certify that the information I have given above is true to the best of my knowledge and belief".

 

It's one thing to get an American to write an affidavit for you, quite another to get them to take it to a notary.

 

For the Americans I made my own form that already had spaces for their name, relationship to us, address, etc., at the top of the form, the statement at the bottom is the very statement that the VA acknowledges as a sworn statement for any evidence you send in to them on an official claim. You don't have that statement, they won't look at your claim.

 

Good luck.

 

tsap seui

Edited September 2, 2010 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[TLB]

okay, sorry, one more time from the top (I apologize, I'm just really stupid I guess, I'm still not getting this).

 

Let's take an affidavit all the way through (and does a "white book" fit in here somewhere?)

 

1. friend or relative writes affidavit in Chinese

2. if wife knows someone who can translate, that person does so

3. translator fills out certification of translating competency (only in English?)

4. wife, person who wrote affidavit, and person who translated all go to notary (?)

5. all sign appropriate docs in front of notary

 

End result is 2 affidavits notarized and a certification of translator competency (also notarized) -- or are there two of these as well (one in Chinese)?

 

What have I got wrong?

 

Thanks again; I'm trying to tell my wife about this as she doesn't know, but I still need to wrap my head around exactly how to do it, A to Z.

[dnoblett]

okay, sorry, one more time from the top (I apologize, I'm just really stupid I guess, I'm still not getting this).

 

Let's take an affidavit all the way through (and does a "white book" fit in here somewhere?)

 

1. friend or relative writes affidavit in Chinese

2. if wife knows someone who can translate, that person does so

3. translator fills out certification of translating competency (only in English?)

4. wife, person who wrote affidavit, and person who translated all go to notary (?)

5. all sign appropriate docs in front of notary

 

End result is 2 affidavits notarized and a certification of translator competency (also notarized) -- or are there two of these as well (one in Chinese)?

 

What have I got wrong?

 

Thanks again; I'm trying to tell my wife about this as she doesn't know, but I still need to wrap my head around exactly how to do it, A to Z.

Two pieces of paper, Origional doc, and a translation with certification at the bottom of the translation. In China this can be done at a notary office, they can translate, certify the translation with a seal, and bind them together in a "White-Book" This is acceptable for USCIS.

[tsap seui]

okay, sorry, one more time from the top (I apologize, I'm just really stupid I guess, I'm still not getting this).

 

Let's take an affidavit all the way through (and does a "white book" fit in here somewhere?)

 

1. friend or relative writes affidavit in Chinese

2. if wife knows someone who can translate, that person does so

3. translator fills out certification of translating competency (only in English?)

4. wife, person who wrote affidavit, and person who translated all go to notary (?)

5. all sign appropriate docs in front of notary

 

End result is 2 affidavits notarized and a certification of translator competency (also notarized) -- or are there two of these as well (one in Chinese)?

 

What have I got wrong?

 

Thanks again; I'm trying to tell my wife about this as she doesn't know, but I still need to wrap my head around exactly how to do it, A to Z.

 

Sounds okay to me. You found a way around the expensive white books, and you got notarizations. All this is for Americans at USCIS and Guangzhou to read....no need to have one for the Chinese, they would let your wife come over here without all the hassle.

 

tsap seui

[TLB]

My wife is asking whether we need a "foreign certification" on these affidavits (Íâ½»ÈÏÖ¤) -- I've never heard of this; anyone know what this is and if it's needed? It seems a friend is suggesting we might need this.

[dnoblett]

My wife is asking whether we need a "foreign certification" on these affidavits (Íâ½»ÈÏÖ¤) -- I've never heard of this; anyone know what this is and if it's needed? It seems a friend is suggesting we might need this.

If they originate from the USA, then the person in the states can have it notorized in the USA by a Notary found at many banks, this is free.

 

If from China, then the notary translation will do.

 

Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage);

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-130instr.pdf It just says "Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties" Sworn to or affirmed means get it notarized.

[woodbreyjt]

I'm not sure if I should revive a dead thread or start a new one, but I'll post here first since there is good info. If no responses I'll start my own thread.

 

First, I'm still not sure what kind of info should be in it or if there is a format they should follow. I've seen some, but they are a little confusing. Can I get some clarification on specific wording that should be used, and what info needs to be in them?

 

My other questions also have to do with these relationship affidavit. I am planning on getting these from three different kinds of sources.

 

1) Chinese friends/family in China

2) American friends in China

3) American family in US

 

For those in the first group, they write the letter in Chinese, I translate it for them, then have them copy the English in THEIR OWN handwriting. After that I need to get them to copies of it with their ID cards, front and back. If that is done, do I still fill out something certifying I translated it or can I skip that? Do they still need a notarization? Is that done at the same place I got the white books, or no? Is it in white book form or not?

 

The second kind of letters, an American in China. There are no embassies or anything near here. Can they get their letter notarized in the same place that I got the Chinese ones notarized? Is a copy of their passport required?

 

The third, my family in the US. They have never met my wife in person, only video chatted and We chat discussions. Is that okay? If they get it notarized, can they send me a copy of their notarizated letter or must it be sent to China by snail mail? What is the best way to get their affidavits?

 

I always feel like I'm missing something, that's part of the worrier in me. But do I have it right?