Recommended translation services?

[Invictus]

Her mom is going to Zhengzhou where their hukou is registered to get another birth certificate, this one also stating her parents' names. However, as far as the official translation from the same place which some have mentioned, that seems to be somewhat unrealistic. The people in those places absolutely do not speak English, nor do they seem to have any translator on staff. She will mail it to me and I will either translate it myself or let someone else do it. It's just a single sentence.

[Randy W]

Her mom is going to Zhengzhou where their hukou is registered to get another birth certificate, this one also stating her parents' names. However, as far as the official translation from the same place which some have mentioned, that seems to be somewhat unrealistic. The people in those places absolutely do not speak English, nor do they seem to have any translator on staff. She will mail it to me and I will either translate it myself or let someone else do it. It's just a single sentence.

 

Gong Zheng Chu offices are located THROUGHOUT CHINA - most likely including at the prefecture-level city where your wife's hukou is located.

 

Why would you not at least try? Take the hukou book, and the document you already have.

 

The consulate may or may not accept an unofficial translation

Edited December 17, 2012 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

I've been an active reader but not a writer and just want to share our experience in case it helps someone else. Our's was perhaps not a difficult case since I've lived in China for almost 10 years and known my wife almost that long but I did learn a few things along the way. We received the "pink" on Wednesday. Of course I went to Guangzhou also. On Monday I went to ACH and had a nice chat with one of the officers. This was a suggestion I received here and I think it was quite worthwhile. She was very nice and offered a number of suggestions. I had a couple of other questions about some documents and those questions were all answered. I made a point of telling her that I'd been in China for 9 years and spoke Chinese fluently and saw her taking notes on the screen. My wife's English is OK but I knew she was very nervous going into the interview and was afraid her English would leave her at a critical moment. On the interview day itself, I made sure to give my wife my passport as well so they knew that her husband was there supporting her. There was a preliminary interview by a lady that collected paperwork. There were very long waits before and after the paperwork collection. My wife was at the end of the line. Seemed like some interviewees had issues and they were at the window a long time. My wife said she was impressed that the interviewers were willing to spend so much time explaining things. After the long wait the actual interview for us was pretty short with just a few questions. I think the key is preparation. Include as much as you can with the I130. And for the interview have everything prepared, labeled, highlighted, etc. And be sure that your wife knows what everything is and where. Check and check again that everything that is required is included. For documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, police report - you must have the official notarized white booklets from the Gong Zheng Chu. But I did learn that they do not have to be from the Hukou hometown Gong Zheng Chu. Any will do, but of course they must be the "white booklets" from the official notary offices. For us the process went from March filing to July "pink". So in summary I'd say that being nervous is understandable but following the process and attention to detail will win out.

[dnoblett]

The translation at the notery office tends to be a literal one with seal and bound to the document being translated in a white book.

 

And yes even a back water office can and will do the translation.

 

This is the first thread in all the years I have been on candle where someone is doubting this, and also first one having problems with translations in China.

[Invictus]

I'm going by what my girlfriend and her mother tell me. Her mom just got a second birth certificate. I will have my girlfriend take it to her Gong Zheng Chu where she lives in Wuhan and get it officially translated. Thank you for the help.

[Invictus]

Yay, mom and daughter team figured out how to get it translated. I wouldn't have known where it not for you guys. Many thanks.