White Book Translation and "Not Married" Certificate

[peh5]

Hi everyone. Reading these boards have been very helpful to my fiancee and I but we still have some questions regarding the K1 visa process. We're getting ready for her interview March 10.

 

1. She got her birth certificate from her local Gong Zheng Chu but no "white book" translation. Can anyone give me the name in Chinese of the translation/white book so I can be sure to correctly convey to her exactly what she needs to ask for? If she asks for bái běn 白本 will they know what this is? They seem pretty clueless thus far.

 

2. My fiancee has never been married. I've seen mention of certificates stating a person is single are available in China but I don't see anywhere in the K Visa Instructions that such a certificate is required. Is this something she needs to get?

 

Thanks for any help you can give us.

[dnoblett]

The K-1 petition does not require foreign birth cert or certificate of no marriage, however the consulate does, the certificate of no marriage is considered "Marital Status Certificate" per this: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/cn/K_Visa_Instructions.pdf

 

She should be able to ask for an English Translation at the office where she will get the Status Cert, Police Cert, and Birth Cert, they should understand this and will bind the translation with the document in a thin "White Book" It is recommended to get a second or third Birth Cert + Translation for later use in the states.

[Randy W]

Chinese Notarial Documents - see DOS China Reciprocity Schedule

NOTE: try http://travel.state..../fees_3272.html or go to http://travel.state.gov/ and search for "Reciprocity by Country" (they seem to change this periodically)

Most of the documents needed can be obtained from one of China's Notarial Offices (Gong Zheng Chu). All Chinese documentation to be used abroad is processed through the notary offices and issued in the form of notarial certificates. Notarial offices are located in all major Chinese cities and in rural county seats

The documents required are the GongZhengShu 公证书

Sample application for documents (your province or hukou may vary):

http://www.bnpo.gov....72115331419.doc

http://www.bnpo.gov....ide/detail1.asp

A discussion of the huji (or hukou 户口) system can be found at Hukou System. Chinese residents should go to their hukou for all notarial documents (birth, divorce, and/or single certificate, and police records). For the police record, one obtained at the hukou will cover all of China.

A notarial document will be in the standard white notarial booklet, have an official red seal, an English translation, and an attestation to the true translation.

[peh5]

Thank you for your replies. The way I read it, the Marital Status Certificate was only required if she was previously married. Guess she'll need to make another trip to her hometown to get this.