Freelance birth certificate translation Thread poster: Daniel McCartney
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My question is fairly straightforward. If a client approaches me directly with a request to translate a birth certificate, what can I provide the client to show that the translation will be accepted? Is a simple affirmation that the translation is valid enough, or would I need further certification, from an organization or through an agency?
For context, I'm American and the translation is for an application for a Green Card.
| | | | Tim Friese 
United States
Local time: 10:57
Member (2013)
Arabic to English
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| I think you need to write a COA | Feb 12, 2014 |
Hi Daniel,
For legal purposes in the US, I don't believe you ever need a third party to vouch for quality. As the translator, you write a Certificate of Accuracy (COA) stating the translation is accurate. You should make sure you know whether your client wants a hard or soft copy of the COA. Sign the hard copy or put an image of your signature on the soft copy.
Have the client check and see whether they need it notarized. If so, you would take the translation and your C... See more Hi Daniel,
For legal purposes in the US, I don't believe you ever need a third party to vouch for quality. As the translator, you write a Certificate of Accuracy (COA) stating the translation is accurate. You should make sure you know whether your client wants a hard or soft copy of the COA. Sign the hard copy or put an image of your signature on the soft copy.
Have the client check and see whether they need it notarized. If so, you would take the translation and your COA to a notary, sign the COA in the presence of the notary, and the notary would then notarize it. Many people think this is a statement of the quality of the translation. It is not. It is verification that you are the person you say you are, and nothing more.
Here are two of the first links I found for COAs. I don't think there's a legally required text, but you'll generally see similar statements on different COAs.
http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/documents/TranslatorCertification.pdf
http://www.emory.edu/isss/mini_sites/external_services/Certificate%20of%20Accuracy.pdf
Hope this helps! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Diana Coada (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:57
Portuguese to English
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and it works the same way in the UK.
Tim Friese wrote:
As the translator, you write a Certificate of Accuracy (COA) stating the translation is accurate. You should make sure you know whether your client wants a hard or soft copy of the COA. Sign the hard copy or put an image of your signature on the soft copy.
Have the client check and see whether they need it notarized. If so, you would take the translation and your COA to a notary, sign the COA in the presence of the notary, and the notary would then notarize it. Many people think this is a statement of the quality of the translation. It is not. It is verification that you are the person you say you are, and nothing more.
| | | | | All you need is | Feb 13, 2014 |
a duly executed Certificate of Accuracy--it has to be notarized to be valid for the immigration authorities in the US.
I don't agree that the certificate of accuracy just verifies the identity. The translator vows that they are fluent in both languages and that the document has been translated to the best of their knowledge and abilities, and thus they take the liability to a large extent for anything incorrectly translated and make themselves liable to lawsuits.
[Edited... See more a duly executed Certificate of Accuracy--it has to be notarized to be valid for the immigration authorities in the US.
I don't agree that the certificate of accuracy just verifies the identity. The translator vows that they are fluent in both languages and that the document has been translated to the best of their knowledge and abilities, and thus they take the liability to a large extent for anything incorrectly translated and make themselves liable to lawsuits.
[Edited at 2014-02-13 11:13 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Daniel McCartney
United States
Local time: 10:57
French to English
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TOPIC STARTER | One more thing | Feb 19, 2014 |
But first, thanks for all the input. It's been a great help. A further question: to what extent does the translated document need to preserve the formatting of the original?
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I've personally seen numbered lists of text and fully recreated and translated documents. I personally try to conserve as much as possible, just to make the guy at the USCIS's job easier.
To echo the advice given above, you can even find blank copies online (I think the USCIS even gives an example one that you can copy). I haven't needed to notarize any of the translations that I've sent in, but it certainly wouldn't hurt and it can be done cheaply (my UPS Store only charges $2 to n... See more I've personally seen numbered lists of text and fully recreated and translated documents. I personally try to conserve as much as possible, just to make the guy at the USCIS's job easier.
To echo the advice given above, you can even find blank copies online (I think the USCIS even gives an example one that you can copy). I haven't needed to notarize any of the translations that I've sent in, but it certainly wouldn't hurt and it can be done cheaply (my UPS Store only charges $2 to notarize anything).
I personally translated all of my wife's documents for her greencard and visa. ▲ Collapse
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Daniel McCartney wrote:
My question is fairly straightforward. If a client approaches me directly with a request to translate a birth certificate, what can I provide the client to show that the translation will be accepted? Is a simple affirmation that the translation is valid enough, or would I need further certification, from an organization or through an agency?
For context, I'm American and the translation is for an application for a Green Card.
Hi Daniel,
You don't need to convince your client about the accuracy of the translation you do, as you are a certified translator. As the translator, you write a Certificate of Accuracy (COA) stating the translation is accurate. But just ask your client whether he needs a hard or soft copy of the COA.
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