How important is it to have E-mail translations included with the K-1 Visa application?

Michael B says on Aug 25, 2005, 04:43:

Go back and read the instructions again. Unless they've changed since 2003, they say that 'any competent person' may do the translations. I translated all of the documents for my wife and her children when we got the K-1 and K-2's and they didn't obejct that I wasn't 'competent' just because I was also a principal.

To directly answer your question about are the emails necessary? Well, 75 of them is overkill. I'd include 1 or 2 at the 'just met' stage and 1 or 2 after you agreed to get married and the content of the email is clear that you are discussing the marriage arrangements and/or 'how wonderful it will be when we are finnaly united'.

Comgratulations and much happiness in your marriage. And now the important question....I haven't graced your fair city since 2003 and since then I've heard horrible rumors that a lot of houses are only paying 6/5 instead of 3/2 for a natural....tell me it just aint so...or at least tell me which houses WON'T get my custom when I return. Since this is the Colombia board and not the gambling board, you can send me a private message (that way them that don't care about the game won't have to read it).

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Neonovo says on Aug 25, 2005, 07:55:

2nd that... I translated a dozen from her, and a dozen from me, and had them notirized at the bank. Our interview is next month.

Paz
Neonovo

ps: But if you insist, I'll do it for 1/2 price...

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bbattiste says on Aug 25, 2005, 09:05:

Don In Las Vegas I live and work in Henderson. My wife is in Cali waiting to get her CR-1, hopefully sometime in November. Maybe we can get together sometime. I am sure my wife would like to know others from Colombia. My email is bbattiste at hotmail.com

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silviat says on Aug 25, 2005, 10:26:

Is it for the interview or for fillint the I-129F? If its for the interview you wont need any translation of course... other option is to have them translate in colombia, my birth certifications translation were like 18thousand pesos (9 dolars) each.

So you can just make a word document with the emails ordered by date and that way it will be less pages, then your wife can send them to you.

Just an idea.

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Sonny says on Aug 25, 2005, 10:30:

Don In Las Vegas Go to www.Freetranslation.com . Open the translation site Paste the e-mails you want translated there and print them out in English. COST for this service ? NOTHING but a bit of time. My fiance will be here on Monday and we printed about 10 each but the dates were from the time we began to talk to the day before the interview. The proof of relationship is important but photos, copies of your passport showing that you entered Colombia, a few letters, copies of your airline ticket, and maybe a list of phone calls made (hope your using a calling card) is all you will need. I notarized every thing I sent to the Embassy. Photos and all. When you have your interview they will tell you what they want from you but they will not take the proof of relationship until to go to the window. At least that is what they did to us. It may be different but that was what happened to us. Good luck and hope all goes well. I said this before but 14 people were not approved when we were there. Reason? Paperwork not in order or missing some papers. The hardest part of the entire process is the wait. Wear gloves, saves finger nails. :-)If you followed instructions to the letter the process at the interview is a cake walk. You can pick up your Visa(s) the next business day and begin your new life.

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 25, 2005, 15:52:

is it really necessary? The embassy staff that do the interviews speak english and spanish so if the messages are in one of those, save your money. The USCIS offices, however, will need english, but I don't think those documents (the e-mail messages, that is) need to be certified, approved, etc.

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ColombiaGuide says on Aug 26, 2005, 10:43:

Wouldn't go with Freetranslation I wouldn't recommend www.freetranslation.com for your documents. Try translating Spanish text (from any web site) into English using their web site: machine translation produces some really funny results.

If you end up needing your e-mails translated I'd recommend something like www.translation-service.com or other affordable human translation service.

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Sonny says on Aug 26, 2005, 15:28:

ColombiaGuide When I responded he was talking about e-mails. I used this service to translate all of my e-mails and had no problem. About a total of 379. I attached 10 or so with the English and the Spanish letters togather for the Embassy. For Legal documents I would have them done professionaly but again we are talking about different things. I knew the people at the Embassy could read English as well as Spanish so I felt OK.It was not perfect but they are looking for communication proof not the words written or the translation of a machine. The person that interviewed us did not look at one e-mail letter. Just do what you feel is best.You don't have to spend a bunch of money to do this.

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flaleo says on Aug 26, 2005, 16:10:

Why do any emails at all?????

You don't need any, zero, for the USCIS petition.
If you are with her in Bogota, that proves you have a relationship.

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jd2342002 says on Aug 26, 2005, 16:21:

no need my fiancee recieved her packet 3 a few days ago. she said the letter inside said documents only needed to be translated only if they were in a language other than spanish or english.

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Sonny says on Aug 26, 2005, 17:42:

flaleo True to a point but being there does not tell them how long you have been togather. While we were there at the Embassy One of the ladies that was not given a visa was due to the fact that she only knew the man for 4 months. This is just something that is better to have then to need. But do what ever lifts your skirt.
Flaleo, I can only suggest from my experience and my visa process went perfect. I am not the authority just one of many that went through the process.
Just my thoughts is all.

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802MARK says on Aug 26, 2005, 20:52:

NO NEED DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT THAT,, OURS WHERE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, SOME I WROTE HER AND THEN I TRANSLATED MY SELF TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE WAS SAYING... THE INTERVIEW PERSON CAN READ IT EITHER WAY, THE MAIN THING HERE IS TO BRING ALL OF THEM,, I HANDED HER AROUND 20 OF OURS LEAVING THE OTHER 50 OR SO IN MY FOLDER AND SHE WAS LOOKING THEM OVER AND I SAID BEING A SMART ASS THAT I AM, HEY YOU WANT PROVE WE ARE TOGETHER? I'M HERE WITH HER RIGHT NOW!!!! AND I HAVE A LOT MORE OF THOSE LETTERS IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, LIKE 20 ISN'T ENOUGHT!!! SHE SAID YES I WANT TO SEE THEM, SO I SHOVED THEM ALL THROUGH THE WINDOW.. THE MAIN THING WAS WE HAD A TON OF LETTERS WITH US,, SO TAKE THEM ALL, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT TRANSLATION...

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flaleo says on Aug 27, 2005, 03:57:

I girl can't get a marriage visa if she only knows the guy for 4 months?

So a question to those here that have gone through this - if both the petitioner and beneficiary show for the interview and they show that they know each other well (by answering questions) and from the K1 docs there is proof that they have met in past 2 years and they both sign the affadavits of intent to marry - one might still be judged not sufficient because they only know each other for four months instead of six months or 12 months or 36 months?

Again, I don't see why emails are required. What if you don't own nor know how to use a computer (these people still exist, hahahahaha).

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Sonny says on Aug 27, 2005, 05:36:

flaleo As I said it is your business and what ever lifts your skirt is your concern not others.A 3 month reltaionship could mean someone is looking for a visa to the USA. Maybe that is why the woman did not get hers while I was there. Just my thoughts but we all live in free countries

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 27, 2005, 08:23:

It seems to be a different situation for anyone who is married rather than going for a fiancee visa. We had a ton of material but the interviewer did not want to see any of it. Even at my wife's AOS interview here in San Antonio, they did not want to see anything either. All the government ever saw from start to finish was our marriage certificate.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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