Translation Services for Families: What, When & How
Translation can impact our lives in so many ways. Whether you're moving to a different country or applying for a temporary visa to travel, having your documents in place is always important. Family documents are one of the primary requirements you need when you're in the process of applying for citizenship in a foreign country. As such, most of these files are subject to certified translation for immigration application purposes.
That is why professional translation services are crucial for most families who are or have immigrated to another country. Having all the relevant family documents translated can significantly smoothen your application process.
Read further to learn more about what exactly a family translation is about, when you need them, and how you can get them:
What is Translation Services for Families?
Family translation services are most often essential when families relocate to another country. You may need all your certificates and documents translated into the language of the country you're moving to.
Immigrants and intercultural families are the most common types of families that most often need certified document translation services. This is because immigration authorities only accept documents that have certified translation.
As such, you have to hire a translator who has an established experience in translating family documents. You have to make sure that the translation is accurate and is according to the requirements.
Here are the most commonly translated family documents:
Passport
Birth certificate
Marriage certificate
Divorce certificate
Medical records
Academic records, including degree certificates or diploma
Drivers license
Any existing police record
Foreign language documents (for USCIS)
When Do You Need Translation Services for Families?
When you're traveling overseas, having your documents along is an inevitable worry. Staying in a foreign country and having your documents untranslated loses its purpose, as it almost has no use. Having your documents translated and certified or notarized is essential when you're traveling or immigrating.
For instance, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires a certified translation of foreign documents such as birth certificate translation. Marriage and divorce certificates are some of the most commonly translated documents for USCIS as well. You will need to submit these files as supporting papers for your immigration process as it is a must for any immigration and citizenship processes, especially for relevant family documents.
A medical emergency in the US is another circumstance where your family might need translation services for your documents, particularly if you're a non-native speaker and cannot speak or understand the English language very well, or if the patient is a very recent immigrant whose medical records are not in English. In order to ensure that they seek adequate medical attention as quickly as possible, thorough and comprehensive translation services would be critical. A professional translation agency can help guarantee a cross-cultural understanding through medical translation and medical interpreting services.
While there are various reasons you may need family translation services, there are prevalent instances where certified document translation is necessary. Here are cases where family documents may require translation:
Visa application
Green Card application
Certificate of citizenship
Naturalization
Business certification
License application
Legal documents
Education / Academic purposes
Medical emergency
How Can You Get Translation Services for Families?
The best choice for getting translation services for families is to get the services of a reliable translation company. Hiring professionals for the job will save you both time and money as they have know-how in document translations. They will also process the certification and notarization for your documents, which is what authorities require you to present.
Usually, you will need to provide a clearly-scanned document or original hard copies for these translations. The rate usually starts around $20 for a 200-word text and increases depending on the content's complexity. Most translators will accept payment by one of the more popular money transfer apps. The cost may vary depending on the type of documents, technical terminology, target language, formatting, and the deadline.
Human Translation or Machine Translation?
Most families hire professional language companies for their personal, medical, academic or legal documents translation needs and such documents require accuracy, attention to detail, and extensive knowledge. Hence, you shouldn't rely on machine translation for your family documents.
On the other hand, hiring a human translator or a professional translation company with human translators guarantees accurate and requirement-compliant translations for your needs. With a trusted translation service provider, you can ensure a comprehensive translation even with topic-specific terminologies. They can also give you an estimated delivery turn-around time that matches the standard in the market.
