Legalizing EB-3 documents is a necessary step so that documents issued by Vietnam are recognized in a U.S. immigrant case. This is a procedural part that is often overlooked but important. This article explains what legalizing EB-3 documents involves and how to prepare.
Legalizing EB-3 Documents: Why Translation Is Needed
An immigrant case generally requires many civil documents issued by Vietnam, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, and police clearance certificate. Because these documents are in Vietnamese and issued by a foreign authority, they need to be translated and, in some cases, certified to be recognized.
The purpose is to ensure the documents are genuine and their content is correctly understood. Documents that are not translated or certified properly may result in a request for additional evidence, delaying the case.
Translating Documents
Documents not in English generally need an English translation, along with a certification of accuracy from the translator. The translation must be complete and faithful to the original.
Using a translation service experienced with immigration documents helps avoid errors in terminology or formatting, which can cause trouble when filing.
Certification and Notes
Depending on the type of document and the requirements of the processing agency, some documents may need an additional certification step to authenticate their origin. The specific requirement depends on the type of document and the process that applies.
You should refer to information on document authentication and guidance on the EB-3 category to find out exactly which documents need translation or certification for your own case.
Summary
Legalizing EB-3 documents involves translation into English and, for some documents, certification so they are recognized in the case. This is an important step to avoid requests for additional evidence. You should use an experienced translation service and check the specific requirements for each type of document.
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References
- U.S. Department of State — Document Authentication / Apostille: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications.html
- USCIS — Employment-Based Immigration: Third Preference EB-3: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-third-preference-eb-3
Read more: Overview of the EB-3 visa for US immigration · Labor Certification Denied: Causes and How to Respond
