Question for yachiyo456, Okshan818 or any Japanese friends on Koseki Tohon

[gaizin]

Dear Japanese friends or anyone with japanese spouse!
I need to translate Koseki Tohon of my Japanese wife to English. Please suggest me where and how I can get an english version of unaltered Koseki Tohon in Japan? Do I need to spend 3, 4 man for translation and to notorize it? Any cheaper and acceptable way?


Hope to hear from you soon!


Regards,
Gaizin

 

[okshan819]

I have no idea actually. I live in japan and my case is different because my husband is nit a Japanese national.

Please can anyone answer to the question? Hope you can get an answer soon. I will try to search also on the internet for you and if I get to find anything then will let you know.

 

[shakira2009]

Hi gaizin,

I'm not married to a Japanese either but I personally know these translation agencies that can do the job (translation + notarization):

http://urbanconnections.jp/en/index.html
http://www.creer-jp.com/eng/index.html

I hope they can do everything for less than 20,000 yen (1.5 to 2 man is a general market price for such translations), but you'll have to ask directly, or let your wife inquire. I've used Urban Connections for my marriage certificate (issued in a Japanese shiyakusho) and they did a great job. I know the other company Creer because I've worked for them in the past as freelancer.

These are the ones I can recommend, and I'm sure there are many other agencies out there that are very good. The only aspect to confirm with any agency is whether they do the notarization. I know I answered to your question about Notarizations for your certificates, right? That was for documents & translations you already have in your possession.

Many translation agencies provide a Certificate (attached to the translation) which acts as a notarization for that translation. The Consulate in Tokyo accepts these, so you don't need to go to a notary public separately after having the document translated.

Hope this is clear... let me know if you need other help.

 

[yachiyo456]

Hello gaizin-san,

Actually I did the translation of my koseki a long time ago when I applied to Manila. I asked a friend who is a professional translator. But he went back to his country so I cannot recommend him anymore. And I don't remember how the notarization is done, sorry.

Maybe it's easier to send a message to the consulate to be sure.

Good luck!

 

[gaizin]

Hi Okshan, Shakira and Yachiyo,
Thanks for your inputs.
Now I understood the process and I look for other options.
I will be back if I find other cheaper and available ways.
If not, using professional translator company will be most economical way according to Shakira.

Yachiyo-san, if you could remind, please let me know whether you notorize the english version of your Koseki Tohon or not.

Shakira: do you know whether there are any system of registered (under governmental rules) freelaunch translator in Japan?
I myself used to work as translator and intrepretor (part time) when I was a student in Tokyo, but no companies asked me for proof of any registration at that time (though it was long before)?

If I could catch a freelaunch translator (if registered one), that would be easiest and cheapest way what I understood from the discussion.

Anyway, god bless all of us !

 

[yachiyo456]

Yachiyo-san, if you could remind, please let me know whether you notorize the english version of your Koseki Tohon or not.

I think I attached something.... I will look for my notes and photocopies and let you know. But even so, I cannot affirm things totally for Japan because I applied to Manila in 2005. CIC Tokyo may be accepting a translation agency's certificate if the translated text is an official document issued in Japan, like shakira2009 said.

Another idea is to tell your wife to ask the same question in these Canada forums in Japanese:
http://www.e-maple.net/bbs.html?cat=IM
http://bbs.jpcanada.com/title_list.php?bbs=5&sort=0
Perhaps some other Japanese people applied around the same time as you in Tokyo and they know better

 

[gaizin]

Wow Yachiyo san,
U gave me most invaluable infos what I was looking for long time.
Actually, I was looking for japanese discussion forum for long time, I may got some infos from there.
thanks a lot.
I will post the message (in Japanese) there as soon as I'll get back from work.

Thanks again and see u soon in Canada!!

Gaizin

I think I attached something.... I will look for my notes and photocopies and let you know. But even so, I cannot affirm things totally for Japan because I applied to Manila in 2005. CIC Tokyo may be accepting a translation agency's certificate if the translated text is an official document issued in Japan, like shakira2009 said.

Another idea is to tell your wife to ask the same question in these Canada forums in Japanese:
http://www.e-maple.net/bbs.html?cat=IM
http://bbs.jpcanada.com/title_list.php?bbs=5&sort=0
Perhaps some other Japanese people applied around the same time as you in Tokyo and they know better

 

[shakira2009]

Shakira: do you know whether there are any system of registered (under governmental rules) freelaunch translator in Japan?
I myself used to work as translator and intrepretor (part time) when I was a student in Tokyo, but no companies asked me for proof of any registration at that time (though it was long before)?

If I could catch a freelaunch translator (if registered one), that would be easiest and cheapest way what I understood from the discussion.

Hi gaizin,

Japan doesn't have officially registered freelance translators because translation/interpretation is a non-regulated profession. It's different from many countries where you need to be certified by an official institution or have a univ. degree in linguistics. Like you, I've also worked for a few agencies and just had to provide a CV and do a trial translation.

What I meant by "Certificate which acts as notarization" is a letter from the translation agency stating that the translation was done by one of their registered translators and that it is of good quality. The certificate I got from the agency was printed on a company letterhead sheet and signed by their CEO. There was also some reference on the company's history (20 years in Japan) that made it more credible.

In my case (for marriage certificate) CIC Tokyo accepted this agency's certificate, that's why I'm almost certain they'll accept the same for a koseki translation.

If still in doubt, you can confirm it with the Japanese people in those forums. I also saw some Canada immigration communities in "mixi"... maybe you should try there too.

 

[kitaguy]

Gaijin-san:

You may also want to talk to Border Connections (borderconnections.com) even if just for a short consultation.
They specialize in consulting for Japanese speakers.

I talked to them about a year ago and they were helpful.

Good luck.

 

[okshan819]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share the latest correspondence I got from the Tokyo visa office regarding my file.

Today i came to know that they want additional document such as the original birth certificate of my husband's mother in order to prove relationship between my husband and his uncle in Canada. The thing is we have the birth certificate but it is not the same kind of certificate which we got for my husband and his uncle. It's a different format and from a different source. Usually, in the Philippines birth is registered in the NSO. But for some reason the mother's birth certificate was never registered. We only have the copy from the city office or the Civil Registrar Office.

So, would this be a problem? Do you think that they visa officer will reject our case? I am so super tensed right now. I was really hoping to receive medical request by now. What do you think? I mean, the one I have is also official but it's just from a different source. Would the visa office accept that?

What matters is that they will compare my husband's uncle's bith certificate and my husband's mother;s birth certifificate to see if they are real sister brother. So they will look at parents' names and so on to check. I don't have a problem with that because they can see it clearly. This is important for us in order to get points for adaptability.

 

[yachiyo456]

So, would this be a problem? Do you think that they visa officer will reject our case? I am so super tensed right now. I was really hoping to receive medical request by now. What do you think? I mean, the one I have is also official but it's just from a different source. Would the visa office accept that?

Okshan818,

that's a very difficult question because I never saw those papers. I think that if both papers are official it should be ok. Did you try asking your own embassy or consulate? Can they certify that both papers are official? ...just an idea.

 

[okshan819]

Actually I didn't have the chance but anyways I sent the requested document. Let us see what happens from now on. If it's meant to be positive then it will come. Meanwhile, all I can do is sit back and pray. Good luck to all of us!!!!

 

[gaizin]

Okshan819,
Although I am not expert, I put my just my 2cent opinions.
If your husband has some proofs of the relationship issued in his country, based on those documents, the embassy of his country in Japan should issue another certificate to prove that relationship. I guess the certificates issued by the embassies in Japan will be more powerfull than the certificates issued in his native country for immigration purpose. Please ask your husband to enquire about this issue in his embassy in Tokyo.

By the way, are such certificates necessary if you donot claim any points from your relatives residing in Canada?