Translating Korean marriage certificate in Canada for passport name change

[Daantaat]

Hi,

I want to change my last name on my passport to my Korean husband's name. I have our marriage certificate from Korea, translated into English in Korea by a law firm that notarizes translations. However, this is not good enough for Passport Canada. They want a Canadian translation by a translator who is authorized to translate document for Passport Canada.

Does anyone here know if a Passport Canada-authorized translator that can translate my Korean marriage certificate into English? I am in Edmonton and I know there are translators in Calgary, but none of them seem to be authorized to do work for Passport Canada.

In the meantime I have had to change all my other documents back to my previous name so that I can use my passport with my regular i.d. when we travel to Korea next month. After we return, I would really like to get EVERYTHING in my married name but the Korean to English translation of my Korean marriage certificate is causing a lot of trouble because it HAS to be done by a translator who is authorized by Passport Canada. Strange that I haven't had any trouble using the notarized translation for Immigration and Alberta Health, Alberta Registries or anything else like that. Passport Canada just chooses to be jerks about it.

 

[Rob_TO]

Perhaps try these guys?: https://talberta.ca/translation/immigration/5/ or this one: http://www.languagesim.com/passport-translation-calgary/
(just random google searches).

Also I wonder why you needed to change all other documents back to your maiden name? When traveling the only name that matters is the one on your passport, and that it matches the name on the ticket. Your name on any health card, drivers license, etc should be irrelevant for purposes of traveling.

 

[Daantaat]

I tried the first one (talberta.ca) and they no longer are certified by Passport Canada. I'm waiting to hear back from the second one.

I had to change my DL back because you are supposed to have additional I.D. to accompany your passport when you travel. If you lose your passport you would need additional proof of identity at the Canadian embassy to get a new passport. Changing my DL meant my car insurance and registration had to be changed, and my credit cards would need to be changed in case I am asked for ID when I use them. It's obviously more of a hassle for a woman to change all those things so maybe that's why more and more (smart) women are opting to keep their own names when they marry.

 

[Rob_TO]

I tried the first one (talberta.ca) and they no longer are certified by Passport Canada. I'm waiting to hear back from the second one.

I had to change my DL back because you are supposed to have additional I.D. to accompany your passport when you travel. If you lose your passport you would need additional proof of identity at the Canadian embassy to get a new passport. Changing my DL meant my car insurance and registration had to be changed, and my credit cards would need to be changed in case I am asked for ID when I use them.

I've traveled quite a lot and have never needed any other ID other than my passport. Though I guess losing your passport would be the 1 reason you may need an additional piece of ID.

If you just kept a copy of your drivers license in your maiden name, that would be suitable enough proof if anyone asked for ID to use your credit card which is also in maiden name. Though again in all my years of traveling, I've never been asked for ID when using a credit card. I don't usually even carry my passport with me while walking around in any given city.

It's obviously more of a hassle for a woman to change all those things so maybe that's why more and more (smart) women are opting to keep their own names when they marry.

On a side note, in Korean culture women don't usually ever take the surname of husband. My wife is Korean, and she's still using her maiden name even though we've been living in Canada for a while now since getting married. We probably won't ever bother to change it due to the hassle and it's not important to either of us.