Visa and stamp translation
- Thread starter bbcbbd
- Start date
Ideally yes, because if the dates are not in English, then how would the officer know whether they are before or during the eligibility period?
What @mreda13 said . . . plus:
What IRCC requests, a standard request for almost all procedures, is that any information submitted (presented) to IRCC needs to be in one of the official languages OR accompanied by a properly authenticated translation into one of the official languages.
Obviously, it is NOT the content itself (including how it is dated) which triggers the need for a translation. It is so IRCC can consider what information submitted to it is relevant and to the extent it is relevant, what its significance is.
Thus, for example, if a document submitted to IRCC, a passport say, has entries in it which are not in one of the official languages (English & French), IRCC asks that it be accompanied by a translation. So IRCC can examine and assess those entries.
If the passport expired or was cancelled prior to the eligibility period, no translation is need since that passport does not need to be presented.
That said: IRCC does not appear to be overly strict about this. For example, if the processing-agent/interviewer can easily discern the information's significance or lack of significance without a translation, most reports suggest that IRCC often if not typically proceeds without requesting a translation. In more than a few cases, however, applicants who do not provide a translation of passport stamps or other entries, when they appear for the interview, are instructed to provide a translation, which obviously can and typically does delay the date they take the oath, ranging from short delays to sometimes longer delays.
As I have oft noted, over the years this and similar forums have seen scores of reports going BOTH WAYS. Many (including myself) showing up at the interview without a translation and not being asked for a translation. Many showing up at the interview without a translation and having their path to the oath diverted until they provide a translation and it is assessed (it is the queue waiting for a processing agent or citizenship officer to pick up the file again to incorporate consideration including the translation that can sometimes significantly delay the process).
Whether to take a chance, whether to hope IRCC is not concerned about having some entries in a passport (or any other document presented to IRCC during the interview) translated, is a very personal decision. As often is the case, if not the usual, COMMON SENSE is a fairly good guide. If someone whose only language is English or French can easily discern the meaning and significance of a FEW stamps containing a minimal amount of information in a language other than English or French, probably good odds not having a translation will NOT be a problem. To the extent there are more stamps or more information not in either English or French, the odds of being required to have a translation undoubtedly increase.
Thanks a lot for detailed reply. My situation is I haven't used that passport or the visas since I came to Canada (2011); however, the passport didn't expire until 2013 (when my eligibility period started)