Forum Immigration Poland - Polska

by **susano** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:35 pm

I lost count as to how many years into this process I've been thus far. I think I initially started the research about 4 or 5 years ago now...

If anyone remembers me at all, here's a quick refresher on my situation:

Both my grandfather and grandmother on my father's side were born in different locations in Poland in 1919 and 1926, respectively. Information on my grandmother's side is limited but since they were in married in 1946, I have been advised that her citizenship is completely dependent on my grandfather's. Being able to narrow my focus on my research has helped but it took a long time to go about gathering documents. Both were apparently forced into labor camps in Germany, where they were married and lived in Displaced Person Camps until they were granted the ability to move to New York. Since then, they remained in the U.S., but never became citizens according to the U.S. government.

The long and short of it, after spending the past 4 years harassing family members to look through their belongings, there was finally a breakthrough and my aunt has, in her possession, original marriage certificate, what appears to be my grandfather's original, Polish-issued birth certificate (but was issued in 1985) along with several other documents, including one written entirely in Polish and appears to include historical events (still need to have that translated to English).

Here's my question, since most of my documents are copies, and not all would be considered "certified" copies, does the Consulate require originals in order to translate them? I don't want to hand over any original documents since I have no means for obtaining originals again from any agency in Poland as I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for them.

by **siuniab** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:22 pm

Hi susan:

Not sure what you're trying to have translated. You make mention of an original Polish issued birth certificate and another document that is written in Polish. Is the document in question the marriage certificate (German)?

When I was preparing my docs for confirmation, there were a few documents which I did not want to part with (my mom's passport ). I went to the Polish consulate and asked them to make "authentication" copies i.e. copies that bore the seal of the consulate stating they the original was in fact authentic. I paid around $50 per document for that little service.

What complicates your situation is that the source document (marriage certificate) is actually issued by a foreign nation (Germany). The Polish consulate would not be in a position to verify its authenticity. I suspect you would need an authentication copy from the German consulate or German Apostille and who knows if Polish authorities would even accept it. A sworn Polish translator is required to work from "originals". They are really sticky with their requirements. Tough situation. I think it would be best to approach the consulate with the problem and let them advise you.

Good luck

by **susano** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:27 pm

Well, the Polish documents I have I don't want to part with -- since they are our only documents and we have no means by which to acquire originals again.

The marriage certificates are in German but also in Polish.

The rest of my documents are US copies from USCIS when I was researching their archives. I cannot acquire originals.

So, can the Polish Consulate make legal copies of Polish documents? And would they be willing to translate certified copies of my US documents?

by **siuniab** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:53 pm

Hi:
I'm Canadian, so unlike the States we do not have a system of Apostille here. I believe all U.S. docs have to be verified through the system of Apostille. I had my birth certificates, marriage certificates (certified copies) translated by a sworn translator in Poland without any problems.

Legal copies: The consulate made "legal" copies of my mom's expired Polish passport and my own Canadian passport. The copies bore the seal of the consulate. They were obviously familiar with what a Canadian and Polish passport looked like, so there wasn't a problem. I don't know if they have any limitations on the types of documents that they will "legalize". Again, if your documents bear the Apostille stamp? then making copies shouldn't pose a problem. I would check with the consulate.

by **Neuman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:28 am

Susan,

The Polish consulate WILL make certified copies of American documents. I had them make a certified copy of my US passport and birth certificate.

by **susano** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:14 am

I'm not talking about legal US documents. I'm talking about the copies of documents that I have (not originals) like US immigration papers of my grandparents, etc.

by **richasis** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:29 am

susano wrote:I'm talking about the copies of documents that I have (not originals) like US immigration papers of my grandparents, etc.

Hi, Susan - NARA (USCIS) will certify any document copied from their microfilm records.

From the NYC NARA Regional Office Website:

If you require certified copies of microfilm records, you must ask staff for assistance.
WEB-SOURCE: http://www.archives.gov/northeast/nyc/p ... arted.html

Specifically, THIS is what you are looking for:

This is an actual Certified Copy of my parents' U.S. Immigration Manifest - FWIW, I DID NOT NEED TO HAVE THIS APOSTILLED - the Polish authorities accepted this just the way you see it... although it was later officially translated once it got to Warsaw.

So, there you have it... hope this helps. Good Luck, Susan! (P.S. As for me, I'm told that I'll be a Polish Citizen next month.)

by **marron** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 6:50 pm

one of the documents that I had (but did not want to let the original out of my hands ) was a Refugee Travel Document (something used in lieu of a passport) issued to my father in England (he was a refugee there a couple of years after the war.) This was obviously not a Polish document but the citizenship office accepted the consulate's legalized copy. So, by the same token, they "ought to" (no guarantees!) do the same with your German-issued marriage cert.

by **CharlieFreak** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:35 pm

Specifically, this is what you are looking for:

[/quote]

@ richasis - any chance you can re-post that photo?
I've got a red-ribboned photocopy of my grandfather's naturalization act, with a rivet through it, issued by the nara. It's not a local official's stamp on it, it's a federal one, so i'm not sure whether or where it would need an apostille. It doesn't look like it needs one!
Thanks.

by **richasis** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:40 pm

CharlieFreak wrote:Specifically, this is what you are looking for:

@ richasis - any chance you can re-post that photo?[/quote]

Great! It sounds like you've got just what you need.
Like I said, I did NOT need to have this Apostilled...

I reloaded the image. Happy to help, CF. Good Luck!

BTW, I'm a 'confirmed' Polish citizen, so this worked.

by **CharlieFreak** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:51 pm

richasis wrote:Great! It sounds like you've got just what you need.
Like I said, I did NOT need to have this Apostilled...
D

Fantastic, thanks. Still waiting for the proof of non-service military records from St. Louis. The last thing on my long, long list! While waiting for the slow ones like the NARA naturalizations, I've sent almost everything else off for Apostilles, just in case. Will be ready to apply in a couple more weeks, hopefully... Thanks again.

by **richasis** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:06 pm

CharlieFreak wrote:
richasis wrote:Great! It sounds like you've got just what you need.
Like I said, I did NOT need to have this Apostilled...
D

Fantastic, thanks. Still waiting for the proof of non-service military records from St. Louis. The last thing on my long, long list! While waiting for the slow ones like the NARA naturalizations, I've sent almost everything else off for Apostilles, just in case. Will be ready to apply in a couple more weeks, hopefully... Thanks again.

You're Welcome. I'm still trying to get the image linked here; seems too large to do so.

I had phoned Saint Louis myself, and they were both very courteous and helpful there.
Unfortunately, they always refused my 'offer' (read: 'bribe') for 'Expedited Service'. :lol:

Depending on circumstances, you may or may not have to wait some for the records.

by **susano** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 6:05 pm

I want to thank everyone for their responses to this thread I started. Unfortunately, I took some time off from this endeavor when I was between jobs last year. But I'm back to it again!

Anyway, regarding the certified copies of microfilm records, that's not relevant to what I'm trying to get certified. My grandparents both had A-Files which I was able to retrieve copies of from USCIS. It may be, in fact, that they don't even have the original documents, just copies.