Serious Certification

It is all up to the immigration officer who handles your case and your paperwork to make the most important, initial decision on the status of your application. The last thing you need is to have that immigration officer take a look at your paperwork, the translation of your documents, the certification and...laugh or worse get irritated over the "un-seriousness" of it all and reject your application. Immigration officers are people who deal with a wide spectrum of cases and immigrants who are sometimes not very polite. Lots of immigration offices – service centers as they are referred to – have huge backlogs which only aggravate the situation for either side: officers and applicants alike. Having gone through the entire process myself, I have seen both: not very helpful officers and some rude immigrants. Add to that sloppy, hand scribbled paperwork and suspiciously looking certification and you have a big problem waiting to happen. How many years do you want it all to drag on? Is it really worth it? From my own experience with a heavily backlogged immigration service center, I know that going for "overkill" is the only way to considerably increase the chances of getting your application approved and possibly speed up the process. What does it mean to go for "overkill"? Simply put: sloppiness out, good impression in. So, make sure your forms are filled out on the computer. If you do not have one, go to a local library where you can get free access to one. If there is no library nearby write in BLOCK LETTERS as clearly as you can. Make sure you have certified translations of all your original documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.  An important part of your translation is the certification. It is one of the crucial elements that give your certified legal force. In our work with immigration attorneys and officials we have seen all sorts of "certifications", a lot of which have been rejected by the authorities. If you see a "certification" which is a statement made by someone who has a corporate title, chances are this may not work. Why? Because anyone, literally anyone, can give themselves any kind of a title in their own company. For example: "executive vice-president for communications". Executive vice-presidents have no business certifying translations unless they are translators as well. A legally valid translation should be certified by the professional who actually did it – the skilled and educated translator.  And, while not necessary, having a notary seal is also very helpful (part of the "overkill". Additional stamps and seals, although not required, can lend a sense of "official" and show that you really do care.  At USCTS we go for "overkill", but it doesn't cost any more than the so-called "page counter" translation services.  In fact, prices at USCTS are often cheaper. All of our certified translations are signed by the translator and notarized with respective stamps and seals. I know something about this; I got my green card thanks mostly to USCTS.

Are we cyborgs yet?

A cyborg is a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of human and machine. Throughout history, humans have developed technologies that would help them survive. For example, one of the technological breakthroughs going as far back as 8000 B.C. that we use today and could not really function without it was the invention of the wheel. According to most scholars, we can thank the Sumerians for this – an ancient civilization and one of the earliest urban societies in Southern Mesopotamia (corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran).

What we see in this day and age is a human-technology interface that is expanding at an unprecedented pace.  That technology affects us nowadays more than ever before in human history is something that we can easily observe in our lives. We cannot or rather would not like to imagine ourselves without cellphones, "i-this" and "my-that" and lots of other gizmos and gadgets. This phenomenon has gained so much momentum and significance that it lead to the establishment of a new branch of science: cyborg anthropology.

So why did the invention of the wheel, not to mention other technological revolutionary breakthroughs in human history not lead to us becoming more intertwined with machines until now? Well, there are a few factors.  For one thing, while those inventions truly revolutionized human lives and provided a basis for the further development of civilization, they did not become part of us. A pacemaker, insulin pump, a bionic limb does imply being a cyborg. But this phenomenon has a more profound meaning, our entire interaction with technology could qualify as cyborg.  Then there is of course the cultural aspect of our interaction with technology which consequently affects the way in which we interact with other humans. This part of our lives continues to move to a greater and greater extent to the internet. And speaking of breakthroughs and revolutionary inventions – the internet is truly one of the greatest lifestyle, cultural, anthropological, neurological, yes you see it right neurological changing phenomena in human history. Scientific research proves that regular internet usage does change the structure of our brain. We can find and peruse lots of data quickly, but we have difficulties with remembering it. Our attention span gets shorter, we miss deeper, more subtle meaning and knowledge, we skip longer words, we develop difficulties with inductive problem solving, critical thinking, our imagination suffers too. The problem is that when we shut down our computers and get away from the internet, this "computerized" way of our brain's functioning does not go away. It affects how we process information coming from other media, and it also affects how we communicate with each other.

Does this mean that we should treat the virtual world like a devil? Absolutely not, after all, where else would you get a great certified translation so well done at such a reasonable cost, if it wasn't for USCTS being available 24/7 on the internet?

The solution is rather simple: take the best from all worlds or more scientifically speaking try to "develop a complete profile of cognitive media skills" (Patricia Greenfield). In other words, read books, listen to the radio, and engage in conversations with fellow humans, real conversations, not just texting or chatting on the web. This is especially important for children! Let us not impoverish our lives by switching to one medium at the expense of the other. Our lives will be fuller, more meaningful and fun, if we continue exercising our brains.

On the Art and Quality of Things, but especially Translation

When you go somewhere by airplane it all seems so easy and effortless when on board. There is the taxiing part, the take-off, and the pilot knows exactly how to navigate through the skies to arrive at the correct destination and land safely. We pay for our ticket and expect nothing less. We don't think much about the tough training the pilot and the ground crew had to undergo in order to make everything run smoothly and safely. We think little of how much concentration, discipline, dedication and hard work goes into making every trip appear effortless, so that we can relax and enjoy our trip.

It is pretty much the same with certified translations prepared by USCTS. All of our translators/linguists, editors, formatters, and proofreaders are people with higher academic degrees; bachelor at least. Those of you who have already used our services know that all our formatting reflects the original in every way. The content is not only translated, but also perfectly localized so that it does not read, or look like a translation, but like a new original.

You pay for a service and expect the best and this is what you get. The goings on behind the scenes are frequently long hours of arduous building of elaborate forms, research, sometimes even consultations with experts in a given field. Our linguists are not only translators, they are experienced professionals with cross-cultural competence and thorough training in specialized languages whether legal or technical, with appropriate protocols specific to a given country, even slang used by youth for example. So when on the same day that you order you get your translation for review, you will be getting documents that not only read like, but also look like the originals. And, because of the usage of appropriate standards and protocols they have legal power in the United States. Some of our projects are destined for selected Latin American countries, and thanks to the broad spectrum of experts working for USCTS, those documents have recognized legal power in those countries as well. Guaranteed!    

Some of our clients ask us why we don't just charge per page to make it "easier". Well, it might be easier and more convenient for us, but not necessarily fair for you – our clients. When someone for example has a 2 or 3 page birth certificate with very little or no writing on some of the pages – just seals and stamps – it is simply not fair to charge the same price as for a full page. So, what you see on our website is that we offer package pricing – more convenient and cheaper for you, and you get so much more for your money with package pricing. From many years of experience, we know how challenging it can be to deal with government institutions in the United States and abroad.  So don't take any chances by taking shortcuts and using a non-reputable company to translate your documents. Come to USCTS, pay less and get more!

How to Choose a Certified Translation Website

With so many websites on the internet offering translations, how do you know which of them to trust?  Here are some things to look for (these apply to any e-marketing website):

1. - Does the website make hard to believe statements, such as "thousands sold every week?"   This statement may be fine if you are looking to buy hamburgers or toothbrushes, but if you are want to order a certified translation, the statement may be a little hard to believe.  Be wary!

2. - Is the company licensed to do business?  If it is not licensed, it is probably doing business illegally.  Be wary!

3. - Is the company accredited by the Better Business Bureau?  Does it display the "BBB Accredited Business" interactive logo?  If so, you can be assured that the business is legitimate...and also it is licensed to do business.  If not, be wary!

4. - Does the website offer a secure ordering process?  If not, don't do business with them at all!!  If they do offer a secure ordering process, check to find out if the website is PCI DSS 6.6 compliant.  If so, you can be 100% confident that your personal and credit card information will be safe.  If not, be wary.

5 - Can you contact the company either by telephone or chat?  If you can only contact them by email or if you call and you always get a recording (during business hours), stay away!

6 - Do you know exactly how much your translation will cost before you order?  If not, be wary!  Be sure to read all of the fine print.  Some companies offer "per page" pricing, but the fine print states that this means only up to 250 words per page.  If your pages have more than 250 words, you'll be charged more.

Why are we writing about this?  Because...

1. USCTS.com does not make any hard to believe statements.  We tell you exactly what we do and what we are offering.  No fluff.  Just business as a professional website should do.


2. USCTS.com is licensed to do business in Brevard County, Florida and in the city of Melbourne, Florida.

3. USCTS.com is accredited by the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida.

4. USCTS.com offers a totally secure ordering process, and USCTS.com is PCI DSS 6.6 compliant!

5.  You can contact USCTS.com by telephone or on-line chat during our business hours (09:00 to 18:00 Eastern Time).

6. USCTS.com pricing is all inclusive and the prices you see on our website will not change after you order.  USCTS does not price by the page or word.  At USCTS.com pricing is totally all inclusive and completely transparent.

Save the Language

It is our duty as the dominant species on planet Earth to protect animals, plants and and the entire natural environment. This is a duty towards the planet, ourselves and future generations. We hear quite a bit these days about various endangered animal species that need our attention. At this point I would like to mention that all of us at USCTS are committed not only to green practices in our offices, but we also support many environmental and animal rights organizations and we strongly encourage all of our associates to do the same.

But what about languages?   

Languages can also be endangered and become extinct. In fact more languages are extinct than are spoken today. According to estimates, half of over 6000 languages that are spoken today will be gone before the end of the century. Languages constitute the cultural wealth of the ethnic groups that they belong to; they contain knowledge about the history of those groups and are part of their identity.

There are many reasons why languages become extinct. Extinction can be quick and violent if a small group of speakers is subjected to genocide, illness or natural disaster. There may be other reasons, like, for example, if a community is introduced to a second language and that language becomes dominant. This can happen for economic and social reasons. A community may choose to favor that new, second language and abandon their original native language in pursuit of greater economic and social advancement. Not only the language becomes the victim here, but also traditions, culture, the so-called old ways and ethnic identity.

Regrettably it has happened often in human bloody history that language elimination was a conscious effort on the part of governments. Here in the United States such policy was conducted towards Native American tribes. Adult members of the tribe were forbidden to use their native language and children were forcibly taken away, placed among white settlers and forced to use exclusively the English language. Consequently, they would forget the language that they were originally born to. Fortunately, today Native American tribes are working hard to bring their languages back from the brink of extinction and they teach their children how to speak them.

  

Incidentally, it is not the number of speakers of a given language that is a decisive factor on whether or not a language is endangered – it is their age. Hence the emphasis on teaching children. For example , there are some languages in Indonesia that have tens of thousands of speakers, but are still endangered because children are not learning them anymore. The population of users is aging and also moving away towards using the national Indonesian language.

Languages just like traditions, customs, help to make this world a rich and fascinating place. Let us do our best to help them survive and thrive.  

May 1 - Happy Workers' Day

Where did The International Workers' Day and movement start?  That's right!  Right here, in the United States. On May 1, 1886, workers, all over the United States, were on a general strike in support of an eight-hour workday.  The robber barons would not give in.  Tensions rose.  In Haymarket Square, in Chicago, police fired into a crowd of strikers.  Several were killed.  A bomb went off killing several of the police. Seven workers, who weren't even there were implicated in the killing of the police officers and executed by hanging. An annual commemoration of the workers who were killed began around the world.

So why is the Labor Day here in the US in September and not on May 1 as everywhere else? It was because the 24^th president of the United States Grover Cleveland feared that celebrating Labor Day on May 1 would lead to the commemoration of the riot and its victims.  President Regan later tried to change the official name of May 1, to "Law and Order" Day.

May 1 is a holiday that is officially observed in over 80 countries worldwide and unofficially observed in many other countries of the world.  It is an opportunity to reflect on the working conditions of people, on discussing their rights, on combating abuses like child labor on respecting the fruits of their work and thanking them for it.

If you happen to be in Poland at this time, you are really in luck as there is a 3 day – or more depending on the day of the week – holiday. May 1 is Labor Day, May 2 is Flag Day and May 3 is Constitution Day. This is a time when families get together on what is referred to as the "majówka" (pronounced "my-OOF-ka"). A majówka is a picnic, a barbecue party, it can also be a hiking trip out of town or participation in any kind of numerous events organized by local communities, museums, theaters, art and other associations.

So even though it is not officially celebrated here in the United States, whether you work in an office as a translator, in the cab of a waste disposal truck, or in any other type of job, celebrate!  This is your holiday. 

Happy Workers' Day!