Why do I need to have my birth certificate translated in French? Is it so hard to understand the English version?
These were the questions running in my mind when the securitie sociale won’t accept my very own BC.
Found one translator over the internet after the Philippine Embassy denied my request. Cost 40 euros for normal translation but 50 euros if it’s a Philippine BC – too long to translate. It will take 3 days at least. Fine – better than the 80 euros I saw on my previous googling.
Went to the translator’s office somewhere in Mirabeau – the building was pleasant, but the translator wouldn’t even sit us in her office. Not even an offer to give us a glass of water? I was dying of thirst. We discussed the entire time behind the entrance door – standing. I see there was a pram beside the plant in the corner of the big apartment, office (?) – honestly don’t know where I was. At least the plant was real, or wasn’t it?
Anyway, she told me that my BC is fake. Seriously? I spent an hour falling in line in the Makati NSO to get that authenticated BC. She insisted that she knows how a Philippine BC looks like. That’s weird – coz she’s French. Again, I was firm and told her to just translate it – my authenticated BC. She read it and told me the writings were not clear. I gave her my mobile just in case she really needed my help. She asked us to pay the 50 euros then and there – in cash – coz she doesn’t have a card reader. Fine. Ran across the street to get some cash.
Two days after, she called me and told me to write all the questions (or type it in Word) written in my BC and send her via email. So I did. She gave me her wrong email address even after I confirmed and repeated and spelled her address to her. The mail kept bouncing back and I gave up and looked for her website. It was completely faux – the one she gave me. I emailed it to her. The day after, I got my BC but she was in a rush again so she handed me the BC in the entrance this time. She didn’t even let us in.
I saw the stamp that ok, she was a trusted translator blah blah. When I read it, some of the details were all wrong and she used my template! She didn’t even translate Manila to Manille. And one question remained in English – If twin or triplet, was child: First, Second, Last?
Crap! I was robbed. But at least, the Securitie Sociale accepted it – didn’t even read it. Just asked if it was in French.
On Submitting my Documents to the Social Security:
Everything was complete – BC, check; last payslip, check; photocopy of passport and recepisse, check; proof of address, check; bank details, check; the paperwork – filled it up, check; that was it.
I will receive my social security number after one month of processing – by mail. According to the pretty rude guy who processed my papers, Santa Claus does not exist and it’s not so easy anymore to get a number in one day. Hated him so much – as if I ain’t working my ass off here. I forgot to give him the URSSAF – returned the next day and according to another kinda rude girl there, is a completely useless paper – but which according to our accountant, is important. She’s pressuring me for the number already!
Still, I have to wait a month. I won’t count the days.
Ahh they asked for your translated BC? Iba iba rin tlga noh, when I applied for my securité sociale no translations were needed. And yeah I’ve waited 1month din to have the number. They were kind here in our place cguro kc kasama ko hubby ko. I’ve got many nasty experiences here too when i go alone, iba treatment pag ako lang!
Yep they asked for my translated BC – I was surprised actually coz in the prefecture, they said the English version was good enough. I was with my bf when I went to the social security and well, the person who processed the papers were rude to everyone – even with his colleague (may pagka-bulgar makipag-usap). Good for you people are nice there – in Paris, not so much, but in STrasbourg (for my medical) everyone is smiling.
yup ganyan talaga minsan lalo na papers of foreigners. may ibang french na racist. sad but true. ako ung diploma ko pinatranslate ko din in french para lang makakuha ng equivalent. for the translator naman she is not only rude unprofessional pa. dapat humingi ka ng list ng qualified translator from the secu. anyway at least tapos ka na. Patience is a virtue hehehe
I never had such experience because siguro, kasama ko lagi si michel at si Lolo pag nakabihis, with coat and tie, lol.
Kaya akala, maid ako at employer ko si Lolo,haha.
Or baka sauvages lang talaga mga functionaires dyan!sus, lipat ka na dito sa south of france!
hi,di ba pwede ipatranslate bc na muna dito sa pinas bago pumunta dyan,im sure naman mas mura dito,pero di ko lang alam kung tatanggapin sa embassy dyan…
Actually, i knew that they translate documents from English to French and vice versa in Alliance Française, but I thought they were rather expensive for 750 pesos per 250 words. And I had to give it to the Social Security of France, not the French embassy.
Hi Timi!
Pinky here, I am a friend of Jela and I was also given the Competence and Talent Visa although I am scheduled to arrive there sometime in April. Anyways, I saw your blog through Jela’s blog and I read this post of yours about the rip-off translation. Would you know if the French offices there require the documents to be translated by “certified” translators?
I am working for a translation agency here in the Philippines, and we have a branch in France. I was thinking of having some of my documents translated here so I can cut on costs. Do you think that’s a good idea? Also, in case you’ll be needing translations, you might want to check out http://www.orangetranslations.com. They have native speakers for translators so you’ll be assured of a good translation.
Merci beaucoup! =)
hi there! already met jela and she told me about you
anyhoo, as for the translations – i dunno if some french offices here require translated documents. from my experience, all they need is your carte de sejour copy (or recepisse if not yet available), some info about you like your date of birth, and social security number – this is where the translations come in. you just need to translate your BC and if i were you (if you think it’s cheaper), then better do it in manila. jela found a translator here for only 24 euros per page. do some research as well compare prices na lang. certified translators – as long as there’s a stamp in your BC stating that it has been translated by an official translator ok na yon. i heard some social securities or prefectures have their own list of certified translators but in my case, they didn’t even check.
you can make your BC “red ribboned” (dfa authenticated) so the philippine embassy can translate it for you for 20 euros. well, you can re-use naman your translated stuff – just make photocopies and ok na yon, i guess! good luck!
FYI, some prefectures require translated BCs but in my case, ok na daw yung english. jela’s case was different – she was asked to translate hers into french.