Carte Vitale - Need "Legalized" Birth Certificate Translation?

[Summerisle]

Quick question for anyone from the US who has had to register as a dependent with the quick, efficient, and straightforward () CPAM system:

When I went to the local office to ask what documents I would need, I was told that the French translation (performed, stamped, and signed by official translator, "pres la cour d'appel de Paris") had to be somehow stamped or authorized by the US consulate. The paperwork they gave me was less than clear (par of the course!), but I don't think they're looking for a full-on apostiller for my original birth certificate . . . are they?

I did send an email to the US Consulate, but thus far, all I've gotten back is the standard "check the website" reply.

If it makes any difference, I'm here on a conjoint de scientifique visa, and with the trouble my spouse has had getting her carte vitale (she's a Chinese national, and there's some argument about how her birth certificate translation needs to be confirmed), I can't say I'm expecting this to be simple!

Thanks to anyone who can provide any insight on what I need to have!

[Bevdeforges]

As far as I know, the US consulate won't stamp or authorize any documents they didn't issue themselves, so I don't think you're going to get anything from them on this. It's entirely possible that they do want you to get your birth certificate apostilled, which is about the only way to authenticate this kind of document. (Unless you have a copy directly from the agency with the embossed seal.)

My understanding has always been that if you have the document translated by a "traducteur assermenté" that part of the fee charged is for them verifying the document as genuine. But I'm not sure that is the case (any more?).

But maybe someone who has gone through the process recently can jump in here.
Cheers,
Bev

[joi2009]

Hi - I just went thru all this - if you want to PM me I will give a the required information - Jo

[Summerisle]

Originally Posted by joi2009

Hi - I just went thru all this - if you want to PM me I will give a the required information - Jo

Excellent!

EDIT: Weird, I don't see anywhere to send a PM. I know many online boards limit new members when it comes to PMs. Please feel free to PM me with the information!

EDIT 2: Yep, 5 posts to access the PM system. I won't spam, but I'll look around to see where I can contribute ASAP

[joi2009]

Hi you can reoly to me - where in America did you live?

[joi2009]

i wasn't any help! Sorry

[Summerisle]

Originally Posted by joi2009

i wasn't any help! Sorry

It's ok, I appreciated the try!

Anyone else have any idea what the CPAM is looking for? Chances are I have some time to track down the full apostille if necessary, but the official at the local Assurance Medicale office seemed fairly certain the Consulate could get what I needed . . . although I've learned (the hard way) one should never trust what any one French official has to say!

[castanetoise]

Hi, I have just had to submit my birth and marriage certs for my carte vitale. I sent the original certs and a translation by a traducteur assermenté who charged between 40 and 60 euros for it. She did it in about a fortnight, although because some of the names and officials titles were Irish and handwritten, I had to write in print when I emailed her to clarify.

[_Sarah_]

I also was only asked for a traduction assermenté of my birth certificate which cost 60 euro.

[Summerisle]

That's what's weird: the translation I showed them was a traduction assermenté (which set me back 50 euro).

I did hear back from the US Consulate, and they said I could sign the translation and they'd notarize my signature on it. Vaguely meaningless, but it might be what they want.

What I'm thinking: the CPAM official was already clearly annoyed my wife and I had asked her a number of questions, so she probably just wasn't in the mood to look at the documents carefully. I'll do the usual: go back and ask again!