Form DS-7651 OFFICE OF LANGUAGE SERVICES (LS) CONTRACTOR APPLICATION

OFFICE OF LANGUAGE SERVICES (LS) CONTRACTOR APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please submit a copy of your résumé and at least three professional references with telephone numbers, preferably from persons who are
familiar with your linguistic work. Your résumé should highlight your translating and/or interpreting work.
Interpreting
Description of Levels (You may apply for multiple levels/modes)
Liaison Interpreter
Applicants with 0-2 years of interpreting experience in the consecutive mode may be invited to test at this level.
Seminar Interpreter
Applicants with 2+ years of formal interpreting experience in the simultaneous mode in community, court or conference settings or a graduate degree
in interpretation may be invited to test at this level. Experience using interpreting equipment is preferable, but not required.
Conference Interpreter
Applicants who meet the requirements for the Seminar Interpreter level (see above) and who have 2+ years of experience working in the conference
setting in the relevant mode of interpreting, consecutive or simultaneous, may be invited to test at this level.
For a more detailed description of interpreting levels and the test itself, click
clickhere
here..

International Visitor Liaison
Applicants who have a good understanding of US history, society, and culture in addition to a demonstrated ability to work well in a multicultural
setting will be considered for this test. There is no language component to this test.
Translating
Please upload/submit your sample(s) with the application form. We can only accept PDF/Word versions of your sample(s).
Click
here
C
lick h
ere for additional information. Click
Click here
here for a sample translation exam.
Candidates must be able to type in their target language and are required to upload a translation sample. The translation sample must be
accompanied by the original source language text, unedited, and should concern some topic relating to international affairs (e.g., excerpt of a
newspaper article, diplomatic document or political speech). Samples must contain approximately 250-300 words. Candidates should be native
speakers of their target language(s). Plagiarized samples will be automatically disqualified.
If applying for multiple language combinations, you must submit one sample for each combination. DO NOT SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE SAMPLE
PER LANGUAGE COMBINATION.
Typical translation assignments
Translations assigned to contractors cover a wide range of styles and subjects. Typical examples would include laws; treaties and international
agreements on technical, scientific, military, economic, and cultural subjects; training manuals; court documents; political speeches and position
papers; slide presentations; and official correspondence between government leaders. Hence, suitability of style and fidelity to nuance must
accompany a high degree of factual and conceptual accuracy in the target language rendition. High-quality, word-processed output is required.
Other work assigned to contractors includes on-site support for meetings or conferences, summarizing documents, reviewing translations, and
ascertaining the substantive conformity of texts written in two or more languages (comparisons).
Contractors receive and return their work by e-mail. All work must be done by the contractor who holds the basic ordering agreement with LS. No
translation work may be subcontracted, in whole or in part.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Please upload/submit your samples with your application packet by one of the following methods:
US Mail
Attn: Testing Manager
U.S. Department of State
Office of Language Services SA-1
2401 E. St. NW, Room 1400
Washington, DC 20522
E-mail
[email protected]
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Instruction Page 1 of 1

OMB APPROVAL NO. 1405-0191
EXPIRES: XX-XX-20XX
ESTIMATED BURDEN: 30 MINUTES

U.S. Department of State

OFFICE OF LANGUAGE SERVICES (LS) CONTRACTOR APPLICATION FORM
How did you hear about the Office of Language Services?

ELIGIBILITY
Can you legally work in the U.S.?
Yes

No

Are you a U.S. citizen?
Yes

Visa Type
No

LANGUAGE SELECTION
Exam Type
International Visitor Liaison

Language(s) /How Learned
If you selected "International Visitor Liaison", are you available to travel with a group of international visitors for
at least three weeks at a time?
No
Yes

Liaison Interpreting
Seminar Interpreting
Conference
Consecutive Conference
Translation

Source Language

Target Language

APPLICANT INFORMATION
Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) (Use your legal name)
Address
City

State

ZIP Code

U.S. Phone
Primary

Secondary

International Phone
Primary

Secondary

Country
Email

Do you have a Social Security
Number (SSN)?
Yes

Place of Birth
No

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT (PRA) STATEMENT
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including time required for searching existing
data sources, gathering the necessary documentation, providing the information and/or documents required, and reviewing the final collection. You do
not have to supply this information unless this collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. If you have comments on the accuracy of this
burden estimate and/or recommendations for reducing it, please send them to: Office of Language Services, 14th Floor, 2401 E St. NW, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522.

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BACKGROUND
Have you ever lived outside of the U.S.?

Yes

No

Foreign Residence: Do not include brief visits.
Dates of Residence (MM/YYYY)

Country

From

To

Education
Institution

Location

Dates Attended (MM/YYYY)
From
To

Major Subject
(if applicable)

Certificate
Awarded

Indicate your professional association(s):
AIIC

ATA

ATA Certified

TAALS

Other

REFERENCES AND RÉSUMÉ
Provide three professional references who are familiar with your interpreting/translating skills as well as a copy of your résumé highlighting
your interpreting/translating work.
Reference Name

Telephone/E-mail

1)
2)
3)

PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Have you previously applied for or held a position at the Office of Language Service?

Yes

No

When did you last apply or work with Language Services?
What is your current occupation? How many years have you been in this occupation?

Years of professional interpreting experience
Years of professional translation experience
If applying as a translator, summarize your major projects and areas of expertise as a professional translator. Include any experience with special
translation software such as CAT tools or other software.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
AUTHORITIES: This form is authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.
PURPOSE: The information solicited on this form is necessary for consideration for contract positions with the U.S. Department of State Office
of Language Services.
ROUTINE USES: The information on this form may be shared with potential employers, credit institutions, rental offices, etc. requesting verification
of employment and/or earnings. This information may also be released to other government agencies having a statutory or other lawful authority to
maintain such information. For further information see State-37, Translator and Interpreter Records.
DISCLOSURES: Providing the requested information is voluntary. However, failure to provide the information requested may result in the failure of
your application to be processed in a timely manner or at all. This may affect your contract prospects.
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TRANSLATION SAMPLE (250-300 words only). Only complete and submit translation samples if applying for written translation work.
Name

Last

First

Middle Initial

Please indicate the source language, and insert source text (250-300 words only) below.
Source language

Please indicate the target language, and insert target text (250-300 words only) below.
Target language

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