Understanding Document Authentication in Your Situation

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Admin

Documentation is a reality of life and a critical part of many transactions and decisions. Within the United States it is relatively easy and straightforward to get the documents you need and ensure they are authentic. If you intend of using your personal, commercial, or legal documents in other countries, however, you have to go through additional steps to verify their legality and authenticity. Unfortunately, this process can get complex, confusing, and time-consuming, making it something you should definitely not leave until the last minute. If you plan on traveling to another country in the near future for business or academic purposes, will be getting married in another country, or are going to relocate to another country for the foreseeable future, it is essential you start getting your documents in place as soon as possible so you do not encounter problems that could cause your trip to be delayed.

One of the most important things to realize about the verification of documents is that not all situations are the same and the needs of each country are not the same. This means you need to carefully evaluate where you will be traveling to and why you are traveling so you know that you are getting the properly verification. For example, you need to know the difference between Department of State authentication, Embassy legalization, and Apostille certificates and when they are applicable so you know how to proceed.

To make the entire process easier, we offer document legalization services customized to your specific needs. Instead of you trying to figure out what type of verification you need, how to process the documents, and when to turn in your requests, you can trust our licensed and experienced professionals to handle every step of the process. You simply order your document authentication services and let us handle the rest. Because we understand the processes we are able to tell you whether you need an Apostille stamp or authentication based on your destination country and then how to put in these requests. We will guide you through every step of the process and handle most of it in an expedited manner without you having to do any of it so all you need to do is keep planning your trip.

Here are some of the situations in which you will need document authentication:

If you are relocating to another country for temporary or permanent residence
If you are seeking employment in another country or plan on starting a business in another country and need to show experience
If you plan on teaching English as a Second Language in a foreign school
If you need to verify your role as Power of Attorney while in another country
If you need to show a will or other document in order to settle the estate of a deceased loved one in another country
If you plan on going to school in another country and need to show your transcripts, diploma, or degree to transfer credits and gain admittance into the program
If you are planning on marrying in another country and need to show your birth certificate or the birth certificates of your children for visa and residence purposes.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to ask any questions so that we can clarify the entire process for you. We can help you understand the purpose of legalization of documents, guide you through determining which documents you may need, and tell you what documents you need to get from which departments and organizations so you can start the process. Let us make sure you are ready for your trip in plenty of time so you can just relax and handle the other aspects of planning.

Prepare for Your Trip to China with Document Attestation

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Admin

A trip to China is a dream for many people, but if your dream is about more than just making a quick visit, you may need to go through additional steps before you head out on your travels. Just like in the United States, if you intend on seeking employment, starting a business, getting married, purchasing real estate, or establishing residency in China, you need specific documents to verify your identity and other personal and professional details. This verification, however, is not as easy as taking the documents out of your personal files and bringing them along with you to China. In order for them to be recognized as authentic and legal in China, you must have your documents formally legalized. This process is referred to as attestation.

Legalization of documents for China is a process you complete before you embark on your travels. This attestation is the formal verification that all of the information contained within the documents is complete, accurate, and legal, and that the documents were properly obtained, drawn up, and authenticated in the United States. Essentially, this process demonstrates to China that the documents you present are completely genuine, legal, and appropriate for the specific actions you wish to complete in the other country.

Attestation of documents from USA starts with getting the proper documents from the appropriate departments or agencies. The process of attestation does not make documents legal, meaning you cannot bring photocopies or improperly drawn-up documents for attestation and have them “made legal” through the process. Instead, attestation confirms that the documents are legal according to the terms and standards set forth by the other country.

Once the appropriate documents have been obtained and are verified authentic and legal by the appropriate organizations, such as the State Department, they must be submitted to the embassy of the country of destination along with an attestation request. Using document attestation services from an experienced and licensed company takes the confusion and concern out of this process. While you may have a difficult time obtaining your documents, submitting them to the embassy, and obtaining the proper attestation within the time frame necessary to ensure your documents are ready before you are set to travel, our professional services simplify the entire experience for you.

Our authentication and legalization service ensures you have everything you need throughout the entire attestation process. From the moment you contact us about your situation until you are on the plane ready for the next chapter in your life, our professionals are here to make sure your questions are answered and your deadlines are kept. Whether you need attestation for a will, Power of Attorney, transcripts and degrees, birth and marriage certificates, or business documents, we can expedite your process and ensure you get your documents with plenty of time for your travels.

Apostille Service FAQs

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Admin

Whether you are relocating to another country, or traveling abroad for vacation, going on an official business trip, you will need a variety of documents to verify personal and professional details about yourself. While in the United States department-issued documents and notarized copies are automatically considered official, the same does not apply for when you present the documents outside of the country. In these situations you need to further verify the authenticity of the documents in order for them to be considered authentic and acceptable, which is where Apostille service in Washington DC comes in.

Use these frequently asked questions to help you better understand the purpose of Apostille, documents that require this form of authentication, and the countries where Apostille is accepted as a form of verification.

What is Apostille?
The word “Aspostille” comes from a French word that means “certification”. This term is used to mean the process by which documents are legalized for international use. This process came under use after the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. During this convention countries agreed to accept documents using the Apostille.

What is the purpose of an Apostille?
An Apostille Certificate is a seal of authenticity that verifies the document was properly drawn up and obtained. This legalization makes it so that the documents will automatically be accepted in any of the other countries included in the agreement without the need for you to go through other processes to verify your documents. The purpose of the Apostille is to demonstrate authenticity in one simple way in order to make legal and business transactions in foreign countries smoother and easier.

When is an Apostille needed?
Apostille certificates are not needed in all situations. Generally this form of legalization is only needed in circumstances involving business dealings, real estate transactions, settling of the estate of a deceased person, or academic purposes. Documents requiring this type of legalization are often the same types of documents that require notarization in the United States.

What types of documents require an Apostille?
The documents requiring an Apostille vary depending on the country and the situation, but some of the most common documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, Powers of Attorney, death certificates, passports, transcripts, and wills.

Do all countries accept an Apostille?
Not all countries accept Apostille Certificates as a form of official certification. Countries that were not members of the Hague Convention or who did not agree to the terms of the convention are not party to the Apostille and therefore require other forms of legalization. For example, when attempting to obtain Apostille, Philippines is not a country you could use this type of verification in for your documents. Instead, you would need to obtain Embassy Legalization.

Are all Apostilles the same?
There are different types of Apostille and these must be obtained in different ways to ensure their authenticity. For example, a State Department Apostille is required for documents issued by U.S. Federal agencies such as naturalization documents, Certificates of Free Sale, background checks, and IRS documents. Trust us to not only help you determine which type of Apostille is appropriate for your needs, but also to go through all of the steps of the process for you so that you get your Apostille as quickly and easily as possible.

Get in touch with us to discuss your travel and let us help you organize your documentation so you do not encounter stressful and frustrating delays.