Attesting Documents 101

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Admin

There is a lot of misinformation about what attestation is and how the process works but the reality is that document attestation is quite simple. Attestation is another word for the legalization or authentication of a document so that another country accepts that document to be genuine.

Why is attestation so important?

Consider this example:

You are a US citizen you has just been offered the job of a lifetime. It could be as an English teacher in China or it could be a prestigious executive position with a corporation in the UAE. You have a college degree and plenty of professional certifications to back up your experience in these fields but how does the other country know that? These documents could be faked in order to make you appear like a more qualified candidate for the position than you actually are. The documents could also be altered in some way. The only way for a foreign government to be 100% sure that the documents you are presenting as part of your employment are genuine is through the process of attestation.

Do you need an apostille service or an authentication service?

An apostille is a special authentication procedure that is recognized by countries that participated in the Hague Convention. If living or working in a country that is a member of The Hague Convention, US Authentication Services offers apostille services to make this process easier.

Some countries, such as China, are not members of The Hague Convention. In this case, documents must go through a process of attestation instead. This process is slightly more complicated and requires that documents first be authenticated by the appropriate US authorities including the US Department of State Office of Authentications before ultimately being certified for use in the foreign country by that country’s embassy or consulate.

In either case, US Authentication Services can help you make sure your important legal documents are properly authenticated prior to beginning employment overseas. For more information about our apostille and authentication services or to receive a free quote, give us a call at 1-800-893-5807.

Why Should You Use Professional Services for Your Documents?

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Admin

Authentication services are some of the most complex and confusing requirements for travel, employment, adoption, marriage, and other interactions with other countries. While in the United States you can request official documentation or get other documents notarized, more is required in order for the authenticity of those documents to be recognized in other countries. The goal of authenticating documents is to show other countries that documents you present without any interaction or involvement from that other country were drawn up properly, have all of details to make it legitimate, and are authentic. This eliminates the need for you to get legal copies of the documents in the United States and then spend extra time in the other country having those documents legalized.

While it is possible to get the proper authentication, legalization, or Apostille for all your documents on your own and submit them to the other country independently, this can be a confusing, frustrating, and exceedingly time-consuming experience. Instead, you can turn to our authentication and legalization services to guide you through the entire process and ensure you handle each step properly.

Some of the benefits of getting in touch with us when you need documents authenticated include:

Unlike in the United States where verification and legalization of documents is simple and straightforward because you have few options, the needs of different countries varies. How your documents need to be verified varies depending on the country where you intend to travel, seek education or employment, adopt, claim an inheritance, marry, or perform other activities. If you do not understand which form of legalization is necessary, you could waste a tremendous amount of time trying to get the wrong type. Instead, let us explain the difference between Apostille and authentication as well as attestation and legalization so you know which is right for your needs
You do not need to take the time or go through the effort of researching the regulations and requirements of State, Federal, and Foreign Embassy departments. Because we are experts we understand all of the steps of the process and can go through them efficiently to ensure you do not miss any important details
Because we are located in Washington, D.C., requesting authentication services from US Department of State and Foreign Embassies is much faster than if you needed to send them from somewhere else. We are able to actually go to these locations in person and hasten the process
You do not need to know anything about the process other than what documents you need and when they need to be turned in to the other country. All you need to do is mail in your documents along with your request and we will take care of the rest of it for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about our services and how we can make the entire process smoother, faster, and less stressful. Our knowledgeable staff can put your mind at ease and let you focus on the other aspects of going on vacation or relocating to another country.

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 Move to the UAE with Document Legalization

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Admin

Planning a move to the United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is exciting, but it is not as simple as packing a suitcase, hopping on a plane, and heading on to your new life. Unlike moving to another city, another state, or even some other countries, you must obtain legal documentation before gaining permission to move to the UAE. This document authentication is not always easy and can be time-consuming. Using our authentication services streamlines the process so you can feel confident you are ready for the next chapter in your life.

Knowing what documents are needed when moving to the UAE is the first step in getting everything in place to make your big move. Whether you plan to live in the UAE temporarily or this is a change for the long term, you need the proper document legalization.

Necessary documents include:

Resident visa
Family visa if you are traveling with your parents, spouse, or children
Passport – be aware that there are limitations as to who is permitted to enter the UAE and that they may deny you entrance if your passport shows entrance into some countries.
Health card obtained after a medical test

When you are ready to obtain the documents you need for your travel, get in touch with us so we can simplify and expedite legalization of documents for UAE emigration. Tell us the country where you are planning to move so we can explain all of the document requirements and ensure you meet the qualifications for the particular documents you need. We also provide a timeline to ensure you meet your document needs before your planned move date.

The primary goal behind our services is to simplify the process of getting your documents authenticated and your visa processed so you can obtain these documents faster. We do this by bringing your travel documents to the embassy of your intended destination and dropping them off personally rather than mailing them. We then pick them up and verify the visa to ensure you are ready to go.

Why You Need a Professional Service for the Authentication of Documents

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Admin

Have you been asked to go through the document legalization process for an overseas job or another corporate reason? It might seem overwhelming to understand the steps that you need to follow in order to obtain authenticated documents, but don’t worry because you don’t need to do everything on your own! Here at US Authentication Services, we offer a full-service program to take care of this process from start to finish. You don’t need to lift a finger! Simply call us with the details, and we will take care of everything for you.

What is the Authentication of Documents?

This process is requested by various companies in order to ensure that the documents you are providing are accurate and valid. There are many situations where people attempt to provide false documents, which is why the businesses request the verification process to ensure that your paperwork is accurate. With this paperwork, they are verifying your work eligibility as well as other information such as the date/place of birth and whether or not you obtained your diploma.

When requesting US Department of State Certification, you will need to talk with someone in the Office of Authentications at the US Department of State to have a government official can sign the document to provide the verification that is needed. In some cases, you might work with a Notary Public who signs the document to ensure the validity.

How To Authenticate Documents?

When you are requesting authentication services from US Department of State, someone needs to be present to stand in line in order to gain the authentication that is needed. You don’t need to fly to Washington DC to take care of this process, because we will handle it for you! Simply mail us the information that is needed, you are provided with a quote and an explanation of the process which we will initiate to get your documents certified. Once you send us all the required documentation, we will take the documents to the applicable agencies in Washington DC, stand in line and obtain the proper authorizations for your documents.

Once the documents are certified, we will quickly mail the documents back to you to offer a fast turnaround time. Contact us today to learn more about the authentication services that are available from our company.

Document Authentication Services Can Save You Time and Headaches

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Admin

Planning to move outside the US? Prepare for extensive document verification procedures then! When moving to a foreign country, intensive verification procedures must be undergone by the individual to ensure a smooth legal transition. This includes the attestation and authentication of documents by various agencies of the government.

While the process may not seem daunting at first, once you embark on your quest to document authentication get all those diplomas and legal documents verified through both the federal and state agencies, and then the foreign embassy, you will begin to get an idea of the amount of time and effort that the process entails.

One of the primary issues is the location. Most embassies and the necessary government departments, through which various steps of document authentication are performed, are located in Washington DC. For attestation of documents, you will either need to be physically present at the DC offices, or go through a cumbersome process of repeatedly mailing and receiving your documents to and from various state, federal, and foreign agencies. Let’s take a look at the actual steps involved during document authentication.

The Chain Authentication Process

Basically a long paper chase involving the circulation of your documents through a series of government departments, while subsequent steps of certification and authentication of documents take place at each agency in a chronological order.

Authentication by Secretary of State where the documents are issued or get notarized.
Once certification from Secretary of State is obtained, US State Department authentication is obtained.
Embassy legalization process is undergone; the process varying depending upon the country of destination.

The aforementioned steps are generalized to give you an idea of what awaits you once you set out on the mission for document authentication. The process differs as per the types of documents you need to get attested. If, for example, you need to get a document authenticated that has been issued by a US District Court, you will also need to get an authentication seal on the documents from the US Department of Justice. If the country you are going to comes under The Hague Convention Treaty, you will need an Apostille. Certain countries require either a certificate of ‘Good Conduct’ or a Criminal Background check.

Save Yourself the Trouble!

At this point, the entire authentication and attestation of documents probably seems like a huge hassle; and you must be considering ways to make the whole process easier. Well, fret not! At US Authentication Services, we offer services that will enable you to get complete peace of mind while also saving you the effort and time that is generally required when one sets out for the authentication of documents before leaving the country. Our one-of-a-kind document authentication services ensure that all you have to do to complete the process from start to end; FedEx us the documents, and we will get them all authenticated and delivered right back to your doorstep.

Serving the industry for the last 3 years, we at US Authentication Services have developed an ironclad reputation for being able to authenticate and deliver client documents in the least amount of time possible.

Whether you need an Apostille, or need to get your educational diplomas certified, we guarantee a streamlined process through our reputed document authentication services without you needing to lift a finger once the documents are sent!

What is Document Authentication?

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Admin

Document Authentication is a process which is used to refer to embassy legalization or chain authentication process for submission of documents in an international country. The process is initiated by an individual or a corporation when they are asked to submit their documents for legal purposes to the government of a foreign country.

International Governments need to be certain that the documents being presented to them are authentic or genuine for legal purposes. To be considered legitimate documents for submission to a Foreign Government the documents must first be certified by the Federal Government in the country of issue. However, in order to be certified by the Federal Government documents must be certified by the Secretary of State in which they originated. You can obtain this certification by presenting your document to the Secretary of State’s office at the Authentication Department or the Department of Notaries. Make sure to get the “Gold” or “Embossed seal” and mention the country in which you are going to submit your documents.

Once you are past State level certification your documents are ready to be submitted to the office of authentications at the US State Department. This process normally takes approximately 4 business days when the documents are submitted in person. Once certified through this step, the documents are ready to be submitted to the Embassy of the country in which they are intended for final submission.

Most Embassies or consulates are located in Washington DC and the requirements are normally listed on the website including the fees.

US Authentication Services is a company which provides Document Authentication services and handles all of the above steps for clients and corporations to ensure the certifications are carried out in the correct manner and in the right sequence. Visit the company website at www.usauthentication.com for more details.

What is Document Attestation?

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Admin

Document Attestation is a name which is used interchangeably with Document Authentication outside the United States. Basically the process is the same and is used to refer to a person or usually on official attesting to the signature of an individual or an official who has signed on the document.

Document attestation starts with the certification of a document at the state level.

An important note for clients located outside of the United States is that, you should have your vital documents such as Marriage and Birth Certificates certified by the Secretary of the state at the time of issue if you are in a position to do so or have a friend or family member carry out that process for you . This will save you a lot of time down the road in getting your documents certified for use in an international country.

Many international clients and corporations rely on US Authentication Services where the expert staff is familiar with the requirements and timelines for getting documents certified for use in countries all over the world. Using the advice of a professional can lead to not only the correct documents to be used as per your requirements but can save you valuable time and money when you are in need of getting your foreign residence established or entering into a foreign agreement with a corporation outside the United States.

Common types of documents attested include University Diplomas and degrees, Vital documents such as marriage and birth certificates, Power of Attorney’s, Background checks, Articles of incorporation, Board Resolutions, Appointment of Directors, Partnership and Corporate Agreements and many more.

Please visit www.usauthentication.com or contact them at info@usauthentication.com to get your questions answered.

What is Apostille of Documents?

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Admin

Apostille process of documents is a certification process of documents when they are intended for submission in a country which is a signatory to the Hague Convention. Basically, certain countries have agreed that they do not require the documents to be certified by their own embassies or consulates and are accept the documents once they are certified by the respective state or Federal Authorities.

All documents which are issued by the state governments such as Marriage and Birth certificates, Background checks, personal documents such as Diplomas or Power of Attorney’s are accepted once they are certified by the Secretary of State.

Documents issued by the Federal agencies such as FBI Criminal Background checks, IRS documents, Patent documents, Certificate to Foreign Governments, etc are certified by the US Department of State.

US Authentication is able to carry out these services for you. Most Apostille seals are obtained in usually 3-5 business days for clients. Please visit http://www.usauthentication.com/us-authentication-services/apostille-documents.php for more information.