apostilles
Processing Apostilles in all 50 states!
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Processing Apostilles in all 50 states! ⋆
wHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
Apostille (is French) simply means to certify. Apostilling a document certifies the document so it can be used in a foreign country. However, it does not certify the contents of the document.
You probably didn’t wake up this morning and say to yourself, I think I’ll get an Apostille! Most of us will never even hear about Apostilles unless the need arises. For instance, if you are planning on studying, or getting married abroad, the country you’re traveling to will request an Apostille and possibly other documents that will need to be notarized.
The original way to complete this ‘certification’ was through the process of legalization. It proved to be costly and time-consuming. And in some countries that is still the case. The first thing you need to know is if the requesting country is a Hague or non-Hague country.
WHAT IS A HAGUE COUNTRY?
The Hague Convention of 1961 eliminated the requirement of legalization and instead agreed upon the issuance of a certificate called an Apostille. Countries that signed the treaty are referred to as Hague countries and those that did not are non-Hague countries. Therefore, countries that did not sign the treaty still go through the legalization process. Click the following appropriate button to see if you’re traveling to a Hague or non-Hague country?
If your destination is a non-Hague country, there are several other steps that will need to be completed, authentication and legalization.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Whether you are traveling to a Hague or non-Hague country is a contributing factor as to how long the entire process can take. The time of year also comes into play. The summer months as well as the Holiday season will require more time due to heavier demand. Estimated processing times are as follows:
· State Level Apostilles: ………………………… 7–30 days
· Federal Apostilles: ………………..……………. 12–16 weeks
· Non-Hague Countries: ………………………… 3-6 months
· Expediting is sometimes available
Please know that the above stated times are not guaranteed. For Hague country destinations, I offer an expedited service which can reduce the time to about 3 days as opposed to 3 weeks. However, there is an additional expediting fee. Unfortunately, at this time there is no expediting service for non-Hague countries that must go through the extra steps of authentication and legalization. Prior to COVID it was available. But like so many other things it was discontinued during the quarantine and has not been offered since. However, I do work with a courier that will get your documents to the proper embassy and/or consulate on a normal processing time.
Pricing for an Apostille varies and depends on whether the country is a Hague or non-Hague country.
Please call to schedule a virtual meeting so I can examine your documents and conduct my due diligence. Also, please complete the form below. I will need ALL of this information to give you an accurate quote. Please use the message box to address any concerns you may have. Apostilles do require your patience as they can be very time consuming. I promise I will keep you apprised every step of the way and I will notify you via your preferred means of communication, as milestones are reached. Together we’ll make it happen! All you need to do is complete the form below as a good first step. The longer you wait, the longer it will take! So do it NOW!
Let’s work together
Whether you’re planning a destination wedding, studying abroad, creating worldwide branches of your business, or adopting a deserving child, it would be an honor to navigate the steps of this journey for you!