Apostille Services

The leader in apostille services in the USA!

Apostille Services
Customer Support: 1-800-850-3441
Int’l Callers: 1-202-894-6554
Monday – Saturday 9am to 6pm
support@apostilleservices.com
Apostille Processing Time
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 Star Excellent Service

You are here: Home / Blog

Teaching in China

by

Are you planning to teach in China and need to legalize your documents through the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.  The most common documents we process for China so you can teach there are a bachelor’s degree, TEFL (issued by U.S. company), state issued teaching certificate, and FBI background check for China.

Please note that China will join the Hague Apostille Convention on November 7, 2023.  In the meantime, we can help you with certifying and legalizing your documents through the Secretary of State, the US Department of State, and the Chinese Embassy only.  The China Embassy accept all documents regardless of jurisdiction.  

Starting June 1, 2023, we will only be able to assist you with the state certification for China.  After this date you will need to contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate office yourself so they can assist you in authenticating your documents.  

In order to process your documents so you can work in China, you will need to provide us the following:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree:  In order to process your degree through the state, you will need to contact the University’s Registrar and request a signed and notarized copy.  We have provided detailed instructions here: https://www.apostilleservices.com/diplomas/ .  Please note that the notary’s signature cannot expire within the next 16 months.
  2. TEFL Certificate: We can process a TEFL certificate if the school is located in the United State and they will provide you a signed and notarized copy.  Please contact the TEFL school and speak with the Registrar.  Please note that the notary’s signature cannot expire within the next 16 months.
  3. Teaching License: A teaching license will need to be signed and notarized by the issuer if the current signature on the license is not verifiable at the state office.  In most cases, the department can attached a signed and notarized cover letter and staple it to the copy of your license.
  4. FBI Background check: Please contact our office so we can recommend an FBI Channeler to help expedite the process of obtaining the FBI background check.  An FBI background check is not notarized.

Certifying documents for China can be complicated and time-consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the legalization process and the unique requirements of this country. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions.  Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.

Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

 

Utility Bill Apostille

by

Do you need to apostille a Utility Bill?

In order to prove your residence in the United States, you may be asked to apostille your utility bill.

A utility bill is a monthly statement of the amount a household or business owes for essential services or utilities. Examples of utilities include electricity, water and gas. Depending on how you define utilities, you could also add sewage and trash and recycling, as well as TV, internet, phone and streaming services to that list.

Apostilling a utility bill typically involves getting the document notarized by a public notary (color copy or original) and then submitting it our office so we can obtain the apostille from the Secretary of State.

Please follow the these simple steps:

Step 1: Obtain a notarized color copy of the utility bill: You can get a copy of your utility bill notarized by a local public notary. This involves signing the document in the presence of the notary and providing a government-issued ID to verify your identity.

Step 2: Mail in the signed and notarized utility bill with our order forms for processing.  Please contact our office for the most up-to-date processing time and availability.

Step 3: Wait for the apostille certificate: After submitting your application and documents to our office, you will need to wait for us to complete it through the Secretary of State’s office and return it to you by FedEx. The processing time can vary depending on the state.

Once you have obtained the apostille certificate for your utility bill, it will be recognized as a legally valid document in countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Obtaining an apostille on a utility bill can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions.  Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.

Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Power of Attorney Apostille for Philippines

by

On May 14, 2019, the Philippines joined the Hague Apostille Convention.

Since May 14, 2019, the Philippines Consulate will no longer authenticate the signatures on the following public documents: (1) notarized documents (Special Power of Attorney) and (2) documents signed/issued/certified by a Federal, State, County, City, University or School Official.

To use these types of public documents in the Philippines, they will only require an apostille certificate issued by the Secretary of States office or the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.  For example, if you are located in California and need to apostille a special power of attorney for the Philippines, all you will need to do is meet with a local notary public and have your document signed and notarized.  Once notarized, you can then mail it to our California apostille office for processing.  In California, we have an office in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A special power of attorney is a legal document appointing a specific representative (to be called an agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on behalf of another person who will be referred to as the principal.  The special power of attorney authorizes your agent/attorney in fact to do specific acts and functions for you in the Philippines.

In order to apostille the special power of attorney, it must first be signed and notarized.  Please meet with a local notary public before you mail in your documents for processing.

Here is an example of a Special Power of Attorney for the Philippines:

Office Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 6pm
Customer Support: 1-800-850-3441
Email: Philippines@apostilleservices.com

Obtaining an apostille on a special power of attorney for the Philippines can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions.  Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.

Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Apostille Social Security Card

by

Do you need to apostille your Social Security Card?

A Social Security card is issued by the Social Security Administration. You need an SSN to work, and it’s used to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits and certain government services.

In order to apostille your Social Security card, you will need to make a color copy and meet with a local notary public.  In some states, a notary has the power to copy certify the Social Security Card.  Basically, the notary will make a color copy and certify that the copy is a true copy of the original.  The alternative method and what is typically common is for you to make the color copy and write out the following statement, “I certify this is a true color copy of my Social Security card”.  You will then sign it in front of the notary public and the notary will notarize your signature.

You can meet with a local notary public in your state or if you are outside of the U.S., you can contact the local US Embassy or Consulate office and meet with a Federal notary.  If you are physically in the U.S., the local notary public can assist you.  Once your document has been notarized, the next step is to mail it with out apostille order forms for processing.

Please contact our office for the most up-to-date processing time and availability.

Obtaining an apostille on a Social Security Card check can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions.  Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.

Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

FBI Background Check Apostille Signed by Kimberly J. Del Greco

by

Do you need to apostille your FBI background check signed by Kimberly J. Del Greco?

As of this article, FBI background checks are signed by Kimberly J. Del Greco who is the Deputy Assistant Director – Information Justice Information Service Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Previously, FBI background checks were signed by William McKinsey.

UPDATE: We have also recently seen FBI background checks signed by Chris Ormerod.

In order to obtain an FBI background check, you can contact an FBI Channeler or obtain one directly from the FBI.

If you receive your FBI background check in a digital format (PDF copy), go ahead and e-mail it to us with the completed order form and payment (see below).  If you receive your FBI background by regular mail (Hard copy), go ahead and mail it to our Washington DC apostille office with our order forms (see below).  We can process a digital PDF copy or a hard copy.  It’s your choice.

Note: If you have not obtained your FBI background check, please contact our office so we can recommend an FBI Channeler.

Documents originating from the U.S. Federal Government are processed directly from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. – Office of Authentications. Our fees are as low as $75 and we also provide FedEx return shipping at no additional cost!  Choose from one of our plans (Basic, Plus, or Premier) below and click the ‘Download‘ button below to get started.

Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Office Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 6pm
Customer Support: 1-800-850-3441
Email: FBI@apostilleservices.com
Download Forms: FBI Apostille Order Forms

Example of an FBI Background Check in a digital format (PDF Copy) and a hard copy printed on special tamper resistant paper.

Obtaining an apostille on an FBI background check can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions.  Please call us at 1-800-850-3441.

Click on the download image to your left to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Do you have a question or comment?  Please complete the form below…
To check the status of a preexisting order, click here.

Apostille Services is the leader in U.S. document authentications. We can process documents issued from all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Federal Government.

Our offices are strategically located in: Washington State, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New York

Office Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9am – 6pm
Toll-Free: 1-800-850-3441
Int’l Callers: 1-202-894-6554
support@apostilleservices.com

         


Free FedEx Return Shipping

Recent Blog Posts:

Recent Blog Post

US Department of State Apostille

On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of State resumed walk-in  service at their offices in Washington DC but with several restrictions.  For one, they only allow documents to be submitted between 8am and 9am Monday through … [Read More...]

Documents We Process: