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By Vipul Jain | 14 May, 2025
Want to apply for an apostille US birth certificate and an apostille US marriage certificate for OCI card in the US, but do not know anything about it? For overseas citizens of India (OCI), a birth or marriage certificate is often essential when applying for an OCI card. In this, apostilling is a globally recognised process of verifying public documents for submission or use in another nation, which is a part of the Hague Convention. The convention simplifies the use of public documents overseas, abolishing the need for Foreign Public Documents. However, the process gets complicated if you are not familiar with the requirements and procedure. To help you, in this blog, we will talk about the latest rules and process of getting an apostille US marriage certificate and an apostille US birth certificate for OCI from the United States. In addition, we will also know how Visament is the right choice to assist you in applying for the apostille certificate from the US. So, let’s start reading and solve all your queries.
An apostille is a process of checking the authenticity, originality, and correctness of any document issued by the government. Any document that has an apostille stamp is accepted as a legal document in all Hague nations, including the US and India. If you have an apostille document, it means:
In simple words, an apostille stamp helps the foreign nation to accept the submitted documents without any suspicion of fraud. Considering this, you also need an apostille stamp on your birth or marriage certificate if it is issued in the US or any country for the OCI application. Depending on the OCI category type you are applying for, you need to submit different documents.
Moving further, to give you an idea, let’s understand the role of an apostilled birth certificate and a marriage certificate for an OCI application in the USA.
Applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card in the US requires several supporting documents, including the birth certificate of a person. It serves as evidence of origin for the applicant or demonstrates his/her ancestral ties to India. To be accepted legally in India, a US birth certificate should be apostilled. Under the 124 Hague countries, India is one of them, which is why an apostilled birth certificate for OCI cards is needed during the process. It verifies the validity and authenticity of the submitted document. Additionally, here is why a birth certificate is generally apostilled for an OCI application in the USA.
If you are applying for the OCI card based on your parents or grandparents, an apostilled birth certificate is needed for the process. Additionally, the apostille process is done in the country where the original document was granted. For instance, if you are living in the US, you need to provide an apostille US birth certificate for OCI card. The government of India is not authorized to provide an apostille certificate for documents issued in a foreign country.
This is all about an apostilled birth certificate and its role in the OCI card. Moving further, let’s know the importance of an apostille marriage certificate for the OCI process.
Like the birth certificate, to apply for an OCI card in the US as a married individual, it is vital to provide the name of your spouse. The key purpose of the apostille marriage certificate for the OCI card is to show that the spousal relationship relies on the marital status. In addition, the requirement appears from the fact that the name of the spouse will be on the OCI card. This makes it essential to provide the relationship proof, such as a valid marriage certificate. Furthermore, here is why a marriage certificate is commonly apostille for OCI application in the USA.
In short, the apostille on the marriage certificate is used as a stamp of legal validity and authenticity, certifying that the provided document is genuine by Indian officials when used for OCI applications. This is all about the role of an apostille marriage certificate for OCI cards. With this, anyone who is applying for an OCI card in the USA specifically is required to get an apostille for supporting documents. The OCI document submission is based on the application, whether it is based on parents holding an OCI card or applying based on marriage. Further, if you are married or born in the United States and visiting a different Hague nation from India, you should apostille the above-stated documents. Moving ahead, let’s know what the importance of the OCI card is and why overseas citizens of India require it.
OCI stands for Overseas Citizen of India. It is a card that the Indian government issued to the Indian diaspora. The card offers several benefits to the cardholders residing overseas. It allows them to enter India multiple times for multiple purposes. In simple words, it is a lifelong visa for them to travel the country. In addition, the card also grants them the ability to work and live in India without any restrictions. Moreover, the cardholders enjoy several privileges such as:
To avail all these OCI benefits, it is vital to submit the essential documents correctly at the time of the OCI application process. In addition, for a simple and easy process, all of them need to be apostilled. Moving further, want to know who issues the apostille stamp in the US? Read below and get your answers.
The apostille services in the US are issued by two governmental bodies. First, the State Secretary, who apostilles the documents granted by the state. In addition, second, the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) provides the apostille certificate granted by the federal government. In simple words, the apostille certificate grantation in the US depends on the issuance of the document.
Now that you know who issues the apostille marriage and apostille birth certificate in the US, let’s talk about the application process, time, and fees in the country.
To apply for an apostille certificate in the US, follow the steps below:
This is how you can apply for an apostille US birth certificate and an apostille US marriage certificate for OCI cards. However, during the application process, you need to take the help of an agency like Visament to process your apostille certificate, as you cannot apply for this alone. We are a trusted and reliable apostille service provider globally. Additionally, over the years, we have provided our assistance to many people. So, contact us today and let us handle the apostille process for you for your OCI Application in the US.
Now, moving further, let’s know the apostille process time and fees in the US.
The apostille processing time in the US depends on whether the document is issued by the federal agency or the state government. Generally, you get the federal apostille in 6-8 weeks, and the state apostille in 4 to 14 business days in the US. In addition, the apostille processing time in the US is also affected because of the document type, the increased number of applications, and the applied service type, i.e., whether normal or expedited.
Moreover, the cost of the apostille process also depends on the state where the document was issued. Additionally, it also varies whether you applied for normal or expedited processing service. To provide you with an idea of this, here is a breakdown of the apostille fees charged in the US:
|
Sr. No |
Description |
Fee (in $) |
|
1. |
US Department of State Apostille |
$20.00 |
|
2. |
Secretary of State Apostille |
$15.00 (State Secretary, Washington D.C.) |
|
3. |
Document Notarization |
$5.00 (D.C. Notary, Washington) |
|
4. |
Embassy Legalization |
Varies as per the embassy |
Along with the mentioned fees, you also need to pay the service charges to the apostille agency to process your application. For quality services and pocket-friendly prices, contact Visament. Apart from this, you can also apply for an apostille Indian documents in USA. Our experts can assist you in this.
Now, moving further, let’s discuss the challenges that occur in apostilling US birth and marriage certificates for OCI cards independently.
The process of obtaining an apostille US birth and marriage certificate for an OCI card can be challenging when handled independently because of the following reasons:
With Visament, you do not come across these challenges. We offer you a reliable and fast solution, handling all the steps required for the apostille to be verified in India at competitive price rates. Still confused? Let’s know how our experts simplify the US apostilling process for you.
With Visament Apostille services, you can do your apostille US birth certificate for an OCI card entirely online. Here is how it works:
This is how we simplify the US apostilling process for you. In addition, we also provide Apostille Birth and Apostille Marriage Certificate India services to our clients. So, whenever you need assistance with apostille services, do consider us for your help.
Obtaining an apostille US birth certificate and an apostille US marriage certificate for OCI is a vital step in maintaining your ties with India and having a long-term visa. While the process can be daunting, however, understanding the rules and regulations will make it simple. Additionally, if you need assistance with obtaining your apostille US marriage certificate or apostille US birth certificate for OCI, Visament is just a click away. Contact us or visit our site to start your apostilling process today.
If your birth certificate is granted by a foreign official, it is mandatory for you to apostille it before applying for the OCI application in India. It serves as proof of an authenticated document.
To apostille your U.S. birth certificate, first notarize your certificate by a notary public. In addition, ensure all signatures and seals are original. If the birth certificate is in a foreign language, translate it into English by a notarized and certified translator. Then apply for the process through a certified apostille service provider like Visament.
Yes, a US birth certificate needs to be apostilled if you are using it for your OCI application. It serves as proof of your Indian origin or your relationship with your parents or grandparents, or great-grandparents who are Indian.
If you are applying for an OCI application, and your birth certificate is issued outside the country, then you need to apostille your document first before applying for the OCI card. It is used as evidence of your Indian origin and your ties to the country.
An OCI apostille is a specific form of document attestation, a standardized certificate that clarifies the authenticity of documents like marriage certificates, birth certificates, or more to use in foreign nations that are members of the Hague Convention.
Yes, a US marriage certificate requires an apostille for OCI application if you are applying on the basis of marriage. In addition, one partner needs to have an Indian passport or an OCI card.
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