How to Apply Apostille in the USA? Complete Guide

If you are planning to work, study, or do business in foreign countries, then you must have encountered the term 'Apostille'.

An apostille is a process that makes your documents valid and authentic to use them for international purposes in the countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961.

In this blog, we will provide all the information about applying for an apostille application, which includes the process, meaning, processing time, and required documents to apply for an apostille in the USA. 

What Does an Apostille Mean? 

An apostille is an official certificate that verifies and authenticates documents of individuals to use them in foreign countries that are a part of the Hague Convention of 1961.

It authenticates the public document by having a signature, seal, and date on the document. 

The purpose of the apostilled document is to verify the document across borders and eliminate the need for dual certification.

The Apostille is governed by the Hague Convention of 1961, which includes over 120+ countries from all over the world. 

What is the Process to Apply for an Apostille in the USA? 

You can apply for an apostille application in two ways. First, you can apply through the walk-in interview, and second, you can apply through the application by mail. So, given below are the detailed steps given below for for both processes. 

Through a Walk-In Interview 

Follow the steps given below to apply for an apostille in the USA. 

1. Check your destination country 

First, you need to check whether your destination country is a part of the Hague-Convention of 1961 or not. 

If yes, then you can apply for an apostille 

If not, then you need to apply for the certification of documents for non-Hague countries. 

2. Collect the document that you want to apostille 

You need to gather the document that you want to apostille, as different documents require unique processes. 

Here are some of the common apostille documents given below:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce certificates
• Power of attorney
• Transcripts and diplomas 
• Business and corporate filings
• Court judgments 
• Adoption papers

3. Prepare your document for an apostille application

Make sure that your document contains all the following details: 

• It should be notarized contains seal and signature.
• You should have a certified copy of the vital records or a court document.

4. Fill out your application form

You need to fill out the application form and enter all the required details correctly. 

5. Go to the DOS in Washington, USA

You need to go to the Department of State's office in Washington for a walk-in interview. and submit your apostille application with the document that you want to authenticate.

6. Pay the apostille application fees 

Pay the required fees for the apostille application in the USA. 

7. Get your document

 You will get your apostilled document on the same day from the U.S. Department of State's office.

Through Mail 

To apply for the apostille document in the USA, you need to follow the steps mentioned below. 

1. Check the destination country 

First, you need to check whether your destination country is a part of the Hague-Convention, 1961.

If the issuing country and your destination country are part of the Hague Convention, then you can apply for the apostille, and if they are not a part of the Hague Convention, then you need to apply for the certification for the document.

 2. Gather the document that you want to apostille

You need to collect the documents that you want to apply for an apostille application, as the process of apostille depends on the documents.

However, here are some of the documents given below that have the same application process.

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate 
• Divorce certificate 
• Power of attorney
• Diplomas 
• Transcripts
• FBI background checks 
• Adoption papers
• Business filings 
• Corporate papers

3. Prepare your Apostille documents 

You need to check that your documents contain all the following details:

• It should be properly notarised
• Contains seals, signature, and date on the document.
• You should have a certified copy of all the vital records and court documents. 

4. Fill out the apostille application 

You need to fill out the apostille application and provide all the essential details in the form correctly. 

5. Send your apostille to the DOS Washington

Put your authentication application and the document you want to apostille in an envelope with a self-addressed prepaid return envelope. 

Send the envelope to the Department of State's office in Washington, USA by mail. 

6. Pay the Fees for the apostille application

Pay the required fees for the apostille application by mail in the USA.

7. Get your document 

You will get your authenticated document within a few days from the Department of State's office in the USA at your registered address. 

What are the Required Documents for the Apostille Application? 

You need to provide the documents for your apostille application in the USA. There are mainly two types of documents that you need to collect. 

• Federal Document: These are the documents that are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State office in Washington, DC, USA. 
• State Documents: The state documents are issued by the relevant Secretary of State's office in the USA. 

Here is the list of documents that you will need to submit for your apostille application in the USA. 

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate 
• Divorce certificate 
• Death certificate 
• Power of attorney
• Articles of Incorporation
• Copy of passport
• Copy of driving license
• Single status affidavit
• Court orders 
• Bank statements
• Employment verification letter
• Transcripts and diplomas 
• Notarized letters
• FBI background checks 
• U.S. Patent or IRS documents 

Also Want to Know About How to Check Apostille Status in USA? Check Now!

What is the Processing Time and Fees for the Apostille Application in the USA? 

The processing time for the apostille application in the USA by walk-in interview is the same day. It means you will get the authenticated document on the same day from the Department of State office in the USA. 

For the application by mail, you need to wait for 12-15 working days to get your apostilled document from the Department of State office at your registered address. 

The fees you need to pay for the apostille of federal documents are $20, and for the state-level apostille document are about $2 to $35 (according to the Secretary of State), depending on whether the application is made in person or by mail, for each document in the USA.

Final Thoughts 

An apostille is an important document that helps you to verify your documents, so that you can use them for various educational, financial, and legal purposes.

At Visament, we provide you with a simple and easy apostille application process at an affordable cost with years of experience experts who will help you to fill out the application.

Our agents will take care of your application process and handle all your documentation smoothly, and provide you with an error-free and smooth delivery of your apostilled document. 

If you want more information, you can freely contact the Visament team and get all the answers to your queries, doubts, or issues related to the apostille services.