Getting documents certified to be recognized in foreign countries isn’t always a straightforward process. For the 100+ countries that fall under the Hague Convention, Apostille certification is the standard. For others – including China, where plenty of documentation for work visas is required – an Authentication Certificate is necessary.
Travelers may have never had to deal with such certification before for tourist visas and certain types of work visas, but Apostille certification can be very relevant for those traveling for work and business. Some countries – South Korea, for one – require federal criminal background checks to be submitted along with your application to work in the country, and these can’t simply be mailed to your local contact as-is; Apostille certification must be issued along with it.
If you’re looking for Apostille Certification in Texas, there are a few options to explore. Close to the Texas State Capitol is an apostille office with the Secretary of State. State offices can certify documents issued locally: university transcripts and marriage certificates, to name a few. Whether you get Apostille certification in the state or forward your documents directly to the US Department of State in Washington DC isn’t the issue; Apostille from either office will be accepted in countries under the Hague Convention.
However, the type of document for which you need certification must be sent to the appropriate location. For example, naturalization documents and federal criminal background checks can’t be authenticated in Austin, only at the US Department of State.
While those seeking either type of Apostilles can choose to mail in their documents or apply in person, this isn’t always possible, especially in a state as big as Texas. If you’re based in El Paso, it’s actually faster to drive to the Secretary of State in Santa Fe rather than the one in Austin, but this doesn’t work for documents issued in Texas. All in-person applications must be made at the state capital. You may choose to ship your documents to Austin rather than making the drive, but this will still take a few days you might not have to apply for a visa.
When you’re looking for an all-in-one service for all your travel needs, Travel Visa Pro is there to provide. Making multiple stops for passport photos, driving hundreds of miles for Apostille certification, and then heading to a consulate to get a work visa you need can be stressful to say the least. Travel Visa Pro’s team of travel experts have over forty years of experience getting our clients the travel documents they need in the time they need. Whether you’re in a hurry or have time to spare, Travel Visa Pro is there to help.
Apostille services, like any other form of bureaucracy, require specific paperwork in order to successfully authenticate any document. Just as with visa application, Apostilles may be rejected for missing information, resulting in trip delays. Because these documents are commonly used for business purposes, this can cost time and money applicants simply may not have.
As popular as Austin is, it holds only a fraction of the population of the Lone Star State, and residents of Texas aren’t very likely to drive to the east coast for federal Apostille certification. Living far away from the services you need to travel – Secretary of State, US Department of State, foreign consulates, and possibly a regional passport office –means having to ship documents sequentially, e.g. a valid passport is required for the consulate, and the new passport number may be required with the US Department of State.
Apostille Services in Texas State
Some documents like criminal background checks with the FBI may take several weeks – not unlike a passport renewal by mail – to get an Apostille with the US Department of State, depending on the time of year and if there’s any backlog. Together with any local Apostilles by mail, passport renewals, and finally the visa processing, and this can potentially be months in bureaucratic limbo, assuming there are no missing documents or further delays.
Travel Visa Pro’s travel experts can significantly cut down on the time at every step of this application process by offering all the travel services you need in one location. Come to us with your visa and passport needs, and we’ll handle the Apostille certification for you, whether you need certification for marriage certificates, business agreements, criminal background checks, diplomas, or any documents issued by the government.
Apostille Services in Texas State by City:
Apostille Dallas
Apostille Houston
Apostille Austin
Apostille San Antonio
Apostille El Paso
Apostille Fort Worth