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backtochina2017 · Joined: 28 Nov 2016 Posts: 123

I am in the US, from the state of Michigan. I need to get my diploma authenticated and I am only about 1 hour from the university I graduated from. However, I understood we could go to the Secretary of State and get it authenticated (notarized? right terminology?).

I just went today and they told me they don't do it, only car related issues mostly.

I thought it had to be authenticated from a third party other than the university. Can anyone verify or correct me on this? I have never had to do this before. Even if the university does authenticate it, will the consulate accept it? Whenever I call the Chicago or NY consulate all I get are busy signals.

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

The official requirements are here:

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/gzrz/rzcx/

Talk to your intended school to see if the criminal background check or any other documentation is required.

Forum experts may tell you otherwise. Good luck.

backtochina2017 · Joined: 28 Nov 2016 Posts: 123

It says, "Have your document notarized by a local notary public..."

I search for "local notary public" and get real estate agents, hmm. Can real estate agents notarize college diplomas?

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

Your diploma has to go to 3 places before you send it to the proper consulate: The registrar for notarization. The count clerk for certify the notarization. The Secretary of State of the state your university is located for an apostille. You can drive to these places or do it by USPS overnight mail. After that you have to select the embassy that serves your state. You can hand deliver it to the embassy and come back and pick it up or you can use a courier. The consulates don't except mail in applications.

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

As I can't attach a file, I will copy and paste it here. This is a translation of the official instructions we received around a fortnight back and have issued to our foreign teachers.

Important Information from Foreign Experts Bureau regarding changes to resident permits and Foreign Experts Certificates effective 1st January 2017

Following changes introduced at Governmental level, some changes will affect future applications for Z visas, Foreign Expert Certificates and renewals of resident permits.

The important details which affect renewals are listed below:

1) In the case of a new application requiring a new Z visa:

Authentication of Highest degree is required.

Please refer applicants to the following website for instructions on how to authenticate their degree.

http://www.internationalnotarization.com/notarization

Criminal Background Check.

Applicants must have a certificate of no criminal convictions issued by their local police department. This needs to be an original copy or an authenticated copy provided by the above department.

Passport validity

Applicants passport must have 20 months clear validity and at least three blank visa pages.

Health Examination

Please refer to the official forms which can be downloaded through the schools FEB portal. Please note the requirement of chest x-rays has been withdrawn.

Depending on local rules, a further examination at local level maybe required once the applicant has arrived in China. Notification will be given if this is the case.

2) In the case of transfers of resident permits for applicants already in China either inter or outer province but transferring from a different establishment:

Authentication of Highest degree is required.

Please refer applicants to the above website for instructions on how to authenticate their degree.

2

Criminal Background Check.

Applicants must have a certificate of no criminal convictions issued by their local police department. A copy of the original document will suffice.

Passport validity

Applicants passport must have 18 months clear validity and at least two blank visa pages.

Health Examination

If the applicant has completed a satisfactory examination at an authorized Provincial unit within China within the last 180 days, this certificate maybe uploaded to the portal. It does not have to have been undertaken within the same province but must be from an officially authorized unit.

If a new examination is required it must be undertaken at the unit most convenient for the applicant and the results uploaded in PDF format to the portal.

3)In the case of applicants renewing their resident permit and Foreign Experts Certificate and remaining at the same establishment

Authentication of degree is not required.

Criminal Background Check.

Provided a previously accepted copy was approved for the previous year then no further action need be taken. In cases where the applicant was never asked to provide one, a certificate of no criminal record maybe obtained at local PSB level. Please refer to the online guide for instructions on how to do this.

Passport validity

Applicants passport must have 18 months validity and at least two blank visa pages. Please note new rules regarding resident permits state that resident permits cannot be valid longer than six months prior to the expiration date of the passport therefore if you intend to renew a resident permit and the passport expires within this time then the resident permit will expire six months prior to the passport also.

If the applicant renews his/her passport in the interim, a new resident permit must be obtained. Please follow the instructions on the portal for this.

3

Resident permits will now expire in the following order:

Passport holders from USA, CAN, GBR, IRL, AUS, NZL, ZAR

The contract expiration date plus 28 days.

Other passport holders

The contract expiration date.

Health Examination

A new examination must be obtained at local level and the supporting documents uploaded at the time of the renewal application.

For further information refer to the help pages on the schools portal.

20161205/SX142700/257

I imagine it is going to be the same in other provinces.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Yes, realtors have a notary on staff, as do banks. They may not want to stamp something for situations outside their business interests though. There may be a notary at the secretary of state's office as well, so it might be worth checking.

backtochina2017 · Joined: 28 Nov 2016 Posts: 123

I called my university this morning and was told I need to schedule an appointment which I am waiting for a reply on.

They told me there needs to be 2 people present when this happens. Is this all I need so I can copy whatever they give me and send copies to my Chinese employer (school)? And is this all I need for when I make the sacred pilgrimage to the Chinese consulate and apply for my 4 day meditation session which will be rewarded with a Z-visa?

Someone mentioned I need to go to three places, "Your diploma has to go to 3 places before you send it to the proper consulate: The registrar for notarization. The count clerk for certify the notarization. The Secretary of State of the state your university is located for an apostille."

Can someone confirm if I need to go to a third place? If so, which third place? I am assuming the university would count as 2 people there would be two people.

Also, they informed me that they would need to physically stamp the diploma but could get me a new one for free.

Osiry · Joined: 19 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Nanjing

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

In my state in the U.S., all that a notary can authenticate is a copy of an original. I don't think that a notary public's imprint could really constitute authentication of an original, nor do I think that my state's Department of State would grant a notary public that authority.

What's more, I doubt that a notary public has the expertise to differentiate between an ersatz degree from the real thing.

The State's Department of State has that authority.

I don't think that most of the people talking about notarization understand what a notary does. That includes the Chinese government (if indeed the PRC requires the imprimature of a notary).

My degrees were notarized by Colin Powell's office.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

backtochina2017 · Joined: 28 Nov 2016 Posts: 123

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Don't overthink the process; it's short and fairly straight forward. Again, contact Michigan's SoS for specifics on getting a certificate of authority for your diploma and whether you need certification at the county level as well. Be specific -- let them know it's so you can work abroad. (See Michigan SoS - Authenticating Your Document.) Once you've done everything at the state level, recheck the next steps per the Chinese Consulate's process at the link provided earlier in this thread.

By the way, there are agencies that can expedite the process for you if you don't want to drive all over town and are concerned about time frames. Do an Internet search for document expediting services Michigan.