Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

[Badmojo]

[jaybet3]

Badmojo,

Here is the info I received from the service I am using to "authenticate" my diploma from a University in the USA. FYI: I've blocked out some of the personal info.

Yes, we can have your University of XXXXXX degree authenticated.

The procedure to legalize documents is as follows:

1) Document is sent to (Service Company) in Washington, DC (Note, China attests scanned or original copies) Please advise.

2) Document is authenticated before a public notary in Washington, DC (WDC);

3) WDC –District of Columbia Office of Authentication certifies the document;

4) U.S. Department of State (USDOS) authenticates the document;

5) Chinese Embassy legalize the document;

6) Document is shipped back to the client.


The turnaround time is estimated at 10 business days (Monday-Friday). It all depends on how much work there is at the embassy. The cost will be US $200 per document. This fee does not include the cost to return the document to the customer.

The company also requested a copy of my passport.

As a citizen of the USA, I feel that if the Chinese Embassy in the USA legalizes my document, then every time I present the degree (ie: Chinese Embassy in Indonesia and again in China), then there should be no question regarding the authenticity of my document.

In my experience living in SE Asia, most government employees (and people in general) are afraid of making a decision which could lead to a mistake. That's why these processes are so paper intensive. Every layer of the process needs a "chop" (approval) so the next person in the chain feels comfortable.

So, a chop from the Chinese Embassy in Washington should make everyone else involved in the process feel comfortable.

FYI: I"m doing this all by international courier from my home in Indonesia so there's no need to go to the USA. The caveat: I have a resident visa from Indonesia. If I didn't, I'd have to do the entire process from the USA.

Also, I previously mentioned the criminal background check which no one commented on. If you were employed by a company in China, perhaps this is not necessary. I would check with my prospective employer on this mattter.

Hope the info helps.

[Badmojo]

I was not anticipating such a long and complicated process.

[nomad soul]

[nomad soul]

[LarssonCrew]

Just to chime in for a Bir,t the process seems to be:

Get a solicitor to sign that it's a copy, or some sort of notary.

Next, take it to the GCO office [foreign commonwealth office], they then contact yuour university and check it's real. They then apply their own stamp.

Next, take to Chinese embassy who then apply their own stamp.

I think it was, including railfare to London [20 quid a day], about 140 if I did it on my own, I used an agency who cost me 161 GBP.

Without the visit to the Chinese embassy they would have the FCO part done for about 95 quid, so if you live in London it's only 30 quid to get it done at the embassy yourself.

I didn't want the hassle so I geot them to do it.

[mrpianoman]

[SH_Panda]

[jaybet3]

Badmojo - It's not long or complicated if you pay someone to do it. Two weeks without the headache is an okay deal with me. Like others said, go somewhere and lay on the beach and let an agent take care of it. If you were living in your home country, then you could do it yourself but you're not and a ticket back home is much more expensive and time consuming than using an agent.

NomadSoul - I live in Indonesia so this is a practical and inexpensive way for me to get peace of mind so when I'm dealing with the bureaucrats in Jakarta and China I will likely not have a problem.

[jaybet3]

Nomad:

FYI: My university is in Connecticut.

[mackidrei]

[AnneSansTete]

[astrotrain]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

For Americans: this is what will show up in your FBI report:

http://thelawdictionary.org/article/what-does-an-fbi-background-check-show/