Job Discussion Forums

[tin man]

I am looking to cut through the red tape and find a visa service that can handle the cumbersome authentication for a US degree and not finding any in the search. Any recommendations on visa services that can get it done?

[dakelei]

There simply aren't any that can handle every step. I currently live in one state and the university from which I graduated is in another. Each step requires not only a multi-hour drive but must be completed on a weekday, during regular business hours. I work those hours. I'm about 80% ready to give up on returning to China. If the goal of these new policies is to secretly keep out we foreigners, it's succeeding.

[nomad soul]

[dakelei]

I contacted my university and was told I need to do it in person. I can't FedEx myself there.

A bigger problem is that it seems no one at any office I have contacted for help knows what to do. Even the Chinese Consulate in New York doesn't 100% understand the process. The school that has offered me a position also doesn't know. This is just another example of Beijing handing down a new policy with no consideration whatsoever for those who actually need to carry it out.

[tin man]

I got a lead from the recruiter but they are pricey. They said they can handle everything but it is $300 per document. I think there are others that are less money.

[nomad soul]

[JeremyDay]

You can't get a authentication service to do all of it. It just isn't possible. They require the diploma to be notarized and authenticated by your secretary of state.

If you cannot go home, I would suggest investigating the following:

Contact your university and see if they notarize diplomas (some do not). Then, ask them if they would allow a family member to collect the new notarized diploma.

If not, then see if they would allow a family member to collect it with a power of attorney or by signing some type of authorization with the university. That could be a whole other set of issues by itself.

If your university does not notarize diplomas, then investigate an e-notary. I found an e-notary at: www.notarycam.com/legal/. I have never used it, but it seems legit.

To e-notarize the document, you would need to create an electronic copy. When I ordered my two new diplomas, I immediately scanned a high quality copy on my computer.

Before you do anything, visit Visarite: http://www.visarite.com/auth_diploma.htm

I'm not referring you to their services; but rather, I'm pointing you in the direction of an outlined process that worked for me. It clarifies what you need to do.

Before you send a diploma to a courier service, it must be notarized and authenticated by your secretary of state. They outline these steps (I used their checklist for reference, even though I did not use their service).

Basically, if your university does not notarize diplomas, you must type, print on (by putting your diploma in a printer), or alter your diploma electronically with the something like this (in a blank area that is large enough to hold the text):

"I, (signature), declare this (the attached) is (my true original diploma) or (a true, exact and unaltered photocopy of my diploma)".

The statement should be signed in presence of the notary (maybe an e-notary). The notary should add an acknowledge statement such as

"Signed and sworn (or affirm) to before me this ____ day of_______________, 20___."

Then, the notary should place the notary seal and his/her signature.

Then, once it is notarized, you can print it off onto high quality paper (or rather, your family member or friend can), and it will be mostly indistinguishable to the real diploma (depending on the style of diploma that your university uses).

I'm not advocating that you cheat. This isn't cheating. This is finding a way through a process that satisfies China and accomplishes your goal. My diploma says, "my true, original, diploma." I decided to use my original.

I recently was the first person to get a local police check in Tianjin under the new system. It was the first time that they new agency had done the document. Sometimes, to cut your way through the red tape, you have to be creative. I visited four different places by direction of each of these agencies. They didn't even know what to do. In the end, I found a way to make it work.

I ordered my diploma pretty easily online. You might search your university page for this (there should be a section on their webpage). If it is really a face to face process, it might be easier to convert your in hand diploma to an electronic version and try some of the things above. Good luck.