Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

Has anyone done this lately? I need to get something apostillised, so according to the State of ILlinois. I just need to get it notarised and send it to the apostillise and ta-da get it apostillised. http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/index/division.html

Now they say that I need a statement of acknowledgement to confirm the notary that alraedy confirmed the orginal.

SO . . .the apostille confirms the statement of acknowledgement that confirms the notary that confirms the orginal? Are you serious?!

And then my degree which has been signed by four people including someone in the IL govt. maybe the SOS, has to be notarised, again?!

Anyone know about this?

[chickyabroad]

You should probably just call or email them to check exactly what you need to provide. But I think the statement of acknowledgement is just a form the notary always fills out when they notarize something to show that their certification as a notary is still valid.

I had to get an apostille the last time I went to Korea and it took all of 20 minutes doimg it in person. Stopped at a bank with my original degree and a copy to get the copy notarized, the notary stamped it and filled out a form and then went on to the Massachusetts Secretary of State office. They took the copy of the degree and the notary form (and my money of course) for a few minutes then attached another form to it and a seal of the state. Very easy.

Good luck!

[naturegirl321]

[dragbag]

chickyabroad,

I just wanted to check with you since I live in Mass and will be going to the Secretary of State's office Monday to get an apostille on my degree.

I live a hour north of Boston and have checked with the Secretary's office but wanted to make sure I have done all the steps before I drive in.

I took a copy of my UMass Amherst degree to the local city clerk to get notarized. The clerk attached a "certification of copy" to the degree. They did not stamp the actual degree.

3 different employees at the Sec of States office said this would be fine but I wanted to check if this is correct?

Did you get a seal on the degree or just a sheet attached to your copy?

Thanks in advance,

Dragbag

PS I see your in Istanbul, cok guzel.......

[chickyabroad]

Dragbag, from what I remember (this was a little over a year ago) the notary just attached a letter to the degree, but didn't stamp the degree itself. I think you should be fine.

But if you really want to make sure, just bring your original degree with you and if the people at the Secretary of State office say you need the copy stamped by a notary, there are tons of banks right there that can do it. I don't even think I knew I needed the copy notarized first- I did get that done right near the SOS office.

[dragbag]

Chickyabroad,

You were right on, the whole process was very simple, an attached letter was fine. The Sec of State did the apostille in just a few minutes. Thanks for the response.

DB

[duder_1]

If I am reading this thread right, it sounds like everyone is getting an apostille on copies of their degrees.

Has anyone done an apostille on an original degree or TEFL certificate? I would like to do this, and it has been a dead-end for the latter because it comes from England, and I'm in the US.

[naturegirl321]

I have had my degree LEGALISED by an embassy because the country wasn't part of the Hague agreement. I did that in the US, then had to get it done in Peru, so now my degree is literally COVERED in stamps, signatures, it's even been stapled. Granted, it's on the back, but still.

I'm getting my MA from Spain and I paid my schol 700 usd to do all that. It takes a year. Has to be signed by the king of Spain apparantly.

I'd start by going to the UK embassy and asking them if they could help you.

BUt honestly, just getting a copy apostillised seems better. Because like I said, the back of my degree is full of stamps, etc. And there are holes from where they stapled it.