Job Discussion Forums

[leslie]

Bye

[C76]

Thanks for the link leslie!

[estanton]

Hello everyone,

I realize this is an old thread, but i thought I'd just reply rather than start a new topic because it makes sense to keep the info in one place. I have a couple of thoughts/questions on this wonderful bureaucratic topic. I'm a complete newbie, and I'd love some advice from people who know.

First, some of you have said that you need to get a degree apostilled in the state where it was issued. When I talked to the California Secretary of State's office I got another answer, which I think will work better for me (I live in California, but went to school in Iowa). I wanted to check with all of you to see if you think it's true, and if it'll fly in Mexico.

The woman told me that an apostille is actually a certification of an official signature. So, when you get an apostille, you get someone official to sign your degree, and then the Sec. of State basically certifies that that person is who they say they are.

I think the official signature could be from an official at your college, but the Sec of state people told me it could also be any registered notary (in any state) who's willing to sign it. Then you just get that state's Sec. of State to certify the notary's signature, which = apostilling (sp?).

I'm planning to go to a California notary, get her to sign off on the (Iowa) degree, then have that apostilled in CA. I'm from a small town and have known the notary all my life. With a notary who doesn't know what college you attended, I imagine you might have to somehow put them in touch with the school to verify your degree before they'll sign it.

My question: Is this ok? Does anyone think a Mexican immigration office will care that the apostille and notary are from a different state than the degree-issuing one?

The thing is that, as it was explained to me, if I wanted to apostille in Iowa I'd need to get an Iowa notary to sign it (or maybe my college registrar's office, but then I'd be lucky to see it next spring).

No one on this site yet has mentioned a notary in connection with apostilles. Are they necessary, or can you sometimes just send to the Sec. of State? Is it different in different states? Anyone know?

Finally I have a few more questions

-Do I need to apostille the original, or can I use a copy? The copy seems a lot more convenient.

-I saw a quote, I believe on the free part of mexconnect.com (so could be pretty old) saying that apostilles expire in 90 days!! This could definitely affect when I send the thing in, so I'd like to know whether there's any truth in it.

If there is it seems like total bs (can I say that in public? FCC? Anyone?) to me. Even in the unlikely event that the person who signed your doc quits in 90 days, it's not like their signature suddenly becomes invalid. Following that rule, I might just sign a few contracts some day soon

Anyway, I would really appreciate any advice anyone has about working through the hoops of this bureaucracy.

Thank you all for any help you can offer!

estanton

[magpie]

I just went through this process. First, I asked for a copy of my diploma from my university in Illinois--cost $25. They signed, sealed and notarized it at the University, but you still need the apostille. I paid for a copy because, although I do have my original I didn't want it messed with!!! Then I attempted to contact the Mexican Consulate in Chicago for information. Since they cannot be reached even through their voice response system I went to their website where I found information that indicated that diplomas issued in Illinois needed to be apostilled by the ILLINOIS secretary of state. Wisconsin diplomas and Indiana diplomas were also directed to their specific Sec of State offices.

I took my copy to the Sec of State office and paid an additional $2 to have it apostilled. They attach a letter with appropriate seal verifying that it's all legalI have not found anyone who said it could be done otherwise, but that does NOT mean it can't.

Good luck.

I live in Texas and made a trip back to Illinois to get this done, simply because I wanted to have it in hand. Yes, you can do this by mail--but heaven knows if you will get it back in any short period of time.

[MELEE]

Estanton,

I quess you didn't go back far in the archives because I know I've described the two routes to an apostille in the US before, but it was long long ago.

The first route is the one magpie describes and it involves the university and the secretary of state of the state where the university is located.

The second route, is not really the route that you are ment to take, but at least the OAXACA immigration office doesn't know the difference and I and several of my teachers have taken this route for the exact reason you mentioned--we were not in the state where our university is located. I can not say whether or not this would not be accepted by other immigration offices, but basically Mexicans like to see stamps and seals and official looking papers, but don't really bother reading them.

This second route, is more or less like you said. Take your original degree to a notary public, have the notary public make a photo copy and attest and affirm and sign, that this is in fact a true copy of an original document. Then send or take that notarized copy to the Secretary of State of the State which licensed that notary public. They will check their records and attest and affirm and stamp and sign that this is the true signature and stamp of a truely licesenced notary in their state.

It says APOSTILLE at the top and it worked for me.

I've had teachers use apostilles that were several years old, I've never heard of them expiring.

WHICH EVER way you get your apostille, make sure you get it on a COPY of your degree not attached to the original degree, because immigration will want to KEEP it in your file, never to be seen again. Now that they've finally computerized, you won't even get a glimps of it each year at renewal time as the official adds more papers to your file.

[moonraven]

When I had this process done, I was in Mexico. My mother in the US handled everything by phone and fedex with the universities in the 3 different states involved in my 3 degrees. The universities took care of everything and sent the stuff to my mother. It took about 4 days, and the states involved were Washington, California (where my mother lives) and Massachusetts. That was 10 years ago.

[estanton]

[/quote]The other way, which is easier if you've moved across the country is to have a local notary public make a notarized copy. Then send or take that copy to the Secretary of State of the state where the notary works. The Secretary of State will authenticate that this is the seal of a true registered notary public. You can see http://www.filinginoregon.com/notary/authentication.htm

[estanton]

And it looks like I also need to read up on using the quote feature!

[acliun]

Unfortunately, I found out about the apostille process the hard way. I had teaching position in Mexico and was ready to go when I was informed that I had to have the following documents apostille:
1) Transcripts
2) Birth certificate
3) and Degrees

I currently live a work in Atlanta Georgia as a teacher. Once I facilitated the request I learned a few lessons.

Each state and county has individual rules concerning apostilled documentations. In general each school authenticates transcripts (if they are savvy enough). For some reason, I was able to get a New York Diploma apostilled here. For other documents, in -state document must be certified and notarized. The next step is different for each state. Finally ending in the authentication office of each state. Federal document must go to D.C. Since I was born overseas and a dual citizen, I am still caught in the apostille maze.

[estanton]

Maybe there are certain documents that must go to D.C. to be certified "from the source" as it were, but, as I understand it, if you can find a sympathetic notary who will notarize all your documents in your own state, those documents can then be apostilled (a certification of the notary's signature) in the same state.

I got my college diploma (from Iowa) notarized in California and then apostilled in California, and it worked just like Melee said it would, at least so far (Thanks Melee ).

I haven't been to the immigration office yet, but from what I hear the apostille is just an impressive-looking stamp that they want to satisfy their requirements. In itself all it is is a certification of some (any) public official or notary's signature. The Ca. Sec. of State will apostille anything from officials or notaries in their state. Because I got a local notary to certify my documents, California did my apostilles.

It might be easier for some people to get theirs done in the state where they attended college, by their college. My college had never heard of an apostille, which is weird considering that 10% of the student body is international, including several from mexico, and I think apostilling is a standard way to certify college transcripts internationally.

Just wanted to let you know that the local notary route did work for me so far. I{ll post a quick note after I go to the immigration office.

estanton

[rafomania]

Coming back to this topic. I am from the UK and trying to get my head around this whole process. Should I find a job in Mexico as a language teacher and apply for the FM3 what documents will I need apostilled? To my knowledge my Univeristy degree and perhaps birth cert.
Where could I get this done in London? Does any Brit (or anyone) have any knowledge about the process in the UK?

Thanks
raf

[rafomania]

I've since find out where I can get these documents legalised-

The Legalisation Office
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
The Mall
London SW1A 2LG

020 7008 1111
(For your info)

I still have a question, perhaps UK specific. What actually happens to the documents? Do they get scribbled on or is some sort of paper attached to them with the relevant stamps. I'm not sure whether to get copies (not photocopies) of the docs in order to preserve the originals.
Also, will i need to bring originals to Mexico or will a photocopy do even?

Any recommendations? I'll get on the blower to them if not.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend,
raf

[reddevil79]

Yes, more information about this requirement would be very welcome. I'm from the UK too and just started to look into this. Does anyone know what the requirements are for Jalisco? Can it be done in Mexico once you're there? I've read all the postings on this thread but I am still a little confused. Where's Guy when you need him!?

[sickbag]

Likewise, am also from the UK and need any info anyone can help with. Still waiting for a copy of my degree certificate - have seen various agencies online offering the apostille (?) service for anywhere between �60-�100. Not sure how genuine/widely-accepted these are etc.

[matttheboy]

First time on this mexico forum as i've never even been there (i'm a bit bored now i've calmed down after the Albion snatched glory from the other crap teams in the prem so am surfing a bit...) but as for the getting your documents apostilled your have to do it at the address given above, it takes about 10 days and they glue a half size A4 bit of paper (A8??) to the back of the document with a stamped seal. The only place you can officially get anything apostilled is with the legalisation service at the FCO. They have an incredibly annoying but eventually quite useful automated phone service. You have to get any non-government issued docs (eg birth certificate, criminal record cert are gov issued) counter-signed by a 'notary public' (ie a solicitor or JP or something like that) and then you send them off with the fee to the FCO who do the rest. Oh, and you have to send the originals.

Here in Argentina, i then got them copied, translated and legalised (and the originals legalised as well) and gave immigration the copies.

And the 'criminal record' thing you get from the UK isn't actually legally seen as such, it's just a piece of paper saying that there's no info on you on the national computer datebase and released only to you under the Data Protection Act. You have to get a form from your local police station and it takes about a month to come through. Some countries don't accept this and you have to persuade them that England has a different system to other countries...

Easy.