Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gbm75]

I'm trying to sort out the steps of getting an apostille for my degree.

I thought you get a notarized copy from the registrar at your school and then send it to the secretary of state.

However, I talked to them (state department) and they said I would have to take it to the county clerk and have it notarized (after getting it notarized by the school) and then mail it to the state department for the apostille.

Does this seem right? How many different people need to notarize and authenticate this thing?

What the state department said coincides with the information from the US embassy, so I'd say that's authoritative.

However, I read the other thread on getting an apostille for your degree from Korea and it didn't seem like anyone had to take it to a county clerk. Does it vary from state to state? Is the county clerk a superfluous step?

[Sujini25]

Hello

You have to have it notarized by the county clerk, the apostille will verify that signature, they won't do it if you don't have the notary.

I am in New York and when I just went there with the document, he said it wasn't ready and I had to go to the county clerk and have it notarized then I had it apostillized.

[jrwhite82]

In Maryland, I had my degree notarized by a notary at the bank, then it has to be "county certified" by the county clerk. Then it can be apostilled by the state.

But here is the catch. Make sure that the notary and the county clerk are from the same county!!!! If the notary was certified in a different county, the clerk will not certify it! And if they do, and you bring it to the state, they might notice and not apostille it.

Hope this helps.

[gbm75]

Thanks, those were both helpful answers!

[nathanrutledge]

What?!? Why would you have to go to the country clerk?

The registrar at your school should be a public notary, or there should be one there to handle that stuff. You should get a copy, the notary should notarize it with a statement that says "this is a true copy of a diploma awarded to --- from --- university, presented to me on this date. SIGN"

You then take that to the Secretary of State's office who gives you the apostille.

I've had a dozen different things apostilled before, and every time, that's what was required. Police check was notarized by the state police notary, then apostilled at the SOS office. University registrar notarized it, apostilled at the state. Sure, it may vary from state to state, but I've never heard of anyone having to go to the county clerk.

[jrwhite82]

Well in the State of Maryland, the Secretary of State requires that it be county certified before they apostille it. Thats why you should get it certified. Duh!

Each state is different. It sounds like he checked with his state's Secretary of State office. They asked him to get it county certified. So.....

[jrwhite82]

Some states require both a notarization and a county certification before they apostille education documents. Its not really two notaries. The county certification is different.

[margaretmary]

[SandyG21]

I live in a tiny town in the midwest - I have called every office in my county - NO ONE in the government notarizies documents - they acted like I am nuts for my request! I called office after office and they are clueless!

[Ramen]

Actually, you need god's seal of approval.

[gbm75]

Sandyg21 have you tried just doing a google search for your state + apostille? That's what I did and it took me right to a site with all the details. Although I still had questions and had to call them anyway.