Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeoulESLteacher09]

I wanted to see if anyone knew the answer to my question....I was going to call the secretary of state office today, but we have a big snowstorm and everything is closed. so this is my other option...

I got my FBI check, but I didn't get the seal and the signature. I sent it to my state's secretary of state and they sent it back because it was a federal document.

I was reading other forums and people said that if it didnt have the signature and seal that the US Dept of State won't put the apostille on it.

I need to get this done immediately...im running out of time....I don't have 15+ days to wait for the apostille from the US DOS. I don't have the money to afford an apostille service.

If I make an affidavit and get it notarized in my state will that count as a state document?? Then can I send it to my secretary of state?

Or does it still need to go to the US DOS? I've been trying to ask this question to the US DOS for the past week. They don't take phone inquiries so you have to email them....I have sent about 10 emails and they didnt answer any of them.

Does anyone know the answer to my question......My documents have to be in Korea by February and I'm afraid they won't make it!!

[Riker]

I'm just curious did you request the seal and signature official when you sent in for the FBI check?


Some people have reported getting a US dept. of state Apostille with out the seal and signature. Who knows.

[SeoulESLteacher09]

[Riker]

Your definite answer seems clear. Your particular state wont apostille a federal document. What other choice do you have other than sending it in to the Dept. of State?


I have much sympathy for your case, believe me. But you didn't follow the exact procedure. There are no definite answers when you do this.

[SeoulESLteacher09]

but does notarizing an affidavit in my state make it a state document?

[millyfrend]

On the forum, some people said it is not allowed in some states, but you can definitely try (people were able to do it in California, New York, Texas etc). And if you have friends or family members in those states that accept it, you can do it there as well.

Make sure all the spelling on the notary document is correct or you'll be stress out when you get to South Korea and probably have to spend more money to get the documents apostille.

[SeoulESLteacher09]

my state will not do it...even with a notary signature..

I may end up using a Washinton DC courier service to stand in line for me.


I still dont have the seal and signature........


HAS ANYONE GOTTEN AN APOSTILLE WITHOUT THE SEAL AND SIGNATURE???

[Riker]

Yes, as I stated before. Some have claimed to do just that on this website.

[millyfrend]

Why would you send it to D.C.? You don't have a sign or seal signature of the Federal Document. It can't go through D.C. It would get rejected. It would go through D.C. if it's signed and sealed by Kimberly.

You have to do it through California, Texas etc.

[Riker]

[SeoulESLteacher09]

[nathanrutledge]

Your hosed.

You need the seal and signature from the FBI. Without it, there is nothing to apostille.

All the apostille is is an internationally recognized notary. It means that the local NOTARIZATION is true and the government (state or federal) has said it is official. If you don't have the signature and seal (notarization) on the FBI CRC, there is nothing for them to apostille. You need that seal and signature, without there is nothing that can be done.

Riker says that some people have reported getting it w/o the seal/signature. I haven't heard anything about that, and I doubt that it will be done, but who knows. There are a lot of people requesting it these days, the SOS office may be more lenient due to the sheer volume they're receiving these days.

You won't be able to make a document, have it notarized, and then apostille it in your state. Go to your states SOS office and find the apostille information; they have very specific information regarding what they will and will not apostille. You won't be able to send it to another state to get it apostilled. States will ONLY apostille documents from within that state, despite what other posters have said. See the links below for California and Texas' SOS office if you want to check for yourself.

Your best option at this point is to call the FBI and tell them you needed the signature and seal; see what they can do for you. Then, if there is nothing they can do for you, or if they are willing to send you a new check, I would take your current check and send it to DC for an apostille. You may get lucky and get it without the sign and seal and if so, it may arrive before a new copy from the FBI arrives. That's what I would do if I were you.

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/authentication.htm
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/authfaqs.shtml

[millyfrend]

You're not hosed.

You just need family or friend in Texas or California if South Carolina is not accepting it.

You just need to know the trick on how to do it. Think about it. How are people able to get their degree and FBI Background Check done from South Korea. They are not physically there in California or Texas and they are able to get it done.

Your problem is you don't want to pay someone to do it. Right? I bet if you contact an apostille agency, they can do it for you as they're professionals. But in your original post, you say you can't afford that.

I wouldn't send it to D.C. without the seal or signature as there is nothing to verify. Someone probably said they sent it without a seal or signature, but what if someone doesn't even know what the seal or signature looks like. What if they had a seal or signature. Or what if the FBI just made a mistake and they won't make a mistake on your document. But you can take the risk.

Send it to a family or friend or apostille agency in the state they can notarize and apostille. It can be done without you being there. Think about this, people get a degree notarize from their school when he/she request it from school registrar. The requestor/student is not physically present, how is it notarized? How are they able to do that? There are certain rules in California, Texas that allow them to do that. Same goes for FBI Background Check.

1. Take a risk and send your non seal and signature back to the FBI and wait 3-4 weeks then another 3-4 weeks at the DoS. Either it get rejected or it won't. If you want to take the risk of waiting and finding out for yourself.

2. Pay the price for an apostille agency to do it in a few days if you don't have family and friends in certain states. You get a job and that makes up for the money you spent on the apostille anyway.

3. Redo everything all over again and wait months.

Note: You can't send the FBI background check directly to the SOS. It has to be notarized and it has to be notarized correctly before it can be apostille.

[nathanrutledge]

[millyfrend]

I don't know about in Nebraska, but in California, Texas, and a few other states you're allow to apostille a federal document with a notary attached to it.

There was a thread on here that showed everything.