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bsrosenfeld
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:50 pm Post subject: How to get Diploma Notarized |
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My girlfriend and I are hoping to re-sign with our public middle schools in March and are just waiting to see if our schools will receive funding. We want to have all of our docs ready in the event we re-sign and we have already sent in for our FBI CBC. However, I'm just a bit confused about getting a copy of my diploma notarized before sending it off to the Secretary of State for an apostille.
We both have official copies of our diplomas (with a raised university seal) with us in Korea. I'll be returning to the US this week and would like to get them notarized and sent into the SoS while I'm there.
From what I have read, it sounds like a notary just makes a photocopy of your diploma and certifies the copy, but that sounds too easy. Do we need to write a letter to accompany the diplomas to be notarized? Will they notarize my girlfriend's diploma without her present?
I just want to make sure I've got everything in place before I fly out.
Thanks in advance for your help and advice. |
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munybse
Joined: 24 Jul 2009
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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I just emailed a pdf of my diploma to my university. They had someone there print it, notarize it and mail it to my parents (I was still in SK). Then sent that back to the State to get it Apostilled with a note saying what country it was. |
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bsrosenfeld
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:19 am Post subject: |
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munybse wrote: |
I just emailed a pdf of my diploma to my university. They had someone there print it, notarize it and mail it to my parents (I was still in SK). Then sent that back to the State to get it Apostilled with a note saying what country it was. |
Unfortunately, my university doesn't have a notary and won't provide that service. I plan on traveling with the originals so copies can be made and the notary can see the university's seal. I'm more concerned about notarizing my girlfriend's degree sine she won't be present to sign anything in front of a notary. |
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jphill9990
Joined: 02 Dec 2009
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:51 am Post subject: |
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My cousin is a notary and I assume this would be fine to use her...but how do you really notarize a diploma? Just put her seal and commission ending date on the copy it self? I know that is kind of a simple question but it just seemed too simple. Can I scan and print a copy of my own diploma and do it? Just regular printer paper is fine? |
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machoman

Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:33 am Post subject: |
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i just emailed the authentications office of the state of virginia. i asked if m friend could notarize a photocopy of my diploma, this is what she said:
The notary would need the original document in order to notarize the copy as a true copy of the original. Once it is properly notarized by a Virginia notary, the document can be brought to our office for the notary to be authenticated. |
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munybse
Joined: 24 Jul 2009
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:55 am Post subject: |
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bsrosenfeld wrote: |
munybse wrote: |
I just emailed a pdf of my diploma to my university. They had someone there print it, notarize it and mail it to my parents (I was still in SK). Then sent that back to the State to get it Apostilled with a note saying what country it was. |
Unfortunately, my university doesn't have a notary and won't provide that service. I plan on traveling with the originals so copies can be made and the notary can see the university's seal. I'm more concerned about notarizing my girlfriend's degree sine she won't be present to sign anything in front of a notary. |
My university had no idea what I needed and why. After I emailed a random lady in the registrar's office I had to call her. She was kind enough to go find someone at the school to notarize it. Might be worth a shot just emailing someone and explaining what you need done. |
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jphill9990
Joined: 02 Dec 2009
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:04 am Post subject: |
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I just spoke to someone in the Kentucky SOS office (we are a commonwealth like Virginia, don't know if it matches up) but they told me something a little different. Pretty much the notary has to sign an affadavit, verifying I am signing off that this is a true copy of diploma, then I have to go to the county clerk where the notary was authorized to verify they are a notary, THEN the SOS will verify the county clerk and apostille my diploma. Silliness. |
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machoman

Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:24 am Post subject: |
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jphill9990 wrote: |
I just spoke to someone in the Kentucky SOS office (we are a commonwealth like Virginia, don't know if it matches up) but they told me something a little different. Pretty much the notary has to sign an affadavit, verifying I am signing off that this is a true copy of diploma, then I have to go to the county clerk where the notary was authorized to verify they are a notary, THEN the SOS will verify the county clerk and apostille my diploma. Silliness. |
ugh..... either way, it's an effing pain in the ass. |
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interestedinhanguk

Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
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jphill9990 wrote: |
I just spoke to someone in the Kentucky SOS office (we are a commonwealth like Virginia, don't know if it matches up) but they told me something a little different. Pretty much the notary has to sign an affadavit, verifying I am signing off that this is a true copy of diploma, then I have to go to the county clerk where the notary was authorized to verify they are a notary, THEN the SOS will verify the county clerk and apostille my diploma. Silliness. |
Commonwealth is just a name, nothing more. |
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bsrosenfeld
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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munybse wrote: |
bsrosenfeld wrote: |
munybse wrote: |
I just emailed a pdf of my diploma to my university. They had someone there print it, notarize it and mail it to my parents (I was still in SK). Then sent that back to the State to get it Apostilled with a note saying what country it was. |
Unfortunately, my university doesn't have a notary and won't provide that service. I plan on traveling with the originals so copies can be made and the notary can see the university's seal. I'm more concerned about notarizing my girlfriend's degree sine she won't be present to sign anything in front of a notary. |
My university had no idea what I needed and why. After I emailed a random lady in the registrar's office I had to call her. She was kind enough to go find someone at the school to notarize it. Might be worth a shot just emailing someone and explaining what you need done. |
I've tried all avenues; Records Dept., Registrar and even the Head of Graduation Services, all with no luck. I'll be in 4 different states on my travels and will try to find a notary that will help me out. From what I read I think I'll have to have the Secretary of State where the diploma is notarized give me the apostille.
jphill - I have also read about needing authorization from the county clerk, but I hope it won't come to that. Seems kind of redundant to go to an 'official' notary and then have to go verify that they are indeed official.
machoman - awesome pic |
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brauggi
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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take the original to a notary. tell them you need a notarized photocopy of it. you will have mixed luck. some notaries say no, others have no problem with it. but that's what immigration wants to get, so just keep asking until somebody will do it. chances are, somebody you know either is a notary or knows a notary. just ask around. |
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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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bsrosenfeld wrote: |
munybse wrote: |
bsrosenfeld wrote: |
munybse wrote: |
I just emailed a pdf of my diploma to my university. They had someone there print it, notarize it and mail it to my parents (I was still in SK). Then sent that back to the State to get it Apostilled with a note saying what country it was. |
Unfortunately, my university doesn't have a notary and won't provide that service. I plan on traveling with the originals so copies can be made and the notary can see the university's seal. I'm more concerned about notarizing my girlfriend's degree sine she won't be present to sign anything in front of a notary. |
My university had no idea what I needed and why. After I emailed a random lady in the registrar's office I had to call her. She was kind enough to go find someone at the school to notarize it. Might be worth a shot just emailing someone and explaining what you need done. |
I've tried all avenues; Records Dept., Registrar and even the Head of Graduation Services, all with no luck. I'll be in 4 different states on my travels and will try to find a notary that will help me out. From what I read I think I'll have to have the Secretary of State where the diploma is notarized give me the apostille.
jphill - I have also read about needing authorization from the county clerk, but I hope it won't come to that. Seems kind of redundant to go to an 'official' notary and then have to go verify that they are indeed official.
machoman - awesome pic |
If still having trouble finding a notary, some other possible avenues.
Have your university attorney notarize it OR if you still have a bank acount
in the U.S., someone in your bank should be able to notarize it. OR
find a public notorary in person and bribe them. Joking! (but if you're desperate....)
In my state, and I think several others, you gotta have the COUNTY Clerk of Courts seal/signature as well. They are just basically verifing that the notary is, in fact, a currently registered notary. They have no interest in the actual document. Secrectary of State Dept won't give an apostille unless it has it! Look it up on the web and your state's apostille procedures. |
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