Legalization and authorization fees?

[Nick & Lily 0]

Hi everyone. We are getting close now! I have a question and I am hoping that someone can shed light on. I am sorry if this is vague, but it is the information as I have it. We recently received our letter from Consular on requirements for Lily's interview (my fiancée) is very nervous about her interview and sought counsel (this is where it gets vague) at some agency or service specializing in forms and document processing. She was told that for $730 USD they would do "legalization" and "authorization" of the documents from the different ministries. I believe there are three that are involved. As best I can understand they pertain to medical, police records and school (she has two children (10 and 17). Has anyone used these types of services? Or are they just preying on her fears of failing somehow the interview? She also was told that without this Legalization she could have difficulty when she begins her US status change after our marriage. My funds are limited, but will find a way to pay the unexpected $730 if it is legitimate and has merit. I just have this feeling that this is like a car salesman telling you that you must have this car! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get her to pose the question in Russian on the site as she could better explain than I but she just said we will do without the legalization... I just need to get some consensus on whether it is really needed. Thanks in advance...

[Sergi9 110]

Hi everyone. We are getting close now! I have a question and I am hoping that someone can shed light on. I am sorry if this is vague, but it is the information as I have it. We recently received our letter from Consular on requirements for Lily's interview (my fiancée) is very nervous about her interview and sought counsel (this is where it gets vague) at some agency or service specializing in forms and document processing. She was told that for $730 USD they would do "legalization" and "authorization" of the documents from the different ministries. I believe there are three that are involved. As best I can understand they pertain to medical, police records and school (she has two children (10 and 17). Has anyone used these types of services? Or are they just preying on her fears of failing somehow the interview? She also was told that without this Legalization she could have difficulty when she begins her US status change after our marriage. My funds are limited, but will find a way to pay the unexpected $730 if it is legitimate and has merit. I just have this feeling that this is like a car salesman telling you that you must have this car! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get her to pose the question in Russian on the site as she could better explain than I but she just said we will do without the legalization... I just need to get some consensus on whether it is really needed. Thanks in advance...

Its a scam steer clear, some of the agencies also are in the Fraud Prevention database and get involved in manufacturing documents. No sense taking any chances. Have her order and pick up her documents from the schools and police herself

[eekee 182]

If she wants to use a college degree in the United States, that needs to be legalized in Moscow. It can be done my mail. I'm not sure how much it costs, but nowhere near 730$! I am doing the same thing right now in reverse. (US degree ---> Russian legalization.) Otherwise, no.

Edited May 3, 2011 by eekee

[baron555 934]

Scam, she can do it herself. If you want PM me her phone number and I can have Alla call her to provide guidance.

[Nick & Lily 0]

Well it seems so far there is consensus that this is not a wise move on our part...

[Codeblue009 3]

Hi everyone. We are getting close now! I have a question and I am hoping that someone can shed light on. I am sorry if this is vague, but it is the information as I have it. We recently received our letter from Consular on requirements for Lily's interview (my fiancée) is very nervous about her interview and sought counsel (this is where it gets vague) at some agency or service specializing in forms and document processing. She was told that for $730 USD they would do "legalization" and "authorization" of the documents from the different ministries. I believe there are three that are involved. As best I can understand they pertain to medical, police records and school (she has two children (10 and 17). Has anyone used these types of services? Or are they just preying on her fears of failing somehow the interview? She also was told that without this Legalization she could have difficulty when she begins her US status change after our marriage. My funds are limited, but will find a way to pay the unexpected $730 if it is legitimate and has merit. I just have this feeling that this is like a car salesman telling you that you must have this car! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get her to pose the question in Russian on the site as she could better explain than I but she just said we will do without the legalization... I just need to get some consensus on whether it is really needed. Thanks in advance...

Complete total B.S.!!!!!! Stay away from all this stuff!

[Captain Hammer 113]

Heh, I'll add to the consensus. Stay away. And even if they did offer a legitimate service, $730 is just crazy.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi everyone. We are getting close now! I have a question and I am hoping that someone can shed light on. I am sorry if this is vague, but it is the information as I have it. We recently received our letter from Consular on requirements for Lily's interview (my fiancée) is very nervous about her interview and sought counsel (this is where it gets vague) at some agency or service specializing in forms and document processing. She was told that for $730 USD they would do "legalization" and "authorization" of the documents from the different ministries. I believe there are three that are involved. As best I can understand they pertain to medical, police records and school (she has two children (10 and 17). Has anyone used these types of services? Or are they just preying on her fears of failing somehow the interview? She also was told that without this Legalization she could have difficulty when she begins her US status change after our marriage. My funds are limited, but will find a way to pay the unexpected $730 if it is legitimate and has merit. I just have this feeling that this is like a car salesman telling you that you must have this car! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I tried to get her to pose the question in Russian on the site as she could better explain than I but she just said we will do without the legalization... I just need to get some consensus on whether it is really needed. Thanks in advance...

None of this is needed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If she wants to use a college degree in the United States, that needs to be legalized in Moscow. It can be done my mail. I'm not sure how much it costs, but nowhere near 730$! I am doing the same thing right now in reverse. (US degree ---> Russian legalization.) Otherwise, no.

Not necessary eekee.

Alla had her degrees and transcripts translated in the USA and sent them to ECE (google ECE) who did the evaluation for her and it was used for her to get into college here and also to get a Vermont teaching certification. The evalusation, course by course, was $135

For the consulate, NO apostille, translation or anything else is required, Bring the original, and a copy. That is all.

[bxa 0]

We've used a lot of these services while getting married and for I-130 documents. The thing about Ukraine (and former Soviet Union countries) is that things tend to take forever and you actually have to go and wait in line multiple times in many places in order to get the documents done. Even then, they may require bribe to give you what you want. Using a good service will save a lot of aggravation and time while giving you everything you need at once. They know how to navigate the local law and government agencies and get things done fast. I don't live in Ukraine anymore for the last 20 years but just a faint memory of what it takes to actually apply and get things done in person makes me very depressed. My new wife would get even more depressed, since she actually spent all this time there. I would much rather prefer paying a small fee (the $730 sounds on the high side, but that depends on how many and what documents).

[eekee 182]

Not necessary eekee.

Alla had her degrees and transcripts translated in the USA and sent them to ECE (google ECE) who did the evaluation for her and it was used for her to get into college here and also to get a Vermont teaching certification. The evalusation, course by course, was $135

For the consulate, NO apostille, translation or anything else is required, Bring the original, and a copy. That is all.

Did she get an apostille beforehand? No one in Russia would even notarize a translation without an apostille on all of my American educational documents, much less accept it for equivalency evaluation.

That's what I meant--not evaluating American equivalency, which can, of course, only be done in the States.

Edited May 4, 2011 by eekee

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Did she get an apostille beforehand? No one in Russia would even notarize a translation without an apostille on all of my American educational documents, much less accept it for equivalency evaluation.

That's what I meant--not evaluating American equivalency, which can, of course, only be done in the States.

No.

She scanned and emailed me her transcripts and degrees. I brought those to a freind of mine that is the head of the Russian Department at the University of Vermont. He translated them and charged me a nominal fee, I think about $40. I sent the copies and the translations to ECE who did the evaluations and sent the evaluations to the universities we were applying to for Alla, and a copy of the evaluation to me. NO ONE at any time saw the originals. Apostilles are not needed here.

You had to do it because that is what is required in Russia. Notarizations are not needed for translations in the US for most purposes and not needed at the US consulates. I took the OPs question to be about Russian documents being used in the US, not reverse.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[eekee 182]

I know; I was asking for my own purposes because I'll have two Russian masters degrees.0

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I know; I was asking for my own purposes because I'll have two Russian masters degrees.0

Bragging? Good for you!

Yes, we had no problems, just get them translated and send them to ECE (there are other evaluators and I do not favor them over others, it is just the one we used) ECE is accepted by most universities and government agencies. Check with the organization though, they may specify a particular evaluator. Almost everyone wants the "course by course" evaluation.

ECE keeps your evaluation on file and in the future you can send evals to other organizations simply by ordering them online. We have done a couple others since the originals and I think it was $30 for each one we sent additionally.

[eekee 182]

Bragging? Good for you!

Yes, we had no problems, just get them translated and send them to ECE (there are other evaluators and I do not favor them over others, it is just the one we used) ECE is accepted by most universities and government agencies. Check with the organization though, they may specify a particular evaluator. Almost everyone wants the "course by course" evaluation.

ECE keeps your evaluation on file and in the future you can send evals to other organizations simply by ordering them online. We have done a couple others since the originals and I think it was $30 for each one we sent additionally.

Haha, not bragging, just took me until I was almost finished with the first to figure out what I wanted to do, career-wise. And it's about 10x cheaper in Russia.

Cool, thanks for the info; I guess the Russian legalization is only if you want to enter an American doctoral program or something?