Notarize or apostille?

[Brc 14]

My wife is collecting documents for our visa application, and we are running into a vocabulary issue. She tells me that we need to have the documents (police, marriage, divorce, etc) certified with an apostille, and as I'm reading the instructions I'm seeing the word certified or notarized. Can someone shed light for me? Is an apostille needed? Some of these documents are from Russia, and others from the Republic of Georgia.

Thanks for your help!

[MrsOyetunji 9]

If you are talking about marriage certificate, you have to do the apostille. because we did apostille also for our wedding certificate, they told us at the Zagc that is very important, so that is why we did it. But the Police certificate, we only did the translation and get it notarized, there is no apostille for that. Apostille only for the marriage certificate

[Darnell 8,478]

Interesting. If these are original documents, then the issuing authority already has their chop on it (stamp, seal, signature, etc) .

see DS-230 - http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html read all pages.

Edited April 17, 2013 by Darnell

[Andreea E. 1]

My wife is collecting documents for our visa application, and we are running into a vocabulary issue. She tells me that we need to have the documents (police, marriage, divorce, etc) certified with an apostille, and as I'm reading the instructions I'm seeing the word certified or notarized. Can someone shed light for me? Is an apostille needed? Some of these documents are from Russia, and others from the Republic of Georgia.

Thanks for your help!

An Apostille is an international certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.

The word “Apostille” means “certification” in French. You need an Apostille, or in some cases another legalization process, if you have a public document issued in the United States, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court judgement, and you want that document to be recognized in another country.

Likewise, foreign public documents will require an Apostille in order to be recognized in the United States

I would suggest you get the Apostille, it is not a complicated process. I got the Apostille for my marriage certificate, police certification and birth certificate (I am the beneficiary).

Good luck!

[Brc 14]

Thanks for the replies. My wife tells me she could get an apostille or have them notarized. She believes notarization is not enough. As I read the state dept info, it remains less than a closed case argument for her.

Being not exactly young and having made plenty of mistakes to learn from, I think it wise to have her do what makes her feel more secure. I ask because I don't want her to spend this money for the apostilles if a notarization or official seal on the original document is enough. But that may be a secondary concern at this point.

[speedwell 224]

Thanks for the replies. My wife tells me she could get an apostille or have them notarized. She believes notarization is not enough. As I read the state dept info, it remains less than a closed case argument for her.

Being not exactly young and having made plenty of mistakes to learn from, I think it wise to have her do what makes her feel more secure. I ask because I don't want her to spend this money for the apostilles if a notarization or official seal on the original document is enough. But that may be a secondary concern at this point.

If the documents were issued by the issuing authority (for example, you ordered the birth certificate from the agency responsible for issuing birth certificates) and each document contains the required information and an official seal, there is no need to get any separate apostilles. You need apostilles only in certain cases where the documentation needs to be separately verified.

Andreea is needlessly cautious and is costing herself and others unnecessary money and time. None of the regulars here are interested in telling you anything that is a questionable or unproven shortcut.

Edited April 17, 2013 by speedwell

[pushbrk 12,966]

Thanks for the replies. My wife tells me she could get an apostille or have them notarized. She believes notarization is not enough. As I read the state dept info, it remains less than a closed case argument for her.

Being not exactly young and having made plenty of mistakes to learn from, I think it wise to have her do what makes her feel more secure. I ask because I don't want her to spend this money for the apostilles if a notarization or official seal on the original document is enough. But that may be a secondary concern at this point.

Why do you think you need either one? Get the actual document from the issuing authority. Even translations of Russian documents can be done and certified by any person capable of doing so.

[Darnell 8,478]

Brc I vote for 'no apostille needed' unless you have specific instructions from the IV Unit at the Consulate/Embassy where she is to interview.

Not get specific instructions, you say? You find anything on their IV website about it? Seriously - go take a look.

[Brc 14]

Ok, I got it. And yes, I've looked at all these documents, but not recently. In my lame excuse of a reason for the confusion, Ive just been working too many hours lately. Which is exactly why I joined this forum- because being a single parent and working like I do means relying upon others to set me straight from time to time. It's the translations that must be notarized, per the embassy instructions. Got it.

So thanks - I printed the embassy IV instructions. Good to go. And money saved. I appreciate the help.

[speedwell 224]

Ok, I got it. And yes, I've looked at all these documents, but not recently. In my lame excuse of a reason for the confusion, Ive just been working too many hours lately. Which is exactly why I joined this forum- because being a single parent and working like I do means relying upon others to set me straight from time to time. It's the translations that must be notarized, per the embassy instructions. Got it.

So thanks - I printed the embassy IV instructions. Good to go. And money saved. I appreciate the help.

Certified, not notarized. Don't pay a notary. Just have the person translating write out the certification.

[Brc 14]

Certified, not notarized. Don't pay a notary. Just have the person translating write out the certification.

I'm going with the word used in the embassy specific directions for the translation of the police certificate, which is notarized. That's in addition to the translator's certification. This one I'm not making up or confusing with something else I read. I've got it in front of me.

Thanks again.

[pushbrk 12,966]

I'm going with the word used in the embassy specific directions for the translation of the police certificate, which is notarized. That's in addition to the translator's certification. This one I'm not making up or confusing with something else I read. I've got it in front of me.

Thanks again.

You only translate a police certificate if it is not already in the local language for the location of the Consulate where the interview will take place. Are you talking about a police certificate from someplace other than Georgia?

[Brc 14]

You only translate a police certificate if it is not already in the local language for the location of the Consulate where the interview will take place. Are you talking about a police certificate from someplace other than Georgia?

Yes. Russia.

[Brc 14]

Furthermore, from the embassy instructions:

"Certified English translations must accompany all documents that are not in English. Translations must be certified by a competent translator and sworn before a Notary Public."

I've been through that before while in Georgia. They look at me like I'm crazy when I ask them to I include the statement about the translation being accurate and the translator competent. The response I get is- you're paying to have it notarized to that effect, why the statement too? I ask to be humored. We all roll our eyes about rep tape. .

[pushbrk 12,966]

Furthermore, from the embassy instructions:

"Certified English translations must accompany all documents that are not in English. Translations must be certified by a competent translator and sworn before a Notary Public."

I've been through that before while in Georgia. They look at me like I'm crazy when I ask them to I include the statement about the translation being accurate and the translator competent. The response I get is- you're paying to have it notarized to that effect, why the statement too? I ask to be humored. We all roll our eyes about rep tape. .

Can you provide a link to where you are reading this. I'm thinking it's out of context. That sounds like the exact instructions for filing an I-130, not submitting documents to NVC ....AFTER...the petition is approved.

Those are actually not the applicable instructions but you DO need the translation. Here's where to find the applicable instructions. http://georgia.usembassy.gov/iv-family.html which are... Please, note that the beneficiary will also be required to present a police certificate, with English language translation, from every country (except the U.S.) where the beneficiary has resided for more than six months since the age of 16. The certificate must be issued under all names ever used by the beneficiary.

Edited April 17, 2013 by pushbrk