Have you ever heard of someone sending important papers off for an apostille only to have them sent back months later? It takes place more often than you think. Think about this: Someone finally gets their dream job overseas, works late into the night to gather all the paperwork, and then—bam! Turned down. Same paper, but the signature is wrong. People most often fall over this hole: notarization and approval that are wrong or missing. Click for more hints about this page!
Just to be clear, an apostille isn’t magic fairy dust that can fix all of your files. There are rules for your birth certificate, marriage certificate, degree, and power of attorney. You shouldn’t think that anyone in a suit can sign or stamp something. An apostille can only be used to verify legal documents. The question is, whose name is real? That’s where things get messy. For example, a registrar’s signature is generally found on state vital records. A random office official can’t affix an apostille to a birth certificate from the state. It’s almost like you dropped that in a well to make it work.
Another classic facepalm moment: papers that have been changed. Pages were missing, staples were changed, or, worse, white-out was used to “correct” typos. The people in charge don’t accept scribbles. They want papers that look like they were printed without any changes. If you don’t, they will give you a bunch of chances to send it again.
After that there’s end. Imagine paying a lot of money for translation only to find out that the notary’s license has expired. All that work? It goes down the drain. Before giving something over to be legalized, it’s a good idea to check the dates.
How do I fix it? Check again to make sure that the right person signed the paper. Find out which leaders in your state or country can fill out that kind of form. In case you’re not sure, you can call or visit the Secretary of State’s office. There’s no shame in giving them a quick call if the site looks like it was made in 1997.
It’s not rocket science, but being patient and interested will pay off. Last but not least, remember to scan everything you send. Having a backup will save you a lot of trouble if something gets lost (hey, mail service!). No matter how good you are at apostille, mistakes happen. Foresight helps you save time, money, and your sanity.