Overview

Doing business internationally requires extra effort. Documents need to be Apostilled or authenticated. Jurisdiction issues can arise, as can unique foreign consulate and/or language requirements.

Some countries even have policies that they will not authenticate documents that contain certain words or phrases. Consular and embassy officials have been known to reject documents and provide little or no explanation.

All American Document Services has seen it all, and that’s why we can streamline the entire process. We ensure that your corporate documents are prepared in a professional manner and that they are formatted and submitted correctly the first time.

We can expedite authentication or Apostille process even further with rapid and secure document retrieval and courier services.

Documents Certified For International Use

Below are common documents that may require an apostille or certification.

Personal Documents

• Marriage Licenses, Name Change Affidavit, Marriage Certificates
• Birth Certificates, Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Divorce Decree, Divorce Agreements
• Death Certificates
• Court Documents, Sworn Statements, Affidavits
• Criminal Record, Local Police, FBI Criminal Background Check, Sheriff’s Department Criminal Background Check, Police Report
• Single Status to Marry Affidavit, No Record of a Marriage
• Power of Attorney (General or Specific)
• School Transcripts and Graduation Records (High School, College, and University)
• Residency Certificates issued by the IRS (form 6166), Social Security Administration Letters
• School Diploma, Academic Credentials, Degree Certificates, Teacher Credentials
• U.S. Department of Justice Document, U.S. District Court Document
• Certificate of Naturalization

Corporate Documents

• Articles of Organization, Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Incorporation
• Corporate Resolution, Bylaws, Certificates of Amendment, Corporate Forms
• Letters of Good Standing, Business Licenses and Permits, Certificate of Good Standing
• Authorization letter for Company-related Matters, Bank, Office, and Finance
• Power of Attorney (General or Specific), Authorization of Agent
• Merger Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreement in Foreign Companies, Joint Venture Agreements
• Certificate of Incumbency
• Business License and Permit
• Business Letter of Invitation

Apostilles

An apostille is a certification that allows a government office to recognize a document for use in a foreign country without certification from either the US State Department or the country’s embassy or consulate. Apostilles are authorized under Convention 12 of the Hague, and are only an option for countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

To open a bank account or engage in other business transactions in these countries, U.S. companies must provide an apostilled copy of your articles of incorporation or formation. Individuals getting work or student visas in other countries also must have their background checks or other documents apostilled.

Documents In Non-Hague Convention Countries

Validating documents for countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention can be difficult and time-consuming. It may take several steps depending on the target country. All American Document Services will expedite the process by retrieving all the necessary information and forms. We provide services to corporations, law firms, U.S. citizens, and foreign nationals on all documents that will be used in foreign countries.

Authentication

Authentication is a process by which the US State Department certifies the seal or signature of another US government agency (such as a secretary of state office) on a document for use in a foreign country.

Certified Copies

Companies looking to do business in a non-Hague Convention country may demand a Certified Copy of a document and a gold seal.

Legalization

Signatures and seals of US government agencies must be certified by the foreign embassy or consulate of the target country – a process called legalization.

Document Retrieval And Courier Services

All American Document Services is happy to process, retrieve, and deliver any document to you or one of your clients, expediting your foreign venture.