The university I applied to wants an apostille (legalization) of my diploma for my degree. I'm not sure how to acquire this apostille as I will not be returning to the United States anytime soon.
Presently I need to remain in my current country.
How do I acquire this? Can I get it at a foreign US embassy in the country I am residing in? Or is there a mail method and if so, how? Lastly, how long do you think it will take?
The US Departement of State website on educational credentials state :
Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad
U.S. embassies and consulates cannot authenticate diplomas or other documents from universities and other schools in the United States. If you want to present academic credentials from the United States for use abroad, follow the step-by-step guidance on this page for each type of school.
Colleges, Universities and Other Post-Secondary Institutions
- Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of the credentials. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public. Frequently the business offices of colleges and universities have notaries public.
- Take the document, with the notarial certificate to the state Notary Public Administrator for authentication. If the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix an Apostille certificate and no further authentication is necessary. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty. The treaty is in force many countries throughout the world.
- If the country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix a state authentication certificate. You should then send the document to the Authentications Office of the Department of State, following the instruction on that office’s web page.
- If necessary, obtain authentication of the U.S. Department of State seal at the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C. The embassy in Washington, DC of the country in which the document is to be used can tell you if this is required.
Primary and Secondary Schools
- Obtain a transcript from the school, the principal or other authorized official should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public.
- Take the document, with the notarial certificate to the state Notary Public Administrator for application of the state seal. If the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix an Apostille certificate and no further authentication is necessary. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty. The treaty is in force many countries throughout the world.
- If the country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix a state authentication certificate. You should then send the document to the Authentications Office of the Department of State, following the instruction on that office’s web page.
- If necessary, obtain authentication of the U.S. Department of State seal at the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C. The embassy in Washington, DC of the country in which the document is to be used can tell you if this is required.
It is extremely likely that you will need to know someone in the US that you can give power of attorney to for them to do the apostille with the notary public. Contacting the school that issued your degree might be helpful
