The steps and verification procedures of the additional certificate of single status in the United States, **explained.
With the development of globalization, cross-border exchanges are becoming more and more frequent, and the demand for certification of various instruments is also increasing. In this context, the Hague Convention was created to simplify the process of legalization of international instruments. China has just officially implemented (November 7, 2023) the Convention to Abolish the Legalization Requirements for Foreign Public Documents, so the US documents that are also member states need to be used by China to obtain additional certificates required by the Hague Convention, commonly known as apostille.
What is a U.S. Additional Certificate?
An apostille is a notarized document that certifies that a public document in the United States has legal effect abroad. It is issued by the Secretary of State of the United States or his authorized representative to confirm that the document has undergone proper notarization and authentication procedures. Additional certificates are usually attached to notarized documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic certificates, etc.
How do I apply for a U.S. additional certificate?
Prepare scanned copies of U.S. legalized documents: First, you need to scan the U.S. documents that need to be apostilled and keep the electronic version.
Notarization by a U.S. Notary Public: The scanned copy is submitted to a notary public in the U.S., who notarizes the document to confirm its authenticity and integrity.
U.S. Secretary of State Certification: Submit the notarized document to the U.S. Secretary of State's office, who will certify the document and issue an additional certificate.
What are the methods for verifying additional certificates?
Depending on the requirements of the domestic authorities, you will also need to provide verification documents with additional certificates. There are several verification methods:
Scan the code for verification: Some countries have a verification code on the additional certificate, which can be directly scanned for verification, such as Singapore.
*Check and verify: For example, in California, the validity of the additional certificate can be checked through the official** of the U.S. Secretary of State's office.
*Verification: Verify the authenticity and validity of the additional certificate by calling the relevant department's **.