Apostille for US Issued Documents in Bangalore | US Apostille for Federal and State Documents
- UPDATED A MONTH AGO
Note: An apostille on a US issued document can be obtained from US only. No authority in India or anywhere else outside US is eligible to issue an apostille for a US document. Apostille service provider such as Secure Apostille Services can handle the complete process on behalf of you in US.
If you are a US citizen or a resident holding US issued documents currently living in Bangalore, you may need an apostille for making them valid in India. Whether it is for marriage, education, employment, immigration or OCI, understanding the apostille for US issued documents in the Bangalore process is crucial.
In this article, we will walk you through all the essential details about obtaining an apostille for US issued documents in Bangalore.
4 Simple steps to get US Apostille on your Documents
- Register on Apostille Portal
- Collect all Documents you want to Apostille
- Submit the Original / Photocopies of documents
- Receive Documents with Attestation Directly to your home
What is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated authority from a country on the backside of an original document to legalize those documents in another country. However, this document with an apostille is accepted as an authentic document only if both the issuing country and accepting country are Hague Convention on Apostille Countries.
Legalization before the Hague convention required an attestation from the embassy. However, with the commencement of Hague convention, an apostille from the designated authority of the document issued country is the only legalization requirement.
India joined Hague Convention in 2005. In India the ministry of external affairs is the authority responsible with issuing a certificate apostille. Similarly, the US is also a Hague country. Since, US is a federal democracy, unlike India, each of the 50 state governments can issue an apostille for state issued documents.
What are the US Documents that Usually Require an Apostille?
Birth Certificate
- Mostly required for US citizens born to Indians or people of Indian origins to apply for an OCI.
- It is also required for school or college admission of a US citizen in Bangalore.
Marriage certificates
- For registering spouse’s OCI application
- To apply for dependent visa
- Marriage registration in India when one person is Indian citizen
Educational Documents such as Degree and Transcripts
- Student visa to study in a college or university in Bangalore
- Applying to Indian universities for higher education after obtaining a lower degree from the US.
- Employment in Bangalore based on the educational qualification obtained from the US.
FBI Background Check
- Work visa or long term visa in India
- Immigration or residency procedures requiring Police Clearance
Power of Attorney
- Buying or selling property in India
- Managing legal affairs in India from US
- Representing someone in court or legal procedures
Situations Where Apostilled US Issued Documents Are Needed in Bangalore
| Situations | Common Documents that Require a US Apostille |
|---|---|
OCI (Overseas Citizenship) | Birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport copy |
Employment in India | Degree certificate, FBI check, experience letter |
Studying in India | Academic transcripts, diplomas, birth certificate |
Marriage Registration | Single status affidavit, passport copy, divorce decree |
Property Transactions | Power of attorney, ID proof, legal affidavits |
Visa / Immigration | FBI clearance, birth certificate, marriage certificate |
Child Admission / Guardianship | Birth certificate, adoption papers, passport copy |
Categories of US Issued Documents that Need an Apostle in Bangalore- Based on Issued Authority
If you are in Bangalore and need to get an apostille for US issued documents you need to first identify the type of document. There are two types of documents depending on the authority issuing the document. They are:
- Federal Document
- State Issued Document
Federal documents are issued by the Federal government and need to get an apostille from the US Department of State – Office of Authentications, located in Washington, D.C. However, State documents are issued by a specific state in the US and it needs to get an apostille from that particular state’s Secretary of State office.
List of Federal and State Issued Documents
| Federal Issued Documents | State Issued Documents |
|---|---|
FBI Background Check | Birth Certificate |
Social Security Administration Letters | Death Certificate |
Naturalization Certificate | Marriage Certificate |
USDA Documents | Divorce Decree |
FDA Certificates | State-Issued ID or Driver’s License Copies (if notarized) |
US Federal Court Documents | Educational Documents |
IRS Tax Documents | Notarized Documents such as Power of Attorney, Affidavits, Consent letters, Name change documents |
Certificates of Free Sale | Single Status Affidavit (notarized) |
Patent and Trademark Documents | Adoption Papers |
Military Service Records | Corporate Documents (if registered within the state) such as Articles of incorporation, Partnership agreements, Business licenses |
How to get an Apostille for US State Issued Documents in Bangalore?
State government issued documents such as birth certificates mentioned above will be issued by any one of the 50 states of the US. Apostille for those documents are provided by the secretary of the respective state. You can either get an apostille on original documents or photocopy through notarized attestation.
Apostille for US State Documents- On Original Documents
An apostille on original documents is a preferred method since its acceptance rate is higher. You need to submit the original documents to the office of the secretary of the state. The secretary will check the authenticity of the document with the vital record office of the state. Once verified the certificate number, the issuing registrar’s name and signature, the date of issue the secretary of the state will affix an apostille on the original document.
Apostille for US State Documents- On Photocopies of Original
Some of you may be hesitant to give your original documents. That is quite understandable. There is a provision to get an apostille on the photocopies. However, some countries may ask you to get an apostille on the original itself. If you are submitting it in India, make sure to check with the authorities in India to whom you are submitting the document about the acceptability of apostilled photocopy.
Below are the steps to get an apostille on photocopies of US state issued documents:
- Get notary attestation on the photocopy
- The notary completes a “Copy Certification by Document Custodian” form.
- Submit the document to the state secretary for apostille
How to get an Apostille for US Federal Issued Documents in Bangalore?
Federal documents as mentioned in the above table require to get an apostille from the The U.S. Department of State (USDOS). You need to submit the original document to get an apostille from the federal government. After the verification from the federal government you will get your documents with an apostille.
Follow the below instruction to get an Apostille for US issued documents in Bangalore:
- Register for Apostille
- Submit the original documents to Secure Apostille Services
- Get apostille from USDOS
- Get certificate apostille delivered to your doorstep
Estimated time to Get the Apostille on the US Document / Certificate in Bangalore?
Getting a US apostille in Bangalore may take around 20 days. However, if you are getting an apostille on the photocopy it will be received within 14 to 15 working days. However, depending on the following factors the time required to get an Apostille for US issued documents in Bangalore may vary:
- Whether it is a state or federal government issued document
- If a state issued documents, the state which issued the document. Some states may take more time compared to others.
- Courier time (you can choose express delivery service to expedite the delivery)
Navigating the documentation process while living across different countries can be time consuming and hectic tasks. Understanding the steps, requirements and going behind the process can be a difficult task. With the help of a Secure Apostille Services, you can sit back and relax. We will help you get an apostille for US issued documents in Bangalore.
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Frequently asked questions
Cost of a US apostille in Bangalore depends on:
- The state where the documents were issued
- Whether state or federal documents need an apostille
- Courier choice
- Apostille required for original or photocopy
- Normal or expedited process required
Yes. If your education is from the US and you need to use the certificates in India either for a job or for higher studies, you need to get an apostille from the respective US state secretary
No. The consulate of the US does not provide an apostille. All the documents should obtain an apostille either from the secretary of the respective state or US department of state. Since, US is a Hague apostille country, you need to get an apostille, not embassy attestation. Thus, there is no requirement for visiting the embassy or consulate for an apostille.
Yes. You can get your US documents apostilled while you are in Bangalore. Secure Apostille services can facilitate the entire process while you remain in Bangalore. Your physical presence is not required for obtaining an apostille from the US.
Secure apostille services will take care of entire logistics including sending documents, tracking and returning the documents with an apostille. You do not need to worry about it. We will keep you updated about the status of your documents.
Yes. Both India and the US are Hague Apostille countries. Thus, a US document with an apostille is a valid legal document in India.