Apostilles.us

Apostilles.us: U.S. document apostilles for international use

Apostilles.us is a private, independent apostille service for documents issued in the United States. The company processes document certification with state and federal authorities so they can be used in countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. Its catalog covers personal, academic, corporate, and background check documents, and combines document review, notarization coordination, and tracked shipping.

How the process works

The procedure is divided into three steps. The client uploads a scanned copy of their document to a secure portal; the team reviews it to verify eligibility and accuracy before proceeding. Then the company prepares the certification package, coordinates notarization when necessary, and manages communications with the authorities. Finally, the completed apostille is shipped to the client or their recipient with tracking, both domestically and internationally. The company states that document review is free with every order and that most orders begin processing the same business day.

Available services

In addition to the apostille process itself, Apostilles.us offers complementary services:

• Apostille of documents: certification of U.S. documents for use in any Hague Convention country, including birth certificates, diplomas, FBI background checks, and corporate documents.
• Certified translation: USCIS-accepted translation with notarization, ready for apostille or direct use abroad.
• Document retrieval: the company obtains certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other vital records on behalf of the client.
• Original document apostille: service for cases where the destination authority requires the physical original document.
• Embassy legalization: for countries that are not members of the Hague Convention.
• Remote online notary and mobile notary: add-ons for documents that require prior notarization.

Turnaround times and pricing

The published catalog organizes the service into three tiers based on speed. The Economy Standard tier, with a turnaround of 4 to 6 business days, costs $149 per document. The Standard Priority tier, 2 to 3 business days, costs $197. The Priority Express tier, with processing in 1 business day, costs $249. All tiers include document review and tracked shipping, and the order can be started with a digital scan. Federal apostilles, meanwhile, require 6 to 14 business days and cannot be expedited.

Document types and clients

The company processes most documents issued in the United States. The most common include birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, diplomas and transcripts, FBI background checks, powers of attorney, and corporate documents. It serves individuals and families who need to use personal documents abroad, businesses and corporations processing articles of incorporation, powers of attorney, and other corporate documents, and attorneys and immigration professionals handling apostilles for their clients, with volume processing, priority service, and client billing.

Scope and coverage

The service covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with same-day processing available. The apostilles issued are accepted in more than 120 member countries of the Hague Convention, including most countries in Europe and South America and many in Asia and Africa. For destinations that are not part of the convention, the company offers embassy legalization as an alternative.

Notarization and original documents

In most cases, it is not necessary to send the original document. The client uploads a clear color scan; a U.S.-licensed notary public certifies that the printed copy is a true copy of the original, and the Secretary of State issues the apostille on that certified copy. The apostille authenticates the notary's seal and signature, which is what the Hague Convention recognizes. This method prevents the original from leaving the client's hands and reduces turnaround times compared to postal mailing. Only when the destination country's authority expressly requires the original document is the original document apostille service used.

Public and private documents

Public documents, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas and transcripts from accredited institutions, FBI checks, and certified corporate documents, are issued by a government agency or registry and can be apostilled directly without additional notarization. Private documents with a signature block, such as powers of attorney, affidavits, or contracts, do require prior notarization, since the apostille is issued on the notary's certification and not on the document itself. For these cases, the company offers remote online notary and mobile notary add-ons.

Reviews and service guarantees

The company states that 95% of its Trustpilot reviews are five stars, and reproduces client testimonials highlighting the speed of processing, adherence to deadlines, and the service received. The site indicates that it uses 256-bit SSL encryption and that the prior document review allows issues to be detected before starting the process to avoid rejections. Apostilles.us presents itself as a private, independent document service provider, unaffiliated with official agencies.