US Department of State Apostille Processing Time During COVID-19

Do you need to apostille your documents through the US Department of State – Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.?

Note: For the most up-to-date processing time, please visit and bookmark the following link: Apostille Processing Time

An apostille is a certificate issued by the US Department of State which authenticates the official who has signed your U.S. Federal documents. Since 1980, the United States has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

What was once a four-business day turn around to obtain a U.S. Department of State Apostille has now increased to an unheard of 8-12 weeks with no indication that the processing time will subside this year. Since March 20, 2020, the US Department of State – Office of Authentications has closed their in-person counter service thus eliminating the quick turn-around time most people and businesses have been accustomed to.

We can estimate that the U.S. Department of State will not reopen their in-person counter service until February 2021. We believe the delays are because of the ongoing health risks related to COVID-19, limited staff, potential delays in DC in the coming months, and the upcoming 2020 Presidential election.

The US Department of State requires all documents submitted to also include Form DS-4194. If you have questions on how to complete Form DS-4194, please contact our Washington DC apostille office.

Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-888-810-4054
EmailWashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com

Our order forms are currently being updated.  Please email or call us for the most up to date information.

Download our order forms:
Washington DC Apostille Order Form (PDF Format)
Washington DC Apostille Credit Card Authorization Form (PDF Format)

We also recommend that you download the following forms:
Schedule of State of U.S. Federal Fees (PDF Format)
Schedule of Embassy and Consulate Fees (PDF Format)
State Jurisdiction Forms (PDF Format)
Translation Request Form (PDF Format)

The most common document we apostille through the US Department of State is the FBI background check.  If you need to apostille your FBI background check, a good rule of thumb is to obtain a recent copy and immediately overnight or e-mail it to our office for processing. We can apostille a digital FBI background check in a PDF format or the hardcopy. Most countries will accept a background check issued within the past 90 days with an apostille. Please double check with your contact in the foreign country. We have also learned that the Consulates of Spain and Italy have been flexible in dealing with the delay of obtaining an apostille on the background check.

Here is a list of the most common documents we apostille through the US Department of State: FBI background checks, Social Security Income and Benefits Statement (SSA), US Patent and Trademark documents (USPTO), IRS Form 6166, Certificate of Free Sale (FDA), Certificate to Foreign Government (FDA), Certificate of Naturalization, and documents from the USDA and USCIS.

Obtaining an apostille can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

US Embassy Apostille – US Federal Apostille

Are you in a foreign country and need to visit the local U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office to apostille your documents?

The most common documents we process from a U.S. Embassy and for another country:

  • Single Status Affidavit
  • Notarized Documents
  • Assisting in FBI Background Checks

A U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office located outside of the USA can assist you with notarizing your documents but they are unable to assist you in obtaining an apostille. For example, you can visit the local U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office to sign and notarize your documents with a U.S. Federal notary public. They can also assist you in creating a single status affidavit if you are planning to get married in the country you are in.

At some U.S. Embassies, the staff can also assist you with obtaining an FBI background check apostille. They can help you roll your fingerprints for the FBI Channeler or the FBI directly.

Remember, a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate does not issue apostilles. The apostille will be issued through the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentication in Washington, D.C. and for a country other than the USA.  Our office in Washington DC can apostille your documents in four business days.  We also provide FedEx/UPS overnight return shipping at no additional cost.

For example, if you are a U.S. Citizen in Russia and need to sign and notarize documents for the Netherlands, you can visit the local U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office and have your documents signed and notarized there. Once notarized, you can mail in these original documents to our Washington DC apostille office so we can obtain the apostille.

In addition to obtaining apostilles from the U.S. Federal government, we can also obtain apostilles from all 50 US states. USA Apostille

For a list of U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates around the world, click here: US Embassy

Obtaining an apostille on your US Embassy notarized documents can be complicated and time consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

IRS Form 6166 Apostille – US Residency Certificate Apostille

Do you need an apostille on IRS Form 6166?

At National Apostille Inc., we take the guesswork out of getting an apostille on your IRS documents.  Our trained and knowledgeable staff are available Monday – Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

U.S. treaty partners require the IRS to certify that the company or person claiming treaty benefits is a resident of the United States for the federal tax purposes. The IRS provides this residency certification on Form 6166.  This letter is typically referred to U.S. Residency Certification.

Form 6166 is a letter printed on U.S. Department of Treasury stationary certifying that the company or person is a resident of the United States for purposes of income tax laws of the United States. You may use this form to claim income tax treaty benefits and certain other tax benefits in Hague Apostille Countries.

Here is an example of IRS Form 6166:

If you are planning to teach in a country who has a tax treaty with the United States, you can possibly avoid being taxed twice.  We recommend that you contact the IRS to know if the country has a tax treaty with the United States.

Many business set up representation in foreign countries in order to conduct business in that country.  If the country has a tax treaty with the United States, the individual or company must provide proof to the foreign government in order to qualify for the reduced tax rate.  Form 6166 is also used to claim exemption from a VAT (Value Added Tax) imposed by a foreign country.

Tax treaties may allow residents of foreign countries to be taxed at a reduced rate.  This helps prevent double taxation or a reduction in taxes owed.

In order to obtain an apostille on Form 6166, you must first obtain this document by completing form 8802.  It is estimated that you will receive this form in a few weeks from the IRS.  Once you have received the form printed on the Department of Treasury stationary, you can then mail-in this letter to our Washington, D.C. office for processing through the U.S. Department of State.  Our processing time is four business days and we do provide FedEx 1-2 day return service.

Obtaining an apostille on your documents can be complicated and time consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

 

FBI Apostille Washington DC

Do you need an apostille on your FBI background check?

Most countries will accept an FBI background check issued within the past three months.  If your background check is older than three months, please contact us for instructions on how to order a new copy.  Please note that FBI background checks can only be processed through our Washington DC apostille office. This document is a U.S. Federal document and cannot be notarized or processed through a Secretary of State office.

Have you already received your FBI background check?  Have you received a digital copy or a hard copy?  If you haven’t started the process of obtaining your background check, we recommend that you contact an approved FBI channeler.

FBI Channelers can issue a digital copy of your background check in a PDF Format and a hard copy. The digital copy can be e-mailed to you while the hard copy will be physically mailed to your address.   If you are in a foreign country, be sure to request a digital copy to save time and money.

Once you receive the digital copy in a PDF format, go ahead and e-mail it to WashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com with our completed Washington DC Apostille order forms.

If you decide to mail in your FBI background check, the address will be listed on the top right hand side of the order forms.

Processing time: 4 business days (US Department of State)
Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-888-810-4054
EmailWashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com

Our order forms are currently being updated.  Please email or call us for the most up to date information.

Download our order forms:
Washington DC Apostille Order Form (PDF Format)
Washington DC Apostille Credit Card Authorization Form (PDF Format)

We also recommend that you download the following forms:
Schedule of State of U.S. Federal Fees (PDF Format)
Schedule of Embassy and Consulate Fees (PDF Format)
State Jurisdiction Forms (PDF Format)
Translation Request Form (PDF Format)

As of March 2019, the current processing time is four business days.  This is the fastest processing time available. No service company can process faster than four business days.

Documents received at our Washington D.C. apostille office by 2pm are submitted the following business morning to the US Department of State.  Once complete, the documents are then shipped by FedEx priority overnight.  Our fees are all inclusive including the FedEx overnight return shipping.  If you require international shipping, please contact us for a quote.

Here are a few commonly asked questions….

Question: Who should I contact to obtain an FBI background check?
Answer: Please call us for a list of recommend FBI channelers.  Our office is open from 8am to 7pm Monday-Saturday.  Live chat is also available during these hours. Prefer to email? WashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com

Question: My FBI background check is older than three months, is that going to be a problem?
Answer: Yes, most countries will only accept a background check issued within the past three months.  Please double check with the country requesting your documents for specific instructions.

Question: Will I also need a State issued background check?
Answer: Some countries may request a State issued background check in addition to your FBI background check.  We have provided more information here: State Background Check Apostille

Question: What is the current processing time?
Answer: The current processing time is four business days plus FedEx overnight return shipping. We are the fastest service provider in Washington, D.C.

Question: Can you process a digital FBI background check in a PDF format?
Answer: Yes, we can.  Please email your FBI background check to WashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com with our completed order forms.  Be sure to include a password if one is required to open your PDF file.

Obtaining an apostille on your documents can be complicated and time consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Secretary of DC Apostille – District of Columbia Apostille

Do you need an apostille from the Secretary of DC located in the District of Columbia?

Documents originating from the District can be processed through our Washington, D.C. office.  Common documents we can apostille are birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage certificates, single status affidavit, diplomas, transcripts, and more!

Documents originating from the U.S. Federal Government (Example: FBI background checks, Social Security Income and Benefits Statement, Petition for Name Change, Certificate of Naturalization, etc…) can also be processed through our Washington DC office. Please note that your documents will receive an Apostille from the US Department of State – Office of Authentications.

At USA Apostille, Inc., we take the guesswork out of getting an apostille on your documents. Our trained and knowledgeable staff are available Monday – Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow step by step instructions.

Here is an example of an apostille issued from the District of Columbia:

Obtaining an apostille can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Washington DC Apostille

Do you need Washington DC Apostille Services?

At USA Apostille, Inc. we take the guesswork out of obtaining an apostille on your documents. Our trained and knowledgeable staff are available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

Secretary of D.C. – Documents originating from the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) are processed directly from the Secretary of D.C. office. Please note that your documents will receive an Apostille from the Secretary of D.C.

U.S. Department of State – Document issued from the U.S. Federal Government are processed through the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

Processing time: 1-2 business days through the Secretary of D.C. or
4 business days through the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. (Estimated)
Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-888-903-7446
EmailWashingtonDC@internationalapostille.com

We can process the following U.S. Federal documents:

US Department of Agriculture – USDA
– Animal/Plant Certifications
– Animal Health Certifications

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – FDA
– Certificate of Free Sale (Can also be issued by the local Chamber of Commerce or State office)
– Certificate of Origin (Can also be issued by the local Chamber of Commerce or State office)
– Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product – FDA

US Department of Health and Human Services – HHS
– Certificate to Foreign Governments
– Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product
– Certificate of Free Sale
– Certificate of Export

US Department of Justice – DOJ
– FBI Back ground check
– U.S. Federal Court Documents
– U.S. Bankruptcy Court
– Petition for Name Change

US Department of Treasury – TRE
– Certificate of Free Sale / Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – USPTO
– Trademark / Patent

U.S. Department of Homeland Security – DHS
– Certificate of Naturalization
– Certification of Documents – Form G-24
– Certification of Nonexistence of Record

Environmental Protection Agency – EPA

Social Security Administration – SSA
– Income and Benefits Letter

Office of Personnel Management – OPM

Internal Revenue Service – IRS
– Form 6166 Apostille
– Federal Tax Return Apostille
– W2 Forms

U.S. Department of Transportation – DOT

Federal Aviation Administration – FAA

National Archives and Records Administration – NARA

Apostilles can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDFClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

NATIONAL US ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN DC

National US Arab Chamber of CommerceDo you need to attest your Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice through the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce?

The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), established nearly 50 years ago, is America’s longest serving organization dedicated to U.S.-Arab business. NUSACC is widely regarded as the voice of American business in the 22 countries of the Arab world and the premier portal to the United States for Arab commercial enterprises.

NUSACC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that is registered under U.S. law as a 501-c-6 chamber of commerce.  The Chamber is an independent, membership-driven entity that receives no income from foreign governments.  NUSACC’s stakeholders include more than 25,000 companies, and the vast majority of these are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in the United States.

The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce is the ONLY business entity in the United States that is officially recognized and sanctioned by the League of Arab States and the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture.  As such, NUSACC is a “sister chamber” and partner to the national chambers of commerce throughout the Arab world.

Do you need your Certificate of Origin (C/O), Commercial Invoice (C/I), Packing Slip, or Bill of Lading certified and legalized?  Our office in Washington DC can attest your documents through the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce as fast as one business day.

To get started, please click on the country you will be exporting your products to:

Algeria Lebanon Sudan
Bahrain Libya Syria
Egypt Morocco Tunisia
Iran Oman UAE
Iraq Palestine Yemen
Jordan Qatar
Kuwait Saudi Arabia

 

Here is an example of the seal of the National U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce.
national-us-arab-chamber-of-commerce-seal

At USA Apostille, Inc., we take the guesswork out of legalizing your documents for the countries listed above.  Our trained and knowledgeable staff are available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow step-by-step instructions.  We provide expedited US legalization services ensuring that your documents will be completed quickly.

Visit the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC)

Certifying, attesting, and legalizing documents can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the authentication process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

US Department of State Apostille – Washington, D.C.

US Department of State ApostilleDo you need to apostille your documents through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.?

The U.S. Department of State issues an apostille or certificate on documents originating from the U.S. Federal Government.  These documents include:

  • FBI Background Check
  • FDA Documents
  • USDA Documents
  • Social Security Income and Benefits Statement
  • IRS Forms – 6166
  • Notarized documents from a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office
  • State certified documents for non-Hague Apostille countries
  • Certificate of Free Sale
  • US Patent and Tradmark Certificates
  • and more!

Here is a short video that explains the process…

Documents issued from the U.S. Federal Government can receive an apostille if the requesting country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

For example, if you need your FDA Certificate to Free Sale apostilled for Russia, your document will only require U.S. Department of State apostille service.  Also, please note that the U.S. Department of State cannot apostille State issued documents destined for Hague Apostille member countries.

Documents destined for countries who are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention will receive a certificate.  Documents destined for non-member countries will also require Embassy or Consulate legalization.  These countries include: Egypt, UAE, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, and more!

For example, if the country of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is requesting to have your FDA Certificate to Foreign Government certified and legalized, then your document will require US Department of State certification and UAE Embassy legalization.  If for example you need  to have your California marriage certificate certificate and legalized for the UAE, your document requires, California State certification, US Department of State certification, and UAE Embassy legalization.

Obtaining an apostille for a U.S. Federal Government document can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the Apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Certificate to Pharmaceutical Product FDA Apostille

FDA ApostilleDo you need an apostille on a Certificate to Pharmaceutical Product?

The United States Food and drug Administration (FDA) issues Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product certificates that can be used in other countries (apostille).  This certificate conforms to the format recommended by the World Health Organization.

Firms exporting products from the U.S. are often asked by foreign customers or foreign governments to supply a  certification relating to products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other acts the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers. Under the FDA Export Reform and Enhancement Act of 1996 (the Act), FDA is  authorized to issue certificates for drugs, animal drugs, and devices within 20 days of receipt of a request for such a certificate. A fee of up to $175 may be charged for each certificate issued. In addition to issuing export certificates for approved or licensed products, the FDA will also issue export certificates for unapproved products that meet the requirements of Sections 801(e) or 802 of the Act.

The “Certificate of a Pharmaceutical Product” conforms to the format established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is intended for use by the importing country when the product in question is under consideration for a product license that will authorize its importation and sale or for renewal, extension, amending or reviewing a license.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) of the United States of America (USA), attach different colored Ribbons to the CPP, which mark the content details. They differentiate between three different types of CPPs for:

Finished medicinal products that are legally marketable in the US authorized by the U.S FDA; A Red Ribbon will be affixed to all (regular) CPPs issued for authorized medicinal products;

Finished medicinal products which are not authorized by U.S. FDA but which may be legally exported; A Blue Ribbon will be affixed to CPPs issued only for export of an unapproved medicinal products; and a CPP for Foreign Manufacturer (products manufactured outside of the U.S.).

A Yellow Ribbon will be affixed to CPPs with foreign manufacturing sites outside of the USA. (Famulare & U.S. FDA, 2003)

Documents issued from the FDA can be processed through our Washington, D.C. office.  For immediate answers to your questions, please call us at 1-888-810-4054.

We can also apostille the following documents issued by the FDA:

Certificate to Foreign Government
Certificate of Exportability

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Form DS-4194 Office of Authentication

The U.S. Department of State issues both Apostilles and Certificates.  The determination of which certificate is issued is based on the destination country.  There are currently over 100 countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.  If the destination country is not a member, your documents will receive a certificate.

Our service takes the guesswork out of authenticating your documents.  If you have a document issued by the Federal Government, you can simply mail your certified document to our office in Washington, D.C. with our Order Form.  The processing time is 3 – 4 business days and please allow 1 – 2 business days for overnight shipping by UPS (No additional charge).  For international shipping, please contact us for a quote.

There is no need to fill-out Form DS-4194 when mailing your documents to our office.

Why Choose Us?

  • Fast 3-4 Day Service
  • 1-2 Day UPS Delivery (No Additional Fee)
  • International Shipping Available
  • Embassy Legalization (Washington, D.C. & Los Angeles Only)
  • Hand Drop-Off & Pick-Up
  • Friendly & Professional Service
  • Thousands of Documents Authenticated

We can process documents from the following U.S. Government agencies: USDA, FDA, HHS, DOJ, USPTO, EPA, SSA, and more!  The most common documents we receive are FBI Background Checks, Social Security Administration Income and Benefit Letters, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Diplomas, Certificate of Foreign Government, and Certificate of Free Sale.

If your documents require authentication by the State and the Federal Government, then most likely your documents are destined for a country which is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.  Most of these countries will also ask you to have your documents legalized at the Consulate or Embassy.  It’s important to know what documents are being requested by the destination country in order to avoid any delays.  Please Contact Us with any questions.  Thank you.

We can process documents from all 50 States including the U.S. Department of State,
the Secretary of the District of Columbia, and all Consul / Embassy offices in Washington, DC.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.