US Department of State Apostille Processing Time During COVID-19

September 27, 2020 by

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
Email: WashingtonDC@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.

Filed Under: Apostille Tagged With: , , ,

US Embassy Apostille – US Federal Apostille

April 12, 2019 by

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, US Federal Tagged With: , , ,

US Department of Justice Apostille

December 29, 2018 by

Do you need to apostille certified documents issued from a U.S. Federal Court (District Court)?

Documents originating from a US Federal Court (District Court) must first be certified through the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. before an apostille can be attached through the U.S. Department of State.  The U.S. Department of State is also located in Washington, D.C.

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.

In order to certify documents issued from a U.S. Federal Court (District Court) you will need to obtain certified copies signed and stamped by the Clerk of the Court.

Have you changed your name in the USA and need to file your Petition for Name Change in another country?  Do you have certified copies of documents issued from a U.S. Federal Court (Example: Bankruptcy, Subpoena, Judgement)?  Documents issued from a U.S. Federal Court (District Court) must first be certified through the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. before they can presented to the U.S. Department of State for the apostille (two step process).

Here is an example of a U.S. Department of Justice certificate authenticating a document from a U.S. Federal Court (District Court):

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, Legalization, US Federal Tagged With: , , ,

Washington DC Apostille

August 4, 2018 by

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
Email: WashingtonDC@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.

Filed Under: Apostille, US Federal Tagged With: , , , , ,

District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) Apostille

May 6, 2016 by

District of Columbia ApostilleDo you need your U.S. Federal Government documents authenticated through the District of Columbia or the US Department of State?  We can apostille, certify, legalize, and attest your documents through the US Federal Government and all Embassy offices located in the District.

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

Our processing time through the Secretary of DC is 1-2 business days and the US Department of State is four business days.  We recommend that you mail in your documents by FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS priority mail.

Common US Government documents we apostille are:

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 (FBI Apostille)
– U.S. Federal Court Documents
– U.S. Bankruptcy Court
– Petition for Name Change from a US District Court (Federal)

US Department of Treasury – USDH
– 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 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

National Archives and Records Administration – NARA

Here is a short video that explains the process…

Our Customer Service representatives are available Monday – Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions. 1-888-903-7446 or 1-202-897-4070.

International Apostille Services, Inc. is the leader in document apostille services in Washington, D.C. We process documents from all 50 U.S. States including documents issued by the U.S. Federal Government.

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, US Federal Tagged With: , , ,

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

February 20, 2016 by

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, US Federal Tagged With: , , , ,

Petition for Name Change Apostille – US District Court

September 24, 2015 by

US Department of State ApostilleDo you need an apostille on a Petition for Name Change from the US District Court?

A petition for name change requires two steps to be completed.  The document must first be authenticated through the Justice Department in Washington D.C. before the US Department of State will attach the apostille.  You must submit a certified copy issued by the US District Court.  A certified copy will contain an original signature and a raised seal.

The Department of Justice will authenticate your document with a red ribbon seal and signature (see example below).  This two step process is required in order to authenticate documents issued by the U.S. District Court (Federal Court).

Please note that documents issued by the U.S. District Court (Federal) is not the same as documents issued by the State court.  State court documents can be apostilled from the State that issued the documents.  Documents issued from the U.S. District Court (Federal) can only be authenticated by the Justice Department and receive the apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Common documents we receive from the U.S. Department of Justice are:

  • Petition for Name Change
  • Bankruptcy Documents
  • U.S. Federal Court Documents
  • U.S. District Court Documents
  • United States Supreme Court

Here is an example of a petition for name change:

Petition for Name Change Apostille
Here is an example of the authentication letter issued by the Justice Department:

United State Department of Justice Apostille Example

International Apostille Services, Inc. is the leader in document authentication services. We process documents from all 50 U.S. States including documents issued by the U.S. Federal Government.

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, Uncategorized, US Federal Tagged With: ,

IRS Form 6166 Apostille

July 9, 2015 by

How to ApostilleAre you planning to conduct business outside the United States?  IRS Form 6166 is a letter printed on U.S. Department of Treasury stationary that certifies that a person or company is a United States resident for purposes of income tax laws of the United States.  This form is used to claim income tax treaty benefits and certain other tax benefits in foreign countries.  Form 6166 is also used to claim exemption from a VAT (Value Added Tax) imposed by a foreign country.

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 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.

In order to obtain an apostille on Form 6166, you must first obtain this document by completing form 8802.  Once you have 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.

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, US Federal Tagged With: , ,

US District Court Apostille

March 14, 2015 by

Do you need an apostille on a document issued form the United States District Court?

The United States District Courts are the trial courts of the U.S. Federal Court system.  Authenticating documents issued by the Federal Courts is a two-step process. The documents must first be authenticated by the Justice Department before the documents can be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.

Here is an example of the authentication letter issued by the U.S. Justice Department prior to being eligible for an Apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Documents issued by the U.S. District Court must be certified documents.  A certified document will typically have an embossed seal, a stamped seal of the U.S. District Court, signature of the Deputy Clerk, and the date the document was certified.

If your documents are not a certified copy, you must contact the District Court and obtain a certified copy.  We can only help you with documents mailed into our Washington, D.C. office.  We do not have access to obtain certified documents on you behalf.

Common documents we receive from the U.S. Department of Justice are:

  • Petition for Name Change
  • Bankruptcy Documents
  • U.S. Federal Court Documents
  • *FBI Background Checks

*To request an FBI Background check, we recommend that you contact an FBI Approved Channeler. FBI background checks do not require Justice Department authentication prior to being apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

We can also authenticate documents issued from the:

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Social Security Administration
  • Office of Personal Management

Document issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia will be authenticated through the Secretary of the District of Columbia.  Washington DC Apostille

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.

Filed Under: Apostille, Uncategorized, US Federal Tagged With: , , ,