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Georgia Apostille, Authentication & Embassy Legalization Experts in Atlanta

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Hague Conference and NNA Collaborate on Electronic Apostille Program

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The Hague Conference on Private International Law is partnering with the National Notary Association (NNA) to introduce the Electronic Apostille Pilot Program (e-APP).  The program is intended as a solution to reduce document fraud and business costs by streamlining business and fortifying security.

Apostilles are used all over the world for a variety of documents, including powers of attorney, contracts, and international adoptions. The apostille provides a “seal of approval” from the issuing country that all participating members can trust as accurate and authentic.

The e-APP offers a standardized, secure format for authenticating documents and relies on a paperless process. More than 90 states are currently participating in the e-APP program. The United States alone issues about 1,000,000 apostilles each year and is expected to do so with even more speed and security thanks to the e-APP.

The e-APP will save US residents both time and money by reducing the number of documents that are rejected by foreign countries, simplifying the process of using documents overseas.

Are We There Yet? Travelling Internationally With Children

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Apostille children travelTravelling abroad with children can get complicated because governments want to do their best to prevent parents from taking their children out of the country and not coming back, which is also known as international child abduction.

If you are vacationing with your children out of the country and are married, some countries (such as Mexico), may require you to obtain your spouse’s permission in order to take your children out of the country without him/her. If you are divorced this is not necessary, although you will need to produce a certified copy of your custody order in order to travel to and from Mexico.

Be aware that certain countries, such as Australia, Canada, Israel, Lebanon, and Mexico, will not admit children travelling without parents or with only one parent unless they have notarized permission from the absent parent(s) to do so.

If you are travelling with your children to one of the aforementioned countries, you will need to have your custody order certified with an apostille.  Atlanta Apostille will help you get the certification you need quickly and efficiently so you can travel without delay or worry.

Russia’s Price on Higher Education

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Russia apostilleAlthough many Americans complain about the price of higher education, in Russia the price tag for an advanced degree (Master’s, Ph.D., etc.) runs around $40,000—literally. Russian citizens have been purchasing fake diplomas for years with little to no consequences.

With the penalty for knowingly buying a fake diploma being a maximum $2600 fines and two years of “correctional labor,” coupled with the fact that employers seldom check the authenticity applicant’s diplomas, it is unlikely the fraud will cease anytime soon.

What’s more, companies that do try to verify candidates’ diplomas are often turned down because the information is “confidential.” Ironically, though, foreigners who apply for Russian work permits are required to produce apostilles that prove the authenticity of their diplomas.

Although the Russian government has promised for years to set up a database where employers could validate diplomas, little moves have been made to actually get the project off the ground.  Unfortunately it seems the government is not concerned with how academic plagiarism has corrupted the education system and devalued the work of honest students.

With no immediate solutions on the horizon, the question remains: how will Russia be able to continue to modernize while so many leaders of industry—such as managers, engineers, economists, doctors, lawyers, bureaucrats, and politicians—hold fake credentials?

Oman Joins the Hague Apostille Convention

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OmanCitizens of several countries planning to move to Oman will see a change in document certification regulations.

These changes are a result of Oman joining the Hague Apostille Convention in late January.  Under the convention, official documents issued in Oman can now be certified, or apostilled, for legal use in all other participating countries.

This news benefits the large South Asian expatriate community in Oman that is now able to use Indian documents more easily.

Those planning to come to Oman on work visas should expect changes in document attestation, according to the Indian Embassy.

Apostille (Apostilla), Visas, and Relocating to Mexico

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Mexican flagIf you are relocating to Mexico, you will have to obtain a visa, which means that you will have to submit a lot of paperwork.  Each visa is company and position specific, and be sure to apply as far in advance as possible, since it can take months to apply for a visa.

However, having your visa approved is not the end of the paperwork. Whether you need to renew your visa, rent a house, or buy a car, you will be asked to produce various documents, such as your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and passport.  For this reason, it would be a good idea to have all of your official documents certified with an apostille (apostilla), translated, and notarized before you leave the country. This will ensure that your documents will be accepted by the Mexican embassy.  Fortunately, Atlanta Apostille can obtain the necessary certification and notarization for your documents and have them back to you within 24 hours, so you do not have to delay your move.