【海牙/使馆】USA美国文件领事认证/海牙认证/双认证/使馆认证(Authentications and Apostilles)

 

美国的海牙认证及领事认证

如果美国文件用于海牙组织成员国,则只需要做一份海牙认证即可。海牙认证后的文件可以在任何海牙国家使用。哪个国家的文件就在哪个国家做海牙认证,比如美国的就在美国做。如果文件用于非海牙国家,则需要做使馆认证。用于2个非海牙国家,就需要做每个国家的使馆认证。

美国是海牙组织国家,如果美国的文件用于海牙组织成员,则只需做一份海牙认证即可在海牙组织成员国家使用;如果文件用于非海牙组织国家,比如中国,则需要做使馆认证。比如用于中国,则做中国驻美国大使馆的认证(当然,中国使馆认证之前,要完成美国的前期认证工作)

海牙认证或使馆认证,仅对签名和签章进行鉴定,不对文件的真实性进行认证。比如有一些机构(比如文凭工厂)签发的学历文件,是可以通过公证员的公证的,但是这是虚假学历。

The official list can be found at The HagueConference on Private International Law's website: 截止到2024年,有组织成员如下(其中中国是中国大陆、中国香港和澳门)。
http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=41

 

一、Apostille(海牙认证)

如果美国文件用于海牙组织成员国,则只需要做一份海牙认证即可。海牙认证后的文件可以在任何海牙国家使用。哪个国家的文件就在哪个国家做海牙认证,比如美国的就在美国做。如果文件用于非海牙国家,则需要做使馆认证。用于2个非海牙国家,就需要做每个国家的使馆认证。

海牙认证鉴定比如出生证明、法院指令等公共部门签发的文件的章和官员签名是真实的,以便他们可以被海牙公约组织成员国认可。美国是海牙公约组织成员国,美国海牙认证由美国国务院签发(The U.S. Department of State)。 

(一)美国联邦政府签发的海牙文件(U.S.Department of State-Issued Apostille:  U.S.Department of State是美国国务院;):

在1961年《海牙公约》成员国中使用的美国联邦政府签发的文件,可能需要由美国国务院签发海牙认证书进行认证(be authenticated with an apostille)。由以下官员签署的文件需要美国国务院做海牙认证:

(1)美国联邦官员-;

(2)美国领事官员;

(3)军事公证人、军事审判员或在美国国务院礼宾办公室注册的外国领事外交官员;

 注意:所有认证证书必须包括机构官员的清晰签名(姓名+职务)和机构签章。

(二)美国州政府签发的海牙文件(State-issuedapostille)

在1961年《海牙公约》成员国中使用的州政府签发的文件,必须经过该州主管机构认证(State-issued apostille)。美国州政府签发的用于海牙成员国使用的海牙文件,不再需要美国国务院、或者美国海外使馆/领事馆的再次认证。美国国务院不会为州政府签发的文件做海牙认证。州政府签发的文件,不是用于海牙成员国的,可能需要美国国务院的认证证书(authentication certificate )

Note:该办公室签发海牙认证文件和认证书文件。认证文件包括个人、机构及政府部门的文件。这些用于国外的文件包括:

company by laws(公司章程)

powers of attorney(委托书)

trademarks(商标)

diplomas(学历文件)-

treaties(条约)

warrants(认股权证?)

extraditions(引渡)

agreements(协议书)

certificates of good standing(公司存续证明)

courier letters()

 

二、Authentication of Documents(领事认证)

美国是海牙组织国家,如果美国的文件用于118个海牙组织国家,则只需做一份海牙认证即可在118个海牙组织国家使用;如果文件用于非海牙组织国家,比如中国,则需要做使馆认证。比如用于中国,则做中国驻美国大使馆的认证(当然,中国使馆认证之前,要完成美国的前期认证工作)

(一)Authentication Certificate领事认证证书申请要求-

(1)所有的章和签名都是原始的,且都按时间顺序排列(all the dates must follow inchronological order);

(2)所有外国语言文件都必须有公证的英语翻译;

(二)Authentication Certificate领事认证文件类型

(1)州和地方文件(state and localdocuments)-

–出生证明Birth Certificates 

 –结婚证Marriage Certificates 

–死亡证明Death Certificates 

–离婚判决Divorce Decrees  

 –遗嘱Probate Wills 

 –判决书Judgments 

原始文件或认证文件需要法院或机构的钢印或盖章,有 Secretary of State签发。

(2)联邦政府签发的文件(Federally-Issued Documents)-

-动物/植物认证Animal/PlantCertifications (issued by U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA)

-动物健康证明Animal Healthcertifications (issued by USDA)

-FBI背景调查FBI – Backgroundcheck (issued by U.S. Department of Justice, or DoJ)

-美国法院文件U.S. FederalCourt Documents check (issued by DoJ)

-美国破产法院文件U.S.Bankruptcy Court check (issued by DoJ)

-移民证明ImmigrationCertifications (issued by U.S. Department of Homeland Security)

-外国政府证明Certificate ofForeign Governments (issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, orHHS)

-药物出口证明Certificate ofPharmaceutical/Export (issued by HHS)

-商标Trademark (Issuedby U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)

-其他环境保护机构、社会安全管理机构、个人事务管理机构的文件Other documents issued by Environmental Protection Agency, SocialSecurity Administration, or Office of Personnel Management

(3)哥伦比亚高级法院和上诉法院的文件(Documents issued bythe District of Columbia Superior Court and Court of Appeals)-

-结婚证书

(4)其他文件(other documents)

 -宣誓书Affidavits 

-协议Agreements 

-公司章程Articles of Incorporation 

-公司章程细则Bylaws 

-商业票据Commercial Invoices 

-美国护照复印件Copy of a U.S.Passport (identification page only)

-契约文书Deeds of Assignment

-学历文件Diplomas 

-审查文件Home Study (?)

-收入证明Income Verification 

-委托书Powers-of-Attorney 

-未婚证明Single Status 

-成绩单Transcripts 

-其他商业文件Other business documents

 

三、Notarial and Authentication Services of U.S. Consular Officers Abroad(公证和领事认证服务)相关问题-:

1.怎么在美国海外得到一份文件公证(document notarized)?

美国使馆或领事馆可以提供类似国内公证处相关的服务。也可以对外国公证员的公证的文件进行认证,用于美国境内使用。海牙认证就是一个简化过程。

2.领事公证和认证服务的费用?

每份公证notarial service 50美元;每份领事认证authentication service是50美元。

3. what is authentication?

领事认证绝不能证明文件内容的真实性,而只能证明发行机构的印章和签名。

4.What are some examples of notarial/authentication acts?

Acknowledgment(承认)、Oath(宣誓)、Affirmation(主张)、Affidavit(宣誓书)、Attestation(证明)、Corporate Acknowledgment.

5关于美国学历文件的海外使用:Authentication of AmericanAcademic Credentials for Use Abroad

美国使馆或领事馆,不能对学历或其他从美国学校出具的文件进行认证或提供相关学历公证服务。但是,In an effort to be of assistance to persons whowish to present academic credentials from the United States for use abroad, the following step-by-step guidance is provided.

6.Bogus Credentials(虚假学历)

海牙认证或使馆认证,仅对签名和签章进行鉴定,不对文件的真实性进行认证。有些个人或团体会签发收费的虚假学历证书(比如“Diploma Mills”文凭工厂签发的),法律上它可以通过公证员的公证,提醒注意。对于美国的学历证书,美国教育部维护着一个经过认可的高等教育机构和计划的数据库。

 

四、相关链接:

USA海牙认证及使馆认证官方网址:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/apostille-requirements.html    

Authentication Services Office(领事认证地址及邮寄地址、DS-4194表格)

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/office-of-authentications.html

The official list can be found at The HagueConference on Private International Law's website: 
http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=41

 

五、其他说明:

What is the difference between a federal apostille and an apostille issued by the DC Secretary of State?
 
The difference is in the document that needs to be apostilled. In case of federal documents (documents issued by federal agencies, e.g. FBI, IRS, USDA, DOJ, SSA, FAA, USPTO, etc., federal apostilles are required. If your documents originate from DC (for example a DC birth certificate, or a power of attorney notarized by a DC notary, a copy of a diploma notarized by a DC notary, articles of incorporation certified by DC DC Secretary of State), then it will require a DC apostille.

 

What do federal apostilles look like?
 
A federal apostille, as apostilles in all states of the United States of America, is a separate page attached to the document. It is attached to the document by a grommet in the upper left corner. As required by the Hague Apostille convention, each apostille has the title "Apostille", the reference to the Hague Convention, and the following ten items: (1) country where the apostille is being issued ("United States of America"); (2) name of the official (whose signature is being certified by an apostille); (3) the position or capacity of this official (4) name of the seal on the attached document, (5) name of the city where the apostille is being issued ("Washington DC"); (6) the date when the apostille is being issued; (7) position of the official person who signed the apostille ("Assistant Authentication Officer"; (8) consecutive number of the apostille"; (9) the seal of the apostille issuing agency (the Seal of the U.S. State Department); (10) signature.

 

美国无犯罪证明:

包含联邦FBI需要指纹的无犯罪证明和各州的无指纹要求的无犯罪证明。

 

美国各州的无犯罪记录证明(不需要指纹)

New York State "No Criminal Record Letter" 
 

JANUARY 10, 2020

 The most comprehensive way to conduct a New York criminal record search is through the New York State Office of Court Administration ("OCA"). The OCA covers all 62 counties in New York State dating back to at least 1993 (the counties vary as to how far back they search) and includes all town and village records as of 2007. 

The best thing about the OCA "No Criminal Record Letter" is that no fingerprints are required. The search is based on the exact name and date of birth.

In addition to the computer printout stating your name, date of birth, and the phrase "No record found", the OCA issues a letter signed by the OCA Court Analyst of the Criminal History Record Search Program. This letter is issued on the letterhead of the Unified Court System of New York State, and reads as follows:

[ Date ]
To Whom It May Concern,
The NYS Office of Court Administartion's Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) report identified by Job # [ request number ] confirms that there is no criminal record in our database matching the exact name and date of birth of [ name ] with a date of birth of [ date of birth ]
Sincerely,
[ signature ]
[ name of Court Analyst ]
Court Analyst
Criminal History Record Search Program
The information provided through the New York State Office of Court Administration only involves state level matters. If the country of intended use requires a federal background check, you will need to get an FBI background check. This is a federal document which will require an apostille form Washington DC.

New York criminal record: price, processing time, order form
Criminal record with a Hague apostille: $295 (FedEx within the U.S. is included).Processing time: 3-4 bus. days.

 

How to get your criminal background check from the FBI?
The FBI offers two methods for requesting your Criminal background check (also called Identity History Summary Check).

Option 1: Submit your request directly to the FBI (external link).

Option 2: Submit to an FBI-approved Channeler (external link) which is a private business that has contracted with the FBI to receive the fingerprint submission and relevant data, collect the associated fee(s), electronically forward the fingerprint submission with the necessary information to the FBI CJIS Division for a national Identity History Summary check, and receive the electronic summary check result for dissemination to the individual.  

An FBI-approved Channeler may only process requests for a U.S. person (an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.). A lawful permanent resident is any person not a citizen of the U.S. who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant (also known “Permanent Resident Alien,” “Resident Alien Permit Holder,” and “Green Card Holder”).

 

FBI apostille guidelines


Original FBI background checks are acceptable for FBI apostilles

PDF files (digital copy sent by email) of FBI background checks are acceptable for FBI apostilles

Some countries a require that your FBI background check and an apostille are issued within the last 90 days.