Apostille Procedures For Americans
As an American applying for a work visa in Korea, you must submit two (2) Apostille authenticated documents to the Korean Immigration Office. Your original FBI check plus the notarized copy of your university diploma (the physical certificate).
What is an Apostille?
1. FBI Background Checks
How to have your FBI Check Apostille Authenticated
All American’s MUST have their original FBI Check authenticated with an Apostille from the Department of State. There are no exceptions to this requirement and failing to authenticate your FBI check will result in a denied work visa with Korean Immigration.
IMPORTANT: Although some Secretary of State Offices (state level) will Apostille FBI background checks, the Korean Immigration Office requires Department of State (federal level) Apostille Authentication for this document.
IMPORTANT: The FBI does not Apostille background checks. Having your FBI check Apostille Authenticated is a separate step that must be completed after you’ve received your background check from the FBI.
Example Apostille from the US Department of State
See what your Apostille will actually look like
How to secure a US Department of State (DOS) Apostille for your FBI background check
OPTION A – Recommended Method [3-6 business days / $55 fee]: Use a private company that can expedite your DOS Apostille Authentication (for your FBI Check). Gone2Korea recommends using US Authentication Services because they’re fast and fairly priced. Note: Gone2Korea is not affiliated with US Authentication Services and we do not collect a fee for referring people to their services.
What you need to provide US Authentication Services with in order to get the Apostille for your FBI Check
- Your original FBI background check (must be the original, not a copy)
- A completed Service Order Form (all fields must be filled in)
- You can pay by credit card on the order form, or you can send a personal check or money order.
- A prepaid return address envelope, or a FEDEX, UPS or USPS return label.
Important: When you send your document package make sure to waive the signature requirement on the USPS, FEDEX, UPS or DHL shipping form.
Mailing Address
US Authentication Services
7015 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite 203
Springfield, VA 22150
Visit their website for step by step instructions for securing an Apostille for your FBI check.
OPTION B – Not Recommended [2-4 weeks]: The other way to have your check authenticated is by mailing your FBI check directly to the US Department of State. It’s a little cheaper to do it this way but we generally don’t recommend this option because of the lengthy processing timeline (up to a month) and additional paperwork that’s required.
US Federal Department of State Office Address
2201 C St NW, Washington, DC 20520, United States
Tel: 1-202-647-4000
Website: https://www.state.gov/
2. Notarized Copy of Diploma (Bachelors Degree Certificate)
How to get an Apostille for the notarized copy of your bachelors degree
American’s also need to have the notarized copy of their diploma’s Apostille authenticated. To be clear, having the copy of your diploma notarized by a lawyer (lawyer signs and stamps a photocopy of your diploma) is different than acquiring the Apostille Authentication – both steps are needed.
Unlike FBI checks that need to be Apostille Authenticated at the federal level by the Department of State, your diploma can be Apostilled at the state level by your Secretary of State Office (SOS).
FYI: You can use US Authentication Services (explained in the FBI check section above) to have your copy of degree Apostilled at the same time as your FBI check. However, it’s an additional $65 (most SOS offices will do it for under $30) and the timeline isn’t much different.
Here’s an example Secretary of State Apostille Authentication Certificate.
Getting your diploma certified is a two step process
- STEP 1: Before you can acquire the Apostille Authentication for your diploma you’ll need to have a copy of it notarized. To do this, simply bring your original university diploma and some photo identification to a notary public (lawyer with a notary license) and request a notarized copy of your diploma. The notary will make a photocopy of your original diploma then they will sign and stamp it; you now have a notarized copy of your diploma. To find a notary public in your area simply do a Google search for: ‘Notary Public + your city name’.
- STEP 2: Bring the notarized copy of your diploma to your Secretary of State office and request the Apostille Authentication. If you need to mail your documents to the SOS then use a priory courier service that offers a tracking number. The Secretary of State will return your notarized copy of diploma with the Apostille certificate affixed to it within 3-5 business days.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to confirm Apostille issuing policies and procedures with your respective SOS office prior to submitting your notarized copy of diploma.
NOTE: Most Secretary of State Offices will offer a faster service if you visit them in person. The table below is for reference purposes only. Applicants should always confirm the process with the office they plan on using (including mailing address and payment methods) prior to submitting and requesting documents.
Secretary of State (SOS) Offices in the US
Directory
State
|
Address
|
Phone/Fax
|
Web
|
Cost
|
Alabama
|
State Capitol, Room E-204
600 Dexter Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104 |
334-242-7210
|
$5
|
|
Alaska
|
P.O. Box 110015
Juneau, AK 99811- 0015 |
907-465-3509
|
$2
|
|
Arizona
|
1700 W. Washington,
7th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888 |
602 542-4086
602 542-4758 |
$3
|
|
Arkansas
|
State Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201-1094 |
501-682-1010
|
Arkansas Secretary of State |
$10
|
California
|
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001 |
916-653-3595
|
California Secretary of State |
$20
|
Colarodo
|
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202 303-894-2680 |
303-894-2680 Or
303-894-2200, # 9500 |
Colarado Secretary of State |
Mail: $2
In Person: $17 |
Connecticut |
30 Trinity Street, Hartford, CT 06106
|
860-509-6135
|
$20
|
|
Deleware |
401 Federal St., Suite 3
Dover, DE 19901 |
302- 302/739-4111
|
$10
|
|
District of Columbia |
441 4th St. N.W. (One Judiciary Square)
Washington, D.C. |
202-727-3117
|
D.of Columbia Secretary of State |
$10
|
Florida |
Department of State
Division of Corporations Apostille Certification P.O. Box 6800 Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800 |
850-245-6945
|
Florida Dept of State International Affairs |
$10
|
Georgia | 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE Suite 1104, West Tower Atlanta, GA 30334-1530 |
404-327-6023
|
Georgia Secretary of State |
$10
|
Hawaii |
State Capitol, 5 th Floor,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 |
808- 586-0255
|
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor (SOS) |
$1
|
Idaho |
Secretary of State
PO Box 83720 450 N 4th Street Boise ID 83720-0080 |
208 -332-2810
|
Idaho Secretary of State |
$10
|
Illinois |
111 E. Monroe St.
Springfield, IL 62756 |
217-782-7017
|
Illinois Secretary of State |
$2
|
Indiana |
Indiana Secretary of State
Authentication Department 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-018 Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
317 -232-2677 OR
317-232-6532 |
Indiana Secretary of State |
Free: No Charge
|
Iowa |
Lucas Building
First Floor, Public Service Des Moines, IA 50319 |
515-281-5204
|
Iowa Secretary of State |
$5
|
Kansas |
Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor 120 SW 10th Avenue Topeka, KS 66612-1594 |
785-296-4564
|
Kansas Secretary of State |
$7.50
|
Kentucky |
Office of the Secretary of State Apostilles Branch
700 Capital Avenue, Suite 156 Frankfort, KY 40601 |
502) 564-7330
|
Kentucky Secretary of State |
$5
|
Louisianna |
Louisiana Secretary of State Commissions Division
P. O. Box 94125 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 |
225 922-0330
|
Louisianna Secretary of State |
$20
|
Maine | Please visit website for more details |
207-624-7650 OR 207- 624-7736 |
Maine Secretary of State |
$10
|
Maryland | Please visit website for more details |
410-974-5521
|
Maryland Secretary of State |
$5
|
Massachusetts |
McCormack Building, Room 1719
One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 |
617-727-2832
|
Massachusetts Secretary of State |
$6
|
Michigan |
Department of State
Office of the Great Seal 7064 Crowner Boulevard Lansing, MI 48918 |
517-373-2531
|
Michigan Secretary of State |
$1
|
Minnesota |
60 Empire Drive, Suite 100 Saint Paul, MN 55103-2141
|
651-296-2803
|
Minnesota Secretary of State |
$5
|
Mississippi |
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 136 Jackson, MS 39205-0136 |
601-359-1615
|
Mississippi Secretary of State |
$5
|
Missouri |
Commissions
Secretary of State’s Office 600 West Main, Room 322 Jefferson City, MO 65101 |
573-751-2783
|
Missouri Secretary of State |
$10
|
Montana | Please Contact State office for operating hours and mailing address. |
406-444-1877
|
Montana Secretary of State |
$10
|
Nebraska |
Nebraska Secretary of State
Notary Division PO Box 95104 Lincoln, NE 68509 |
402-471-2558
|
Nebraska Secretary of State |
$10
|
Nevada |
Nevada Secretary of State
101 North Carson St., Suite 3 Carson City, NV. 89701 |
775 684 5708
|
Nevada Secretary of State |
$20
|
New Hampshire |
Secretary of State’s Office, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301
|
603-271-3242
|
New Hampshire Secretary of State |
$10
|
New Jersey |
NJ Division of Revenue, Notary Unit, PO Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646
|
609.292.4087
|
New Jersey Deparment of Treasury |
$25
|
New Mexico |
325 Don Gaspar – Suite 300, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503
|
800-477-3632
|
New Mexico Secretary of State |
$3
|
New York |
View website for location address
(Albany and New York City) |
Albany 518-473-1001
NYC 212-417-5747 |
New York Departmemt of State |
$10
|
North Carolina |
PO Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622 |
919-807-2140
|
North Carolina Secretary of State |
$10
|
North Dakota |
Capitol Building
600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept 108 Bismarck, ND 58505 |
701-328-2900
|
North Dakota Secretary of State |
$10
|
Ohio |
30 East Broad St.
15th Fl. Columbus, OH 43266-0418 |
877-767-6446
|
Ohio Secretary of State |
$5
|
Oklahoma |
2300 N. Lincoln
Room 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4897 |
405-521-4211
|
Oklahoma Secretary of State |
$25
Money Order Cashier CHQ |
Oregon |
Corporation Division
Notary Public section 255 Capitol St. NE Suite 151 Salem, OR 97310 |
503-986-2200
|
Oregon Secretary of State |
$10
|
Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation Room 210 North Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17120
|
717 787-5280
|
Pennsylvania Secretary of State |
$15
|
Rhode Island |
Office of the Secretary of State Authentications/Certifications 148 W. River Street Providence, RI 02904
|
401-222-1487
|
Rhode Island Secretary of State |
$5
|
South Carolina |
P.O. Box 11350
Columbia, SC 29211 |
803-734-2119
|
South Carolina Secretary of State |
$2
|
South Dakota |
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5077 |
605-773-3537
|
South Dakota Secretary of State |
$5
|
Tennessee |
312 Eighth Avenue North
6th Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower Nashville, TN 37243 |
615-741-3699
|
Tennessee Secretary of State |
$2
|
Texas |
P.O. Box 12079
Austin, TX 78711 |
512-463-5705
|
Texas Secretary of State |
$15
|
Utah |
210 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-8414 |
801-538-1040
|
Utah Secretary of State |
$5
|
Vermont |
Office of the Secretary of State
26 Terrace Street Montpelier 05609-1101 Attn: Kathy Watters |
802-828-2308
Kathy Watters |
Vermont Secretary of State |
$2
|
Virginia |
830 East Main Street, 14th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219 |
804-786-2441
|
Virginia Secretary of State |
$10
|
Washington |
PO Box 40228
OLYMPIA WA 98504-0228 |
360 586-2268
|
Washington Secretary of State |
$15
|
West Virginia |
Capitol Building
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East No. 157-K Charleston, WV 25305-0770 |
304-558-6000
|
West Virginia Secretary of State |
$10
|
Wisconsin | Please visit site for more information |
608) 266-5503
|
Wisconsin Secretary of State |
$10
|
Wyoming |
The Capitol Building
200 West 24th Street Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020 |
307-777-5342 OR
307-777-5346 |
Wyoming Secretary of State |
$3
|