[pdz]

I HOPE to be getting thing apostilled in the next few days. I've got notaries certified, etc. What's the apostille process like? I plan to take them in person.

[cici32]

I would say that it may depend on the state that you live in. I know here in MD, I just walk in and they do it while I wait. The longest it took was 20 mins and that was when we did our initial dossier documents. I didn't need an appointment and I paid with a check. Very quick and painless.

[Sashinka]

I live in SE Florida. I sent my notarized documents by certified mail with a return paid Fed Ex envelope to Tallahassee. I had everything back within 5 business days. I know that in my area, the Miami satellite has a maximum number of documents for "walk-in" apostilles on any given day. Thus, make sure of the available hours and if there is a maximum number of documents they are willing to do in-person. I am in the midst of a second adoption (returned with my son 1 year ago!). I remember well the number of papers required by Russia. There are even more now than 2 years ago!

[waxhawfamily]

In NC it's no big deal. I mailed all my doc's, but my Sister-in-law took hers in person and it took 30 minutes or so - with an appointment.

[Butabzig]

I have made NUMEROUS visits to our State Department here in NC. I'll be going again tomorrow to get our psych eval done. The day I showed up with the BIG stack, early in the process they asked me to leave them overnight and pick them up the next day. Any other time I just go in, making sure to go when they will see walkins as cici32 said, write the check and out the door. I have had the same person notarize almost all of my documents and that has helped tremendously!

They are one of the user friendly places I believe. That's one step I haven't heard many complain about. Good lucK!

[susan1326]

In FL, you can just walk into the Tallahassee office and walk out 20 minutes later. No appointments needed.

[VinSue99]

I personally take our papers to the New York City office and I've always been in and out within 20 minutes.....except for the initial dossier papers. I had 65 papers when we did our dossier, so I got there first thing in the morning and went back early afternoon to get them. They've been really nice at the NYC office - they even recognize me now! Best wishes!

[votemom]

michigan: no appointment needed. it's about a 75 min drive to lansing, so we walk in, sign in and sit down. when our name is called, we hand over everything. then we walk across the street to the coney island for breakfast (i always go first thing in the morning). by the time our omlette and coffee is gone, they're done. we only pay $1 per document. we are very fortunate. i know people in california pay $20/document!

i usually take a friend with me and we get to visit the whole way there and the whole way back, so we kill 2 birds with one stone!


my friend recently decided to mail her stuff instead of driving it up. they were backlogged and she waited 3 weeks to get stuff back. she was stressing because it was her PPR and she did not want it to be late.

[Russiaknight]

Pretty much same for MA: if less than 20 docs they'll do it within same day. More than 20 a couple business days. Lucky for us, DH works a couple blocks from Sec of State building so he has been designated as the apostille king and by now is getting to know all the staff personally.

The only challenging part was getting some of our docs apostilled in other states since that is where they originated and were notarized. But a couple FedEx charges later it was done.

Good luck

[ddahl]

Same day service, same guy each time. We took pictures outside the office on our "last" trip there with a little sign that we made that said LAST APOSTILLE before we meet you! The most painless part of the process :-) was the Apostille so far.

[calikismet]

Votemom, I envy your $1/ doc!! We are in that dreaded state of CA, and yes, we paid $20/ document.. that was in addition to the certifications from our Secretary of State's office, certifying the notary (I think that was like $4/ document or something). And, to boot, we did 4 complete dossiers -- 2 for each kiddo! I think our certification/ apostille costs were like $1400 per adoption! That is almost a plane ticket! I know that some adoptive parents have petitioned to the State Assembly to have the costs reduced or even eliminated for adoptive parents. Who knows how that is going!

In our state, we had a 2-step process. First we had to get our documents certified by the Secretary of State's office, within the county where the notary was registered. The Sec of State's office certified that the notary was an active and valid one. Then we went to the County Recorder's office for the apostille. My agency took care of all but one small set of apostilling for us, but I think they did a drop off and then picked it up the next day. When I went myself, I walked in -- but I only had 4 documents.

[trnews71]

Do you also have to apostile the picture copies?

[Jim_in_PA]

The two I needed to get from Florida were a piece of cake...the marriage license copies and appostile were done in "one transaction" and they had my employment letter appostiled and back to me in a week and a a half after I mailed it from here. (regular snail mail, no overnight) Everything else will be Pennsylvania and I plan on driving out to Harrisburg (the state capital) and having them done while I wait.

Bottom line...every state is a little different. Some are quick like Florida and others are...not.

[cici32]

Jim- You thought Florida was quick? LOL It took them forever to get our marriage license to us.

We did not have to have the photos apostilled. Everything else we had notarized, certified at the county courthouse and apostilled at the SOS office.

[Jim_in_PA]

Originally Posted by cici32

Jim- You thought Florida was quick? LOL It took them forever to get our marriage license to us.

Our Florida appostiled marriage license (two copies) were in our hands in a week and a half, too, from the time I mailed the letter with the necessary information and check(s) (one for the copies; one for the secretary of state)...they even returned my SASE (it was too small for so many sheets) which I later used with the employment letter appostile. I guess I was lucky!