apostille required for international birth/marriage certificates?

[dinmir 0]

Is an apostille required for international birth/marriage certificates, when applying for a driver's license (and other things) in the U.S.?

I am going to make the move soon (Netherlands -> U.S.) , and just want to be sure I have everything I need

Edited May 9, 2007 by dinmir

[MaydayDas 1]

I do not know from where you are, I am from Romania and I was told by the romanians officials that my international birth certificate needs the Haga Convention Apostille in order to be recognized outside. So I got the Apostille.

[dinmir 0]

That's what I thought also. I would like to hear the experiences of people who already went through the process of applying for a driver's license and so forth.

I'm not sure how many original birth and marriage certificates one generally needs after moving to the U.S.

[Otto 83]

That's what I thought also. I would like to hear the experiences of people who already went through the process of applying for a driver's license and so forth.

I'm not sure how many original birth and marriage certificates one generally needs after moving to the U.S.

An international birth certificate - by definition - will have the issuing country's official/apostle stamp on it. As for how many - we have two, one to show and one as back up (stored separately). No one is going to keep (purposely) your original BC.

Marriage certificate, if in foreign language will likely need to be translated - personally I think it is worth it to have it officially translated (versus the much touted self-translation) with the accompanying official (sometimes apostle) stamp - depends on the laws of the country.

Check the link below for the state you will be applying in requirements - they are mostly the same, but some have different variations for requirements. Generally you'll need your unexpired passport, proper visa status (this varies) and possible a SS card (again, this varies).

DMV Sites

[The Way it Is 0]

That's what I thought also. I would like to hear the experiences of people who already went through the process of applying for a driver's license and so forth.

I'm not sure how many original birth and marriage certificates one generally needs after moving to the U.S.

The US is not a signatory to the Hague Convention and an apostle stamp will not mean anything special to any US/state official. They only need it certified by the issuing country. Apostle stamps are only something between european nations that have signed the convention.

[Otto 83]

That's what I thought also. I would like to hear the experiences of people who already went through the process of applying for a driver's license and so forth.

I'm not sure how many original birth and marriage certificates one generally needs after moving to the U.S.

The US is not a signatory to the Hague Convention and an apostle stamp will not mean anything special to any US/state official. They only need it certified by the issuing country. Apostle stamps are only something between european nations that have signed the convention.

This is not true.

Apostille Information

Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention. Documents destined for use in participating countries and their territories should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed. Said official must have been designated as competent to issue certifications by "apostille" (usually in the office of the State Secretary of State of his/her counterpart) as provided for by the 1961 Hague Convention. The text of the Convention may be found in T.I.A.S. 10072; 33 U.S. Treaty Series (UST) 883; 527 U.N. Treaty Series (UNTS) 189, and Martindale-Hubble International Law Digest.

With this certification by the Hague Convention apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification by the Authentications Office or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required. The Authentications Office only certify to documents from other federal agencies and officials from foreign governments with the apostille.

Source

p.s.

Yes I realize my misspelling of apostille...combination of fat-fingers and spell-check...

[MaydayDas 1]

That's what I thought also. I would like to hear the experiences of people who already went through the process of applying for a driver's license and so forth.

I'm not sure how many original birth and marriage certificates one generally needs after moving to the U.S.

The US is not a signatory to the Hague Convention and an apostle stamp will not mean anything special to any US/state official. They only need it certified by the issuing country. Apostle stamps are only something between european nations that have signed the convention.

I have to correct you here, US is part of Hague Convention

[dinmir 0]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll get apostilles for 2 birth certificates and 2 marriage certificates then!

Edited May 9, 2007 by dinmir

[The Way it Is 0]

Thanks for the info...didnt know.

My wife was told specifically by the US Consulate that her birth/divorce records did not need to be apostillized and to save the money, and that they were acceptable with certification from the issuing authority/court.

[dinmir 0]

I got the apostilles, so I'm all set

I was wondering about one other thing, on the plane you always have to fill out the green visa waiver form (as a tourist). Now that I have my immigration visa do I have to fill out the form that is intended for U.S. residents? Or isn't it necessary to fill out either one, since I have a CR1 visa in my passport now?

Edited May 11, 2007 by dinmir

[MaydayDas 1]

the form for US residents is yours now.....you are not a tourist anymore