For U.S. citizens — what did you do to get an apostille for your Tax ID number? I’m more lost on this than the FBI documents. I’m getting so many conflicting answers.
Some people say to use a W-2, 1099, SSA benefit letter, or your Social Security card. Some say it can be apostillized at the State level, but then I also hear that because it’s a Federal document, it must be done at the Federal level.
My lawyer said a notarized copy of my SS card would work, but then it needs to be apostilled after its notorized. However, the U.S. State Department says notarized copies won’t be accepted.
Honestly, I’m just really confused on this one . I would love to know what some of you did.
My attorneys said that just the unnotarized social security card would be sufficient. Based on some other posts here, I copied it, and then got a true copy affidavit notarized, which was then apostilled.
Thanks everyone, I got some PMs sent to me too. It seems like what I’m going to have to do is take my SS cards and make good copies of them in front of a notary. Have them notarize a “true copy affidavit” that I sign in front of them stating that the copy of my SS card is mine and a true copy. I then have to go to my county clerk who has the signatures of the notaries in my county on file who then attests that it is there signature. After that I then send it to MY State department who will then issue the apostle. Wow I think that’s all I need
@Regislive I can’t speak to your state’s process, but I think you may be overdoing it.
In my state, all I needed was a good copy of my Social Security card (I sprung for color copies just to make it look pretty). I did not copy it in front of the notary. Then, I took it to the notary and signed attesting that it was a true and correct copy of my card (I also did the same for my wife and kids - you can attest that other people’s documents are true and correct if you copied them). The notary signed that s/he witnessed me signing before them (it is specific language, so double check). After that, I took it to the secretary of state of my state (the state the notary is licensed in) who apostilled the document.
I did not need to go to the county clerk or copy the card in front of the notary. Of course, your state could be different.
Hi Justin, in California @mwwilliams10 is correct. In California at least, no need to get the county’s certification first. Here, the secretary of state can provide the apostille for the notary. Worth noting again that the apostille is for the notarization, not attesting to the document itself (in the case of your SS affidavit) but I do this a lot for work and foreign entities only seem to care that an apostille is attached.
The social security card stuff gets a bit complicated, I just paid the guy at https://www.sespanish.com to do it. Even though i live in CA, he printed out the email copy of my Social Security card i sent him, went to a New York notary to get the true copy affidavit, and got it certified by the NY secretary of state, then mailed/emailed everything back to me. And it was accepted by AIMA and I was given a biometrics appointment (and under the new process supposedly they analyze the documents before giving you the biometrics appointment). If a couple hundred bucks isn’t a big deal in order to save you the hassle of figuring it out on your own, I’d highly suggest this guy’s service.
I will second the recommendation of sespanish. He’s great and on top of things. Our attorney continues to request translations in spite of the new law.
I think the issue of translation vs not has to do with the aima agent at the renewal appointment.
Based on my renewal appointment yesterday, they are in charge of reviewing documents and inputting them (scanning them) into the system, and if everything is in order, can at least preliminarily approve your renewal.
So if they don’t read English, it’s difficult/impossible for them to actually read them before scanning, to verify that the documents meet the criteria.
The agent requested to look at the translation of my fbi report yesterday, but only scanned the original English version into the system.
So my guess is it was more for convenience than anything else, and don’t think anything bad would’ve happened had we not had a translation. But if I can make things go more smoothly for a little effort and money on my end, I’m happy to.
. I would love to know what some of you did.
(and under the new process supposedly they analyze the documents before giving you the biometrics appointment). If a couple hundred bucks isn’t a big deal in order to save you the hassle of figuring it out on your own, I’d highly suggest this guy’s service.