Apostilles for Pension & Criminal Records
When dealing with Apostilles for Colombian visa processes time is everything. You will need to be extremely patient with the Colombian visa office. If you are submitting documents from outside of Colombia then there is a good chance your documents may expire during the application process. Pension visa applicants many times must obtain documents 2 times to get through the application process. This includes apostilles and translations. The goverment can take weeks to respond to applications and usually require additional proof or documentation.
Federal document copies can be certified by state notaries and you may obtain a state apostille which only takes a few days or so. However, from time to time a Colombian visa agent may require FBI background checks and Social Security benefit letters to have federal documents apostilles. The problem with this is that the United States federal apostille process takes 6 weeks to 10 weeks to obtain. This does not leave time for the Colombian visa process, which takes on average 8 to 12 weeks to process. If a visa agent requires a federal apostille it’s best to look for a different visa. Currently, about 9 in 10 applications we process are accepted with state apostilles from the United States.
Our office usually processes state apostilles of certified copies for the FBI and Social Security Administration in the United States. We do provide federal apostille services as well but they take 6 weeks to 10 weeks to obtain due to the processing time of the federal government in Washington DC.
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Apostille services for Colombian Marriage is another very popular reason to obtain apostilles and translations for Colombia.
Finally, our apostille services are used for expats and Colombians living outside of Colombia who need vital documents for immigration processes around the world. We can obtain birth, divorce, marriage, and criminal record certificates from Colombia with apostilles and translations for use around the world.
What is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate that certifies a notary or government signature is valid. This second certification handled by the government allows the document to be accepted internanationally under the Hague Convention of 1961.
Who Issues an Apostille?
Usually, an apostille is issued by a Secretary of State’s office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Notary commissioning agency, or a similar designated authority from the country where the document originates. In the United States it is the Secretary of State.
Which Countries are Part of the Hague convention?
There are a total of 98 nations that are part of the Apostille Convention. Many countries such as Canada, China, Cuba, are not part of the Hague convention. These countries have extra steps in the legalization processes similar to the Apostille.
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Visas By James
Since 2005, our visa agency Visas by James has obtained hundreds of visas for foreigners who wish to study, work, invest, and live in Colombia. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia. In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials.
Our Story
James Lindzey the owner of Visas by James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States from the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats in 2007.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James legal experience in the United States.
Our Services
Many visas require obtaining complicated documents in the United States or Canada. Just another reason why you should choose our firm.
Please let us know if you need more information, or we can set up a consultation in order to provided you personalized guide.
Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time. Areas codes in Colombia have changed. To reach our office please call (57) 604-444-6634.
