My daughter is applying for her Golden Visa. She was born in Hong Kong in 1978 and she has her copy of her birth entry with the Hong Kong Registry as well as her birth certificate from the US Department of State (for US Citizens born overseas). she's sent everything to the US State Dept to get the Apostle back in November 2023 and after following up, all they say is they're experiencing unprecedented demand. It's a "pre-recorded" email response she gets each time. When the State Department cashed her check a month ago, we thought the Apostille would be in the mail. It hasn't arrived yet.
Can anyone who used the International Apostille service in DC, comment on their exoerience re turnaround times?
Hello Oscar - Thanks for your comment. An apostilled document such as a marriage certificate must be apostilled in the country from where the document was issued. So, for example, a marriage certificate issued in the US must be apostilled in the US. As far as what Portugal accepts - technically - apostilled documents do not have an expiration date. So, it would depend on what you're using the apostilled marriage certificate for in Portugal and if Portugal has requirements and/or timelines for that specific use. To be clear - I'm not an expert in these matters. In my own case, our marriage certificate was apostilled several months before our D7 visa appointment. We presented it with no issues. I even keep a copy of it in my travel documents just in case we're asked (so far, no one has asked for it). - Hope this helps! - CW
Hi Carol, would you know if the appostille stamp has a validity in Portugal .. like, would an apostille stamp be valid even a year after it was stamped on a marriage certificate?
Hi Carol, I'm applying for a Portuguese citizenship following my husband recieving his. Did you order a new copy of your marriage license or just got a recent apostille? It's all so confusing..
Hi Carol - ...love your web pages - so useful!! - we've started the D7 process. we're looking for a tax preparer that does US and! Portugal taxes so we can sort out the implications of the new 10% tax on imigrants vs the previous no-tax. Got anyone that you can recommend? thanks!!
Thanks for your comment, Melissa. An Apostilled document should not expire. It was one of the first documents we acquired (marriage and birth certificates) and we were at least 6-8 months out from the date we received our Apostilled documents before our VFS/SF appointments. Not sure which VFS/consulate you're applying to but check with the files in the FB Group Americans and Friends in Portugal - Visa specific requirements - as they have the most current info. If you're applying for something other than a retirement visa, be sure to know what's required. You might not need an Apostilled document at all. But if you have one, bring it. It never hurts to be over-prepared. Hope this helps. - Carol.
Thanks for this info! I had never heard of an apostille before the D7 either! In regards to the VSF application, do you know if the Apostille expires? Basically, do they need it within a certain number of months before they process the application for it to be considered current?
My daughter is applying for her Golden Visa. She was born in Hong Kong in 1978 and she has her copy of her birth entry with the Hong Kong Registry as well as her birth certificate from the US Department of State (for US Citizens born overseas). she's sent everything to the US State Dept to get the Apostle back in November 2023 and after following up, all they say is they're experiencing unprecedented demand. It's a "pre-recorded" email response she gets each time. When the State Department cashed her check a month ago, we thought the Apostille would be in the mail. It hasn't arrived yet.
Can anyone who used the International Apostille service in DC, comment on their exoerience re turnaround times?
Hello Oscar - Thanks for your comment. An apostilled document such as a marriage certificate must be apostilled in the country from where the document was issued. So, for example, a marriage certificate issued in the US must be apostilled in the US. As far as what Portugal accepts - technically - apostilled documents do not have an expiration date. So, it would depend on what you're using the apostilled marriage certificate for in Portugal and if Portugal has requirements and/or timelines for that specific use. To be clear - I'm not an expert in these matters. In my own case, our marriage certificate was apostilled several months before our D7 visa appointment. We presented it with no issues. I even keep a copy of it in my travel documents just in case we're asked (so far, no one has asked for it). - Hope this helps! - CW
Hi Carol, would you know if the appostille stamp has a validity in Portugal .. like, would an apostille stamp be valid even a year after it was stamped on a marriage certificate?
Hello Noyah - Thanks for your message. Before we applied for D7 visas, we ordered certified and apostilled copies of our marriage certificate. - CW
Hi Carol, I'm applying for a Portuguese citizenship following my husband recieving his. Did you order a new copy of your marriage license or just got a recent apostille? It's all so confusing..
This was very informative and valuable if l ever need this for a document. Thanks
Hi Carol - ...love your web pages - so useful!! - we've started the D7 process. we're looking for a tax preparer that does US and! Portugal taxes so we can sort out the implications of the new 10% tax on imigrants vs the previous no-tax. Got anyone that you can recommend? thanks!!
Thanks for your comment, Melissa. An Apostilled document should not expire. It was one of the first documents we acquired (marriage and birth certificates) and we were at least 6-8 months out from the date we received our Apostilled documents before our VFS/SF appointments. Not sure which VFS/consulate you're applying to but check with the files in the FB Group Americans and Friends in Portugal - Visa specific requirements - as they have the most current info. If you're applying for something other than a retirement visa, be sure to know what's required. You might not need an Apostilled document at all. But if you have one, bring it. It never hurts to be over-prepared. Hope this helps. - Carol.
Thanks for this info! I had never heard of an apostille before the D7 either! In regards to the VSF application, do you know if the Apostille expires? Basically, do they need it within a certain number of months before they process the application for it to be considered current?