Documents that need to be Notarized?

[US2CN]

Hello,
Can some one list the documents that MUST be notarized for sending FULL Docs to Visa office. I do understand notarizing everything may be good but that seems like an expensive option in US. I called a notary service they are charging $125 for first 5 copies & $5 after that. I may have 40+ pages if I have to do every copy. Going to bank for notary doesn't seem practical for this many pages.

Here is the list of documents I think would need Notary.
1. Degree certificates (in the absence of original transcripts)
2. Post Secondary certificates (10th, +2/intermediate)
3. Experience letters if original can not be submitted
4. Any other certifications/certificates/PMP etc

Do I need to notarize passport copies, visa copies, birth certificates, marriage certificate, bank statements (6 months) for settlement funds, etc.

Visa office specific instructions for Buffalo does not call for notarized copies.

Thankyou

 

[sharmilas]

Hello,
Can some one list the documents that MUST be notarized for sending FULL Docs to Visa office. I do understand notarizing everything may be good but that seems like an expensive option in US. I called a notary service they are charging $125 for first 5 copies & $5 after that. I may have 40+ pages if I have to do every copy. Going to bank for notary doesn't seem practical for this many pages.

Here is the list of documents I think would need Notary.
1. Degree certificates (in the absence of original transcripts)
2. Post Secondary certificates (10th, +2/intermediate)
3. Experience letters if original can not be submitted
4. Any other certifications/certificates/PMP etc

Do I need to notarize passport copies, visa copies, birth certificates, marriage certificate, bank statements (6 months) for settlement funds, etc.

Visa office specific instructions for Buffalo does not call for notarized copies.

Thankyou



better to notarize all copies even transcript as well. however, visa office specific forms says copies of pp..(not notarized). i would like to advise you, send your all copies to your home country, i think at least one solicitor your or your families knows. ask them to do notary and just pay courier charges plus your cheap solicitor charges. i am from london, here the solicitor asked £5per page, which was heavy amount for me. so i went to airport, picked up one nepalese who was going to nepal, requested about the matter and sent to my country. i paid nothing for this. it might be possible for u as well.

 

[jes_ON]

It's your money. You already know which documents are required for Buffalo (none), so there's no rule to suggest which ones to "notarize."

BTW, the difference between "notarized" and "cetified copy" in the US is that ORIGINAL legal documents are notarized when the document is signed. Certified copies are copies of originals- so you want the latter.

In the US, rules about notarization / copy certification are at the State level. If we knew what state you live in , we could give better advice.

But cheaper alternatives to a notary service include Kinko's Fedex (some other chains that perform copy services may also do it), court houses, some public libraries have notaries who can certify copies.

Note that in SOME states (not all), it is no longer legal to certify copies of certain types of documents - civil status (birth cetificates, marriage/divorce), educational credentials - certified copies of these documents must be obtained from the official source (state vital records, the university, etc.). Again, this will vary by state. And if the document is not from the US ... ? Not sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_copy

 

[cancer24]

Pony Express in US (Seattle, WA) charged me $5 each time they use stamp to notarize a document. I don't think you can get anything cheaper than that in US.

 

[US2CN]

It's your money. You already know which documents are required for Buffalo (none), so there's no rule to suggest which ones to "notarize."

BTW, the difference between "notarized" and "cetified copy" in the US is that ORIGINAL legal documents are notarized when the document is signed. Certified copies are copies of originals- so you want the latter.

In the US, rules about notarization / copy certification are at the State level. If we knew what state you live in , we could give better advice.

But cheaper alternatives to a notary service include Kinko's Fedex (some other chains that perform copy services may also do it), court houses, some public libraries have notaries who can certify copies.

Note that in SOME states (not all), it is no longer legal to certify copies of certain types of documents - civil status (birth cetificates, marriage/divorce), educational credentials - certified copies of these documents must be obtained from the official source (state vital records, the university, etc.). Again, this will vary by state. And if the document is not from the US ... ? Not sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_copy

Thanks for detailed response. You are right, I would need certified copies. I live in Virginia and FedEx Kinkos doesn't provide this service in Virginia. This evening I got in touch with one independent notary personnel who said will do my 30 documents for $100.
Thank you all for your responses.

 

[jes_ON]

BTW - If you live anywhere near the border w/ Maryland, the rules are better there, I had a large stack of documents certified for about $35 at a copy shop.