FAQ

Authenticating Documents

Can I authenticate _________?

Nearly any document can be authenticated for use abroad! Check below for the two main categories of documents and common examples of each:

Vital Documents

Marriage Certificates
Birth Certificates
Death Certificates
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

Non-Vital Documents

High School Diploma & Transcripts
University Diplomas & Transcripts
TEFL/TESOL/CELTA
Teaching License
Certifications
Passport

If you don’t see the type of document you need authenticated above, feel free to reach out and we can help you!

What is the difference between an Apostille and Authentication?

This is a case of squares and rectangles. Apostilles are a type of authentication used by countries within the Hague Convention. Countries that are not a part of this will typically call their authentications by a different name too: Legalization or Attestation.

My documents are not from the US, can you help me?

We are a US based authentication & legalization service, and we are only able to help with documents from the US.

I am not a US Citizen, but my documents are from the US. Can you help me?

While we cannot guarantee the same quick turnarounds, we do have ways to help you get your documents authenticated!

Because we are located in Texas, we are unable to use Biometrics for online notarization sessions. This means we are unable to personally perform notarization sessions for Non-US citizens. Please reach out so we can discuss your options on how we can help!

How long will it take for my documents to be authenticated?

This highly depends on what the documents are and what country they are to be authenticated for. Vital documents take longer than non-vital documents, and countries not within the Hague convention take longer to authenticate than documents within the Hague convention. Please reach out to find out exact timelines for your situation.

Where is your office located?

We are located in Austin, Texas, USA.

If you need to ship your documents to us, please use one of the following options:

US Postal Service (USPS):
Teaching Nomad
PO Box 2186
Austin, TX 78768
UPS, FedEx, DHL, Etc:
Teaching Nomad
701 Brazos St. Suite 500
Austin, TX 78701

What do I need for my notarization session?

You will need a few things:

A strong internet connection
A device with a working camera and a working microphone
Your passport for identity verification

How many documents can I get authenticated through you?

Any amount that you need!

Our order form only allows for 4 documents to be uploaded at a given time. If you have more, make a note in the order about how many other documents you need to be authenticated and what kind they are.

We will get back to you within 24 business hours to go over the timeline, price, and what we would need from you.

Visas

What is the cost of a visa?

The consular fee will remain consistant at all consulates, but the fees do change based on if you are a US citizen, and sometimes even based on the type of visa you’re applying for!

Keep in mind, if you’re doing this by yourself, all the costs you will incur just to hand in the application yourself! Let Teaching Nomad take your worries away while not breaking the bank.

Can I submit my own Chinese Visa application?

Of course! Just know that there are many other documents that you will need to hand in along with your application depending on what kind of visa you need. You will also need to go to your Chinese consulate personally or pay an agent to take your application there for you.

Teaching Nomad can take all the stress of submitting your visa application. Our helpful visa specialists will let you know exactly what is needed, the timeline, and how much it will cost.

Can I mail my visa application/passport to the Chinese consulate?

No. All Chinese consulates require visa applications and their required documents to be physically handed in.

This can be really inconvienient if you don’t live near a Chinese consulate location, so let Teaching Nomad take care of that for you! We’ll make sure you have all the correct documents and submit you application quickly and accurately so you can have peace of mind.