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NOTARY · APOSTILLE · SIGNING
Federal Apostille (U.S. Department of State)
Authentication of federal documents — FBI background checks and agency records — through the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC
Quick Answer
Some documents cannot be apostilled by any state, because no state issued them. FBI Identity History Summaries (background checks), documents from federal agencies such as the FDA, USDA, DOJ and EPA, federal court records and documents signed by federal officials are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington DC — commonly called the federal apostille.
Some documents cannot be apostilled by any state, because no state issued them. FBI Identity History Summaries (background checks), documents from federal agencies such as the FDA, USDA, DOJ and EPA, federal court records and documents signed by federal officials are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington DC — commonly called the federal apostille.
Being based minutes from Washington is a real advantage here. We review your federal documents before submission — an incorrectly issued or uncertified document is the most common cause of rejection — prepare the DS-4194 request correctly, submit it, and track the file until the authentication certificate is attached and your documents are back in your hands.
What Is Included
- FBI background checks (Identity History Summary) for visas, work and adoption abroad
- Documents issued by federal agencies — FDA, USDA, DOJ, EPA and others
- Federal court records and documents bearing federal officials' signatures
- Pre-submission review to prevent Department of State rejections
- Washington DC-based submission and status tracking
At a Glance
- Monday–Sunday · 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Serving Washington DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia
- English · Russian · Hebrew · Spanish
- No surprises: every appointment is quoted in writing and agreed before any service begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a federal apostille the same as a state apostille?
The result serves the same purpose abroad, but the issuer differs: the U.S. Department of State attaches an authentication certificate to documents issued by the federal government, while states apostille documents they issued. Sending a federal document to a state — or a state document to the Department of State — only wastes weeks.
How long does Department of State authentication take?
Federal processing times change with the Office of Authentications' workload and cannot be guaranteed. When you book, we give you the current realistic estimate and keep you updated while your file is in process.
Can you authenticate my FBI background check if I received it by email?
The Department of State works with the FBI-issued document and its certification; digital and mailed versions are handled differently. Send us what the FBI gave you and we will tell you exactly which version to obtain so the submission is accepted the first time.
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