2 FAM 1290
AUTHENTICATION SERVICES
(CT:GEN-530; 10-12-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT)
2 FAM 1291 POLICY AND SCOPE
2 FAM 1291.1 Program Overview
(CT:GEN-407; 05-28-2013)
The Consular Affairs, Passport Services, Support,
Technical Operations, Authentications (CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT) Office, provides
authentication services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents
that will be used for legal and administrative purposes overseas.
2 FAM 1291.2 Scope and Policy
(CT:GEN-443; 04-06-2015)
a. The Authentications Office authenticates a variety
of documents from commercial organizations, private citizens, and officials of
Federal and State governments. Documents include, but are not limited to,
company bylaws, powers of attorney, trademark, diplomas, treaties, warrants,
extraditions, agreements, certificates of good standing, and courier letters.
b. It will not authenticate documents that are contrary
to public policy or are for an improper or unlawful purpose (see 22 CFR 131.2).
c. The Authentications Office does not authenticate
documents issued abroad by U.S. Consular officials, such as Birth, Marriage, or
Death certificates.
2 FAM 1291.3 Procedures
(CT:GEN-407; 05-28-2013)
a. The Authentications Office is responsible for
signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of
State.
b. The Authentications Office receives, records, and
accounts for fees in accordance with procedures established by the Bureau of
the Comptroller and Global Financial Services.
c. A service number is assigned to each certificate of
authentication, and this number reflects all fees associated with a
certificate.
2 FAM 1291.4 Authorities
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
a. The Hague Convention for Abolishing the Requirement
of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, TIAS 10072; 33 U.S.T. 883, 527
U.N.T.S. 189.
b. 28 U.S.C. 1739; Rule 44 (Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure) and Rule 902 (Federal Rules of Evidence).
2 FAM 1291.5 Processing
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
The Authentications Office tracks all correspondence and
documents through the Document Authentication, Retrieval, and Tracking Systems
(DARTS). A case service number is assigned to all requests received in the
Authentications Office. This service number appears on all authentication
certificates and tracks all aspects of the authentication process, as well as
fees collected, and is used as an effective method for the Authentications
Offices internal control process.
2 FAM 1292 AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATES
2 FAM 1292.1 Apostille
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
a. Apostille certificates are issued for documents
destined to be used in participating countries and their territories that have
joined the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for
Foreign Public Documents. The convention provides for the simplified
certification of public documents to be used in member countries through a
special form called an apostille.
b. The Authentications Office is designated as the
competent authority to issue apostilles for documents executed by Federal
agency officials. An original signature with the raised or stamped seal of the
Federal agency must accompany the document. (See 2 FAM Exhibit
1292.1 for a sample format of an apostille.)
2 FAM 1292.2 Department of State
Official Certificate
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
a. Department of State official certificates are issued
for documents executed and/or records maintained by offices within the
Department intended to be used in a foreign country. A gold ribbon and wafer
seal with the impression of the U. S. Department of State seal is affixed to
this certificate.
b. Officials should submit the following information
with their documents:
(1) Office; acronym or office title;
(2) Address/location;
(3) Telephone number; and
(4) Country in which the documents are to be used.
c. Officials should submit a certification statement
on Department of State letterhead, which is used for files or copies
originating within the Department of State. Example statement may include, but
is not limited to, the following:
(1) [Officials name] certifying that the document(s)
attached [is or are] a [true copy or original] [originating or maintained] in
the [files or records] of the [originating office]; and
(2) Original signature and title of submitting
official (see 2
FAM Exhibit 1292.2 for a sample of a Department of State Official
Certificate).
2 FAM 1292.3 Regular
Authentication Certificate
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
a. Regular authentication certificates are issued for
documents originating in the United States to be used in foreign countries and
their territories. This certificate is also issued for documents originating
in foreign countries that require authentication before they can be recognized
as valid in other foreign countries. Various seals are placed and/or attached
on the document before this certificate can be issued. This certificate is
issued with the impression of the U.S. Department State seal. (See 2 FAM Exhibit
1292.3 for a sample of a regular authentication certificate.)
b. Requestors should submit the following information
with their documents:
(1) Name;
(2) Contact person;
(3) Address;
(4) Telephone number; and
(5) Country in which the documents are to be used.
2 FAM 1292.4 Extradition
Certificate
(CT:GEN-313; 08-18-2004)
a. Extradition certificates are certified with a gold
ribbon and wafer seal with the impression of the U.S. Department of State.
Extradition cases are executed by the U.S. Department of Justice (see 7 FAM 1611 and
1612).
b. Department of Justice officials should submit the
following information with their documents:
(1) Agency; name;
(2) Office; acronym or office title;
(3) Address/location;
(4) Telephone number; and
(5) Country documents are to be used in.
2 FAM 1293 FEES
2 FAM 1293.1 Applicable Fees
Chargeable for Authentication Services
(CT:GEN-443; 04-06-2015)
For applicable fees chargeable for authentication
services, see Authentication of Documents, 7 FAM 870, and
the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, 22 CFR 92.36.
2 FAM 1293.2 Procedures
(CT:GEN-407; 05-28-2013)
a. These procedures and requirements apply to fees
relating to requests for Department authentication services from the Consular
Affairs, Passport Services, Support, Technical Operations, Authentications
Office (CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT). A request for services must be accompanied by
remittance of the exact total fee chargeable. The fee must be in the form of
one of the following:
(1) Check or bank draft drawn on a bank in the United States;
(2) Postal money order;
(3) Master or Visa Card; or
(4) Cash.
b. Remittances should be made payable to the order of
the U.S. Department of State. The Department assumes no responsibility for
cash lost in the mail.
2 FAM 1294 THROUGH 1299 UNASSIGNED
2 FAM EXHIBIT 1292.1
Sample Format Of An Apostille
(CT:GEN-340; 03-28-2008)
APOSTILLE
(Convention de
La Haye du 5 Octobre 1961)
1. Country: United States of America
2. This public document
has been signed by NAME
3. acting in the capacity of TITLE
4. bears the seal/stamp of AGENCY
Certified
5. at Washington, D.C.
6. Date
7. by Assistant Authentication Officer, United States
Department of State
8. No.
9. Stamp/Seal: 10. Signature:
[Assistant
Authentications Officer Name]
2 FAM EXHIBIT 1292.2
Sample of a Department of State Official Certificate
(CT:GEN-340; 03-28-2008)
United States of America
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
I Certify That [officials name] whose name is
subscribed to
the document hereunto annexed, was at the time of subscribing the
same [title], [originating office and bureau name], Department of
State, United States of America, and that full faith and credit are
due to his or hers acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I, [Secretary of States Name]
Secretary of State, have hereunto caused the seal of the Department of State to
be affixed and my name subscribed by the Assistant Authentication Officer, of
the said Department, at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia,
this [Date].
Secretary of State
By
Assistant Authentication Officer,
Department of State
Issued pursuant to CHXIV, State of
Sept. 15, 1789, 1 Stat. 68-69; 22
USC 2657; 22 USC 2651a; 5 USC
301; 28 USE 1733 et. seq.; 8 USC
1443 (f); RULE 44 Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure.
This certificate is not valid if it is removed or altered in
any way whatsoever.
2 FAM EXHIBIT 1292.3
Of a Regular Authentication Certificate
(CT:GEN-340; 03-28-2008)
United States of America
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
I Certify That the document hereunto annexed is under the
Seal of the State(s) of [name of state], and that such Seal(s) is/are entitled
to full faith and credit.*
In testimony whereof, I, [Secretary of States Name],
Secretary of State, have hereunto caused the seal of the Department of State to
be affixed and my name subscribed by the Assistant Authentication Officer, of
the said Department, at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia,
this [Date]
Secretary of State
By
Assistant Authentication Officer,
Department of State
Issued pursuant to CHXIV, State of
Sept. 15, 1789, 1 Stat. 68-69; 22
USC 2657; 22 USC 2651a; 5 USC
301; 28 USE 1733 et. seq.; 8 USC *For the contents of the annexed
document, the Department
1443 (f); RULE 44 Federal Rules of assumes no responsibility.
Civil Procedure.
This certificate is not valid if it is removed or altered in
any way whatsoever.