Student Document Legalization for Brazil

Return to Mother Page: Studying IC Design in Brazil

Summary of Experimental Results

There is no need to use a visa service to get school documents legalized by the Brazilian consulates.  Merely attach a separate 5 US dollar Postal money order with your and their address filled in on the money order.  Send with a self addressed stamped envelope for return shipping.

Detailed Results:  ASU Diploma & Transcript sent to LA Brazil Consulate via MyBrasilVisa

1. Shipped ASU: Diploma & Transcript 12-11-13 to MyBrazilVisa for legalization at the LA Brazilian consulate: I am using MyBrazilVisa.com to work the legalization of my first 2 documents as it gives more flexibility on an first run of an unfamiliar process.
2. MyBrazilVisa Return address form
3. Tracking of Express Envelope to MyBrazilVisa
4. Shipped ASU Diploma & ASU transcript – 1 page

Each page required a 5 USD postal money order to pay for the 5 dollar stamp from the Brazil consulate in Los Angelos.

Detailed Results: University of Cincinnati Diploma & Transcript + Birth Certificate sent to Washington DC Consulate DIRECTLY

I attempted to get find a visa service in Washington DC that would respond promptly and with information I found accurate given my immediately previous experience with Todd and the LA consulate. I never did manage to find one. Thus I dealt directly by sending my documents directly to the Brazil consulate in Washington DC. Included were:

1.  U.C. Diploma – with 5 USD Postal money order paper clipped to the diploma
2.  U.C. Transcript – 3 separate pages – 5 USD postal money order clipped to each page individually – thus total of 3 5 USD postal money orders
3.  Birth Certificate – with 20 USD postal money order clipped to the document. It has a raised seal.

No notarizations were require for any of the documents because public documents already have a sort of notarization.   

RESULTS:   

• Turn around time was blazing fast. Shipped out the document package on Thursday: 12.26.2013 and received the return shipment on Saturday: 12.28.2013. I mistakenly did not start tracking till Tuesday: 12.31.2013 evening.  See the summary of tracking both ways at the bottom of the page.  The paperwork arrived at the Brazilian Washington DC consulate at 12 noon on Friday and went back out again later that same afternoon.
• All pages came back with the desired stamps. Each individual transcript page had it's own stamp. The transcript pages were not stapled together.

Notes:

• In order for legal documents to be accepted in Brazil they must be submitted to the Brazilian consulate that covers the geographical area where the document was issued.  In particular transcripts and diplomas must be "legalized"
• Reference: LA consulate document legalization page.  The translation of a legalized document, whenever necessary, must be done in Brazil by a sworn translator.  
• Reference: San Francisco Consulate: Document Legalization FAQs  04. Can I send the documents to be legalized right after they are issued?
  It depends. Most documents, such as contracts, must be first notarized by a Notary Public before being presented to the Consulate for legalization. Documents that bear the signatures of authorities such as: Secretary of State, Judge of Superior Court, School Official, Public Official of the Department of Health or Agriculture, Police Officer DO NOT NEED to be notarized before being presented for legalization……….I believe this applies to birth certificate and school documents.  Thus no notarization required.   
• Reference: Chicago Consulate: Legalization of other documents    Official documents, such as:  Those issued by county offices; Those issued by the state (Secretary of State, Judge of the Superior Court, City Hall, etc.);  Certificates of birth, marriage and death, and divorce sentence.  Certified copies are accepted, provided that they are signed and bear an official rubber stamp or haut-relief stamp……..Note the specific reference to birth certificate.
• Email Response 12-10-2013: Chicago Consulate: School documents don't have to be notarized. Just follow the instructions in our page about legalizing school documents.

Conclusions

1. no notarization required on school documents
2. no address required on diploma – inquired via email to confirm this point as their instructions specify school documents must have an address. I never assume anything with this arbitrary government crap.

Links

• List of Brazilian consulates and jurisdictions
• Legalization of School Documents

Birth Certificate

From Legalization of documents – Documents in General

Fee = 20 USD 

Top 20 Mistakes made when legalizing documents – If your request shows one of these, your document will not be legalized.  I winnowed out the points that did not apply to school documents or birth certificate.

1. The money order was not issued by the U.S.P.S. or is not made out for the correct amount.
2. The money order does not show your name and your address.
3.  The document to be legalized is not the original document.
4.  One or more documents were issued out this Consulate’s jurisdiction.
5. School document does not show the school’s raised seal and/or signature of a school authority.
6. School paper does not show school name and the school’s office full address.
7. Seal or signature of Secretary of State or Court official is not original.
8. Application by mail without prepaid postage and envelope for return.
9. The provided envelope and postage for return are not from the U.S. Postal Service.
10. Envelope for return does not carry sufficient postage.

Shipping to the Brazil: Washington DC Consulate