Authenticated a Degree

If you're going to teach English abroad, chances are you're going to have to do some paperwork regarding documents, such as your degree and criminal background check. There are a few things you need to do before you go.

Using a Service
If you don't have the time to wait, try using a service that specialises in notarising, apostillisations, and authentications. Here's a list of the ones I know of. 

Apostillisations
Documents are apostillised in order to prove that they are real and true copies of the original documents. They do not, in anyway, prove that the original is legit. (Therefore if someone has a fake degree, they could still get the copy of it apostillised since it only proves the copy is a real copy of the fake degree.) The purpose of getting documents apostillised is so that the originals can be kept in a safe place.

In order to get documents apostillised, you usually have to take the original and the copies to a notary, who then examines both the original and the copies to make sure the copies are true copies. The notary then signs the copies. The original can then be put in a safe place and the copies are sent off to be apostillised. If you're from the US and need something notarised, try Sign Now. It's accepted in all 50 states and much cheaper than going to the embassy.

Authentications
Getting a degree authenticated is a totally different matter. An authentication does prove that the original is legit and can only be done by the issuing institute of the document (your university) or a specific organisation that specialises in authenticating degrees. Your employer will tell you which one they want you to go through. You may want to use both.

If you go through your university, you might want to have sealed letters from my university registrar verifying your attendance and degree conferral. Having sealed transcripts will also help. If your degree is from the US, you might be able to use Degree Verify if your university is registered with them.  

Apostillisations vs Authentications
So a quick summary would be that apostillisations prove that the copy is a legit copy of the original whereas authentications prove that the original is indeed legit. Got all your docs ready? Then take a look at 30 Days to Move Abroad. It makes moving overseas a breeze.

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