Americas
USAApostille & Document Services from India
USA apostille requests come to us mostly for F-1 student, H-1B, J-1, and Green Card applications, plus the occasional dual-citizenship case. WES or ECE credential evaluation is a separate ask that runs alongside the apostille. We prepare the apostilled degree, transcripts, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and PCC the USCIS officer or the consulate is going to read.
From 30 December 2024, the Indian Mission to the USA started rejecting OCI applications that did not include apostille on US-issued birth or marriage certificates. Indian-issued certificates do not need a US-side apostille for OCI, only documents issued outside India do.
USA at a glance
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The US accepts MEA apostille from India for Indian-issued documents going to universities, USCIS cases, state licensing boards and credential evaluators like WES, ECE and IERF. The India-side steps is State HRD or SDM, then MEA apostille, then certified translation only if the document is not in English. OCI applicants from December 2024 onwards: US-issued birth or marriage certificates now need a US-state apostille on top, which is a US-side process and not handled from India. Indian-issued documents for OCI do not need a US apostille.
. Sources cited inline and in Official sources.
Are You Already in USA?
Get Your Indian Documents Apostilled From USA
If your originals are with family in India and you are reading this from USA, the case runs scan-first. We coordinate with your family in India, handle pickup, run State HRD or SDM, MEA apostille, certified translation where needed, and courier back the way you direct.
See the NRI service for USAOverview
The US is the busiest English-speaking desk we run. F-1 student admissions to STEM programs, H-1B and L-1 for IT workers, J-1 for medical residents and researchers, and the green-card and OCI cases behind family reunifications all rely on the same Indian document workflow landing right at MEA apostille.
For OCI applicants, one rule change matters more than any other right now. From 30 December 2024, the Indian Mission to the USA began rejecting OCI applications that arrive without apostille on US-issued birth or marriage certificates. This catches a lot of families mid-process. A child born in the US to NRI parents now needs the US-issued birth certificate apostilled in the issuing US state before the CKGS file moves. Indian-issued birth or marriage certificates are still fine without a US-side apostille. We are based in India, so the US-side apostille of US-issued documents is not our process, but we flag it on every OCI consultation so the family does not lose weeks waiting on CKGS to release a held file.
For Indian-issued documents going to a US university, USCIS, a state licensing board, or a credential evaluator like WES, ECE or IERF, we run the State HRD or SDM, MEA apostille and certified translation steps end to end. The Indian-side stamp does not change with USCIS reform cycles. The recipient instruction does.
Attestation / Documentation Process
HRD Attestation
For educational documents: state-level HRD attestation.
MEA Apostille
Ministry of External Affairs apostille.
Translation (if needed)
Certified English translation for non-English documents.
Visa/USCIS Application
US Embassy, VFS USA, or USCIS submission.
Documents you usually need
The exact set depends on your purpose. Share a scan and we confirm what your case needs.
Degree Certificate
apostilled
Transcripts
apostilled
Birth Certificate
apostilled
Marriage Certificate
apostilled
PCC
apostilled
Passport
I-20 / DS-160 forms
Anglo-Sphere Credential Evaluation Compared
For Indian professionals, the credential evaluator is the gate that decides whether your degree opens the visa, the licence, or the job. Six English-speaking destinations side by side: who evaluates, what they want apostilled, and the catch most Indian families miss.
| Country | Primary evaluator | Healthcare regulator | Apostille input | Common catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | WES, ECE, IERF (per board) | USMLE (doctors), NCLEX (nurses), state boards | Apostilled degree + transcript; university-sealed envelope direct to evaluator | OCI: US-issued birth/marriage certs need US-state apostille; Indian-issued do not |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | WES Canada, IQAS, ICAS, ICES, CES | MCC/NAC-OSCE (doctors), NCLEX-RN (nurses) | Apostilled degree + transcript (Hague since 11 Jan 2024); sealed envelope from university | Older agency content still routes via Global Affairs Canada + High Commission; out of date |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | UK ENIC (formerly NARIC) | GMC, NMC, GPhC, GDC, GOC | Apostilled degree + Good Standing from Indian council | NHS regulator deadline (not UKVI deadline) drives the apostille timeline |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | VETASSESS, Engineers Australia, ACS | AHPRA (all clinical), ANMAC (nursing migration), AITSL (teachers) | Apostilled degree + experience certificates; NAATI-credentialed translation if non-English | Skills assessment is the visa gate; apostille timed to that, not to lodgement |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZQA (foreign qualification evaluation) | MCNZ (doctors), NCNZ (nurses), Pharmacy Council NZ | Apostilled degree + transcript + Good Standing from Indian council | NZQA evaluation feeds Skilled Migrant point score; runs alongside with apostille |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) | HPCSA (doctors, allied health), SANC (nurses) | Apostilled degree + council registration + Good Standing | Critical Skills Visa list changes; verify your occupation is current before betting on it |
India side, by city & state
Where your USA case usually starts in India
Indian-side authentication is state-led: educational documents go through your degree's issuing state HRD, and personal documents go through SDM or the Home Department of your domicile state. These are the state HRDs and city pickup pages most USA cases actually run through.
How we help with USA
The SiZA services that apply to USA.
MEA Apostille Services
One MEA sticker on Indian documents for use in 120-plus Hague Convention countries. Issued only at MEA Delhi.
Certified Translation Services
Which kind of translator you need depends on the destination. Italy CTU, Spain Traductor Jurado, Germany court-sworn, Indian-side certified for most others. We arrange the right one on your behalf, confirmed by WhatsApp scan review before any payment.
Timeline, Cost Factors & Rejection Risks
Typical Timeline
India-side MEA apostille is 2-3 working days after readiness; State HRD before MEA varies by state. We confirm the committed schedule after reviewing the case.
Cost Depends On
Common Rejection Reasons
How SiZA Global Handles It
Important Information & Requirements
USA accepts MEA apostille as the final India-side legalisation. No US embassy attestation step. Prior Indian attestation (HRD for educational, SDM or Home for personal) still varies by document.
OCI from December 2024: US-issued birth and marriage certificates need apostille from the issuing US state before they go to the Indian consulate. The CKGS file is held without it. This US-side step is not our process, but we flag it on every OCI consultation so you can start it alongside.
F-1 visa: your I-20 and SEVIS payment do the heavy lifting at the consulate, but the university may still ask for apostilled transcripts after admission. We size the sequence to the university timeline, not the visa timeline.
USMLE for doctors, NCLEX for nurses, PE exam for engineers and most state licensing boards ask for apostilled degree, transcript and good standing. The board names the format. We meet it.
WES, ECE and IERF credential evaluation usually needs an academic record sent directly from your Indian university plus an apostilled copy. We prepare the apostilled copy and walk you through the parallel university request so both arrive together.
USA Reference Card
USA Documentation Key Facts
Verified reference data for Indian documents going to USA. Each fact links to its source where applicable.
India-Side Legalisation
- Hague Apostille
- MemberEIF: 15 October 1981
- Final India-side stamp
- MEA apostille on Indian-issued documents (State HRD on educational, SDM or Home on personal).
- Translation
- English (usually already in English)
- Most Indian-issued documents are already in English. Certified English translation is added only when the source document is in a regional Indian language.
- Typical India-side turnaround
- MEA apostille: 2-3 working days after readiness. State HRD before MEA: varies by state.
- WES, ECE, IERF credential evaluation runs on the US side and needs apostilled and university-sealed transcripts. SiZA handles the India-side apostille on Indian-issued documents and coordinates the sealed-envelope transcript request with the Indian university.
USA Missions in India
U.S. Embassy, New Delhi
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Jurisdiction: North India and ambassadorial functions. US also operates Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad for visa work and consular services across the rest of India.
Indian Missions in USA
Embassy of India, Washington DC
2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
How SiZA Handles USA Documents
Country requirements can change by document type, visa purpose, employer instruction, university checklist, embassy rule, and receiving authority. SiZA starts with review before asking you to send originals.
What to send first
Review the requirement
Share the document scan, destination country, purpose, deadline, and where the original document is currently kept.
Confirm the right process
SiZA checks whether the file needs apostille, embassy attestation, HRD/Home, Chamber, translation, visa documentation, or a combined process.
Handle and update
Once the scope is clear, the file moves through the required steps with practical updates by WhatsApp or email.
Proof and return
After completion, SiZA shares completion proof, confirms payment and courier preference, then packs and dispatches the document safely.
Share scan
Process confirmed
Originals received if required
Completion proof
Payment and return
Original document safety
Trust, Custody And Safety
These documents are not ordinary papers. They may be your degree, birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport file, company resolution, or export paperwork. SiZA treats that responsibility seriously.
Original-Document Care
Original personal and company documents are handled with careful custody, privacy, and controlled handoff.
Clear Updates
Customers receive updates through WhatsApp or email as the file moves through review, submission, completion, and dispatch.
Completion Proof
When work is completed, SiZA can share photos or videos so the customer can verify the result before return dispatch.
Safe Return
Return delivery is packed carefully and sent through trusted courier options after address and courier preference are confirmed.
No Shortcut Claims
SiZA does not promise fake shortcuts, bypass personal appearance rules, or help with forged or non-genuine documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indian documents need apostille for the USA?
Yes, in many cases. US universities, USCIS, state licensing boards and credential evaluators like WES and ECE increasingly require apostilled Indian degrees, transcripts and PCC. SiZA handles the State HRD or SDM, MEA apostille and translation end to end from India.
Does WES (World Education Services) require apostille of Indian documents?
WES typically asks for an academic record sent directly from the issuing Indian university plus an apostilled copy. We prepare the apostilled copy and walk you through the parallel university-sealed-envelope request so both arrive ready.
I am applying for OCI after my child was born in the USA. What changed?
From 30 December 2024 the Indian Mission to the USA stopped accepting OCI applications without apostille on US-issued birth or marriage certificates. The apostille has to come from the issuing US state (Secretary of State office), because the document was issued in the US. We do not handle US-state apostille from India. We do handle the Indian-side documents in the same documents, like an Indian parent's passport copy or any Indian-issued certificate the consulate asks for. If you call us before your CKGS file goes in, we will tell you which side each document belongs to so the case does not get held mid-process.
My Indian birth certificate is going for OCI. Does it need a US apostille?
No. The 30 December 2024 OCI rule applies only to documents issued outside India. An Indian-issued birth certificate, marriage certificate or any other Indian-issued civil document does not need a US-side apostille for OCI. If your Indian document needs an MEA apostille for any other US-side use, like a state licensing board, that is a separate India-side process and we handle it.
Official Sources to Verify
USA attestation, visa and translation rules can change. Every fact on this page is verified against an official source; the links below take you straight to the authority that issued the rule.
Important Notice: SiZA Global Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a professional documentation and facilitation service provider. We do not offer recruitment, job placement, or overseas employment services. All documentation information on this page is for general guidance. Always verify current requirements with the relevant embassy or authority before submission.
Client Stories
What Clients Say About USA Documentation
Real clients, real documents, real results.
“My US university required official certified English translations of my degree and transcripts. The translations SiZA provided were accepted immediately. They formatted everything exactly as the university required and included the certification statement. No back and forth at all.”
Kavitha Rajan
Student, USA university admission
Chennai, India
“I needed both MEA apostille and Italian translation for my degree, marksheets, and birth certificate. SiZA handled the full package , apostille and empanelled Italian translation together. Everything was accepted by the Italian embassy without any queries.”
Priya Sharma
Student, Italy study visa
Bengaluru, India
“Canada PR requires degree apostille, marriage certificate apostille, and sometimes translation. SiZA handled all my documents , degree, marriage certificate, PCC , in a coordinated workflow. Doorstep pickup in Noida and courier back. No need to run around government offices.”
Deepak Verma
IT professional, Canada immigration
Noida, India
“Degree HRD from Maharashtra, then MEA apostille, then Qatar embassy attestation , a long process. SiZA tracked every step and gave me realistic timelines for Maharashtra HRD before starting. All documents delivered before my Qatar joining date. I had no idea the process was this manageable with the right support.”
Arjun Mehta
Civil engineer, Qatar employment visa
Nagpur, India
“My UK university needed apostilled degree and marksheets. SiZA picked up documents from Chandigarh through their courier pickup process. Everything came back apostilled and on time. They also reviewed my checklist and confirmed I didn't need Punjab HRD for this particular submission , saved me extra time.”
Nisha Kaur
Student, UK university admission
Chandigarh, India
“Czech Blue Card required apostilled degree, work experience letters, and a certified Czech translation of my degree. SiZA arranged the Maharashtra HRD first , which they told me upfront is required for degrees from Pune University , then MEA apostille, then the Czech translation. The Czech embassy accepted everything first attempt.”
Kiran Bhatt
Software engineer, Czech Blue Card
Pune, India
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