S2NRI

The validity of any document is defined by its attestation. The attesting authority verified its authenticity before signing and stamping on it. But, it’s really challenging to find a competent person for it. You should be aware of it.

But, there are some professional consultants that make it way easier to get any document attested. Services 2 NRI is one of them. There is a team of document attestation agents in India that does it at the request of the person.

Why do you need an agent?

The authentication of your documents is essential for different purposes. It’s not easy to get through the attestation process. You may have to spend several days or weeks getting a stamp from the competent authority. To get off this condition, you require the support of an authentic document attestation agent. Such professionals know about the challenges and the way out from them. So, it’s easy, quick, and reliable to hire any of such agents that have experience in this domain.

They understand Section 90 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. It clearly states that attestation is necessary for proving that the customer’s documents are in the right hands. The court or competent authority verifies the documents before attesting any document.

Document Attestation that Agents Assist in

There are multiple offices that are authorized to carry out document legalization. Legalization is identified through the signature and stamp of the competent person. Here are the different types of legalization that the agent can help you with:

• Notary Attestation

It is at the fundamental level of legal verification of documents. A local notary public is appointed to put his stamp. He verifies the validity and authenticity of the documents.

• Home Department Attestation

This is concerned with the state’s home department. The competent official legalizes personal documents, like a death certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.

• Human Right Department Attestation

This is related to educational certificates and documents attestation. Most students require this attestation. It proves that these documents are legitimate and the person who bears it is authentic.

• Sub-divisional Magistrate Attestation

This is similar to the HRD attestation. In some union territories or villages, this is the official authority to legalize personal documents, like birth certificate or NABC or any other one.

• Chamber of Commerce Attestation

This is for entrepreneurs who are likely to go abroad for a business event or related concerns. They have to show up the proof of their motive of going outside and if they are valid or not.

• MEA Attestation

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attestation is to ensure that immigration-based documents are valid and genuine. Here, the agent is the only person who can help the applicant because this office does not accept direct requests for legalizing documents. So, you have to hire a document attestation agent in this case. He collectively sends requests for a number of applicants and then, takes responsibility to deliver the legalized papers to you.

• Embassy Attestation

This is mainly concerned with those who are likely to visit foreign for different purposes, like marriage, tourism, employment, or study, etc.. The applicant has to request for an appointment online. And then, visit the office where the consul reviews your documents and your intentions. Upon getting satisfied, he stamps on visa, passport, and many other docs that come under it.

• Apostille Attestation

It comes under the responsibility of the Ministry of External Affairs in India. It is for those who are going to visit the member country of the Hague Convention.

What is the procedure to get attestation services from Services2NRI?

The procedure is very simple. You need to keep your supporting documents ready. He may need at least 2 copies of each of your original papers. So, ensure that you have them.

• Contact the agent on the website or any communication channel like WhatsApp or live chat.
• Send an inquiry through the form. Do mention the requirements.
• Upon getting a reply, respond with the authentic details of yours.
• In case of confusion, contact the agent on live chat or email ID.
• Upload the soft copies of your certificates or papers like birth certificate, single status certificate or mark sheet etc..
• Pay the requisite fee through online banking or another way.
• Receive the receipt and save it for tracking the status of your application.
• The document will be sent within the stipulated time as mentioned on the website.

Checklist of Supporting Documents

Here is the checklist of each document:

• Original Certificate
• Passport Copy
• Visa Copy
• Passport Size Photograph-2
• Authorization Letter
• Birth Certificate
• National Identity Proof
• Educational Documents
• Employment Letter

These are categorized under these groups:

• Personal Documents, which are to be attested by the Home Department/General Administration Department
• Educational Certificates, which are to be authorized by the state /union territory, then by the Ministry of external affairs (However, the MEA does not take responsibility for the content of the document)
• Commercial Purpose, which is to be attested by the Ministry of external affairs trailing the Chambers of Commerce Ministry attestation

If you are going to emigrate, you need to attest your documents. This step is a crucial step. You cannot get off from it because the immigration departments of any country want to determine whether the document is genuine and legal. So, you need to go through document attestation.

This procedure has different levels, which the emigrants have to pass through step by step. Let’s have a look over what these levels are:

Different Levels of Attestation in India

• District or Sub-Divisional Magistrate of District
• Home Department of The State Government
• Ministry of External Affairs of the Central Government

MEA Verifies These Facts

• The originality of documents
• Authentic signature of Indian officials on docs
• Different level of departments’ stamp

Attest Originals, Not Photocopies

The verifying authority prefers the originals to be stamped on the reverse of those documents. Sometimes, the originals are found laminated, the authorized agency removes it to get it attested. Sometimes, your originals get damaged in this process, which you cannot reverse. So, you should be ready to withdraw the new ones in that case.

What if you lose originals?

There are some instances when you may lose or damage your educational certificates or degrees or diplomas. Rather than wondering, you should immediately lodge a complaint for the education certificates being lost. Do mention the reason in the FIR. Indian states have this facility available over their police website in the local area. If you want to file that FIR,

• Access the website.
• Put your email id and contact details there.
• Write the complaint of the certificates being lost.
• Hit the “Submit” tab.

A reference number will be sent on your registered email id that you have mentioned there. This will also have a copy of the FIR so that you can directly save and get its print out for submitting with the application to withdraw the new original certificates from the university or school. This FIR does not require any stamp or signature to be enclosed with the application.

Applicant’s Information is Protected

The personal and educational certificates contain sensitive information, which is valuable. The hackers often look for this kind of accurate information to take away and sell at a good price in the market. There are just four agencies that have been authorized to collect applications for attestation on the behalf of the government. This is done to keep your personal identifiable information safe and secure in the robust IT network, where breaching is hard to carry out. This is how the competent agencies ensure no loss of personally identifiable information.

Is Notary Stamp Compulsory?

The red coloured seal is called the notarization stamp. It’s not necessary to have on your documents, as it has no value on educational certificates.

However, it becomes important in the cases of getting CENOMAR or marriage certificate. This is done by a notary public, an authority in the court, to identify if the applicant is telling the truth or not. The notary discovers fakeness through a volley of questions about the certificates and face expressions.

Fingerprint Scan Attestation

It is significant that the applicant would visit the embassy in person, where his scanned fingerprint data are collected at the time of visa interview. This is done to match them with the fingerprints scan at the airport entrance. The airport authority does it to prevent the misuse of visa.

One point that one should always keep into account is that no third party can ever submit scanned fingerprints on your behalf. You have to go on your own.