Criminal Background Check Apostille in Globe, AZ

How to Legalize Your Criminal Background Check from Globe

Getting Hague legalization for a Criminal Background Check issued in Arizona must go through the Arizona Secretary of State. We service all cities in Arizona.

The apostille certificate attached by the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix is the sole format that Hague Convention member countries will accept. A Globe notarization alone is not sufficient.

Getting your Criminal Background Check apostilled from Globe does not have to be complicated. We offer flat-rate, fully tracked courier service from your door in Globe to the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix and back. Rush processing available.

What is an Apostille?

The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined the cumbersome embassy-by-embassy authentication process that was required before the Convention. Previously, getting an American document accepted overseas required notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The Convention simplified this into one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. In Arizona, the designated office is the Arizona Secretary of State.

Criminal Background Checks are among the most frequently apostilled documents in the United States. This is because Criminal Background Checks are routinely required for visa applications, residency permits, citizenship documentation, employment verification, and foreign legal proceedings. For residents of Globe, only the Arizona Secretary of State can issue this certification in AZ.

The Hague Apostille Convention currently includes more than 120 countries — including virtually all of Europe, much of Latin America, and major expat destinations in Asia and the Middle East. If you are applying for any form of immigration, employment, or international study, Hague certification will be required by the receiving authority. Our courier service covers Globe residents for all 124 member countries.

State vs. Federal Apostille: Which Applies to Your Criminal Background Check?

Knowing whether your Criminal Background Check falls under state or federal jurisdiction is generally simple. Ask yourself: which government agency originally issued it? Documents like Criminal Background Checks issued by Arizona government agencies go to the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix. Federal records — FBI identity checks, naturalization documents come from federal agencies and must go to the US Department of State in Washington D.C.

Globe residents frequently ask is whether they can track their document while it is being processed at the Arizona Secretary of State. With direct mail-in submission, you lose visibility once the document arrives at the Arizona Secretary of State. Through our service, status notifications come at every step: intake, delivery to the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix, completion notification, and outbound tracking back to your address.

The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about the apostille process for your document is knowing which government authority handles your specific document type. In the United States, there are two parallel systems: state and federal-level. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and Criminal Background Checks go to the state apostille office. Documents from US federal agencies, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.

Why a Local Notary in Globe Cannot Apostille Your Document

Many residents of Globe mistakenly believe they can get an apostille at a local UPS Store or notary. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. A notary public is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They have no authority to issue an apostille certificate — that authority belongs exclusively to.

In short: local offices in Globe are not authorized to grant the Hague Apostille certificate. Only the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix can apostille state-issued documents. Attempting to use local offices will result in rejection. The only way forward for Globe residents is submission to the Arizona Secretary of State, which our courier handles on your behalf.

One nuance worth noting: a notary stamp can be a precursor to the apostille process. Some Criminal Background Checks must be notarized first. Diplomas, affidavits, powers of attorney, and some corporate documents often must be notarized before being submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State. In this case, a Globe notary handles step one and the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix handles step two.

The Correct Authority: Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix

One detail many Globe residents overlook is that the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix cannot correct errors on your document. If your Criminal Background Check contains errors, you must correct them at the issuing agency before sending it to the Arizona Secretary of State. Trying to apostille an incorrect document will result in rejection abroad even if the apostille itself is technically correct.

The Arizona Secretary of State charges a fee for issuing the apostille. Fees vary by state but are generally between $5 and $25 per apostille. In Arizona, the current fee is $3 per apostille. The state fee is paid directly to the Arizona Secretary of State. Our courier fee is separate and covers all aspects of the submission and return process from Globe.

The Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix handles all Hague legalization for documents originating from Arizona courts, vital records offices, and state agencies. Documents covered include vital records, judicial documents, and corporate and educational records. Federally issued documents go to a different office the US Department of State in DC.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled from Globe

Once your Criminal Background Check is ready, it should be sent to the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix. Mailing from Globe to Phoenix and back takes 2 to 4 weeks in transit alone. A physical runner physically walks your document into the Arizona Secretary of State and collects the completed apostille within 24 to 48 hours, cutting your total turnaround to 2 to 5 business days.

When the Arizona Secretary of State issues the apostille certificate, it is ready for international use. Our courier returns it to your Globe address via tracked, insured FedEx or UPS shipment. From your door in Globe and back, for our standard service, is 3 to 7 business days.

Getting your Criminal Background Check apostilled follows a defined process. First: ensure your Criminal Background Check is in its original, certified form. Step two: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Step three: send it to the correct authority with the required state fee of $3. Fourth: collect the completed apostille — ready for international submission.

How Long Does a Criminal Background Check Apostille Take from Globe?

For time-sensitive requests — such as a visa appointment, consulate date, or employment start — starting early is essential. We recommend allowing at least 2 to 3 weeks for mail-in service and at least 5 to 7 business days for courier service. Rush options may be available depending on availability at the time of order.

Knowing where your Criminal Background Check is is one of the most valued aspects of a physical courier over postal mail. We provide status updates at each step: initial pickup, receipt by our team, delivery to the government office, apostille issuance notification, and dispatch of the return shipment to Globe. This end-to-end tracking is not possible with direct mail.

The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for federal documents. Standard mail-in processing to DC for federal apostilles can take 8 to 12 weeks because of the national volume of federal authentication requests. A physical courier in Washington D.C. can complete the federal apostille in 2 to 4 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.

What to Include with Your Criminal Background Check Apostille Submission

Before sending your document to the Arizona Secretary of State, confirm you are sending: your original Criminal Background Check or an official certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, the Arizona Secretary of State's request form if applicable, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid FedEx or USPS return. Missing any of these will delay your apostille.

A common question is whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For direct submissions to the Arizona Secretary of State, a brief cover letter is recommended with your contact information and document details. The Arizona Secretary of State processes high volumes of requests and a simple cover sheet reduces processing errors.

The Arizona Secretary of State's fee of $3 must accompany your submission. Forms of payment differ at each Arizona Secretary of State but generally include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. We pays the Arizona Secretary of State fee as part of the service so you never worry about wrong payment forms.

Common Apostille Mistakes Globe Residents Make

Sending the wrong fee is an easily avoidable mistake. The Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix charges $3 per apostille document. Underpaying or overpaying will cause rejection. Our service handles the fee payment directly so this error never happens.

People in Arizona sometimes attempt to apostille a document through the wrong state's office. If you were born in California but now live in Globe, Arizona, the correct apostille comes from the state that issued the document — not from Arizona. Always apostille through the issuing state. Our team verifies the issuing state for every submission to ensure we submit to the right office every time.

Another common problem is apostilling a document past its useful life. Many foreign authorities require that apostilled documents criminal record documents, in particular, be dated within the last 6 months. If your document is past its expiration window, a new document must be requested before apostilling. We check document dates as part of our intake review.

Shipping Your Criminal Background Check from Globe — What to Know

How we return your apostilled Criminal Background Check is covered by the service price. After the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix attaches the apostille, our courier ships your Criminal Background Check back to Globe via FedEx Priority with a tracking number sent to your email. Most return shipments take 1 to 3 business days depending on destination. Overnight return shipping is available on request.

When your document arrives at our processing center, we inspect it within one business day. This review looks at: whether the document is the original or a certified copy, presence of valid official seals, whether the document needs prior notarization, and whether the document is within any recency window required by the destination. If any issues are found, we contact you immediately before submitting to the Arizona Secretary of State.

The single most critical shipping instruction when sending original documents like your Criminal Background Check is always use a tracked, insured service. Sending documents without tracking or insurance creates unnecessary risk: if a document is lost in transit, there is no way to locate or recover it. FedEx Priority or UPS provide end-to-end tracking with insurance. For originals that cannot be easily replaced, the peace of mind is worth the extra cost.

After the Apostille: Using Your Criminal Background Check Abroad

When you receive your returned apostilled Criminal Background Check, inspect the certificate carefully before sending it to the foreign authority. Check that: the apostille is physically attached to the original document, the information on the certificate matches your document, and the issuing authority's name and date are present and correct. Problems with the certificate itself are uncommon but should be caught before you submit to the foreign authority.

When your apostilled Criminal Background Check is needed for commercial purposes, the next steps after apostilling vary from individual visa applications. Corporations using an apostilled Criminal Background Check for overseas legal and regulatory purposes may additionally need notarization of the translation, legalization at an embassy, or filing with a foreign corporate registry. In countries that are not Hague members, the apostille does not satisfy authentication requirements — a separate legalization process through the destination country's embassy in Washington D.C. is needed.

An important post-apostille note is how long your apostilled Criminal Background Check remains valid. The apostille certificate itself does not expire — but the receiving country may require that the underlying document or the apostille was issued within a certain period. FBI Background Checks, for example, are routinely required to be within 6 months old. Build this into your timeline by apostilling as close to your consulate appointment as possible.

Why Globe Residents Use Our Apostille Courier Service

When Globe clients need Hague certification without the bureaucratic hassle because: speed. Mail-in self-processing from Globe takes 3 to 6 weeks on average. Our physical runner walks your document directly into the government office, bypassing the postal queue, and returns your apostilled Criminal Background Check to Globe in under a week. When timing is critical, that difference is not marginal — it is the difference between making or missing the deadline.

Corporate and legal clients in Arizona that regularly need apostilled documents for international transactions, we provide volume processing and priority queue placement. Professional clients regularly submit multiple apostille requests. Our team handles high-volume orders without delays and gives you one contact for all your apostille needs. Repeat customers in Globe enjoy faster processing and dedicated support.

Every Criminal Background Check we process travel via FedEx with full insurance and tracking in each direction of the process: from Globe to our hub, from our hub to the Arizona Secretary of State in Phoenix, and back to Globe. Every shipment carries insurance for the full document replacement value. If any issue arises, we coordinate resolution directly. Irreplaceable original Criminal Background Checks should never be sent without full insurance and tracking.

Not sure what an apostille is? Read our complete guide.