U.S. Company Embassy Authentication, Authentication of Company Business Documents

We can assist you with the authentication of U.S. company commercial documents. Only documents authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the United States are valid for use in China. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our customer service hotline or email us. We will respond to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

Types of Company Commercial Documents

• Articles of Incorporation, also known as Certificate of Incorporation
• Good Standing Certificate, also known as Certificate of Account Status
• Bank Letter (Bank Credit Certificate)
• Corporate Bylaws
• Adoption of Corporate Resolution
• Board Resolution
• Minutes of Meeting

Generally, if a U.S. company establishes a branch in China, it is required to provide at least the authentication of the Articles of Incorporation, Good Standing Certificate, and Bank Letter.

Required Materials for Company Commercial Document Authentication:

1) Completed "Authentication Application Form"

2) Original and photocopy of the relevant company documents.

For example, if you need to authenticate the Articles of Incorporation, you must provide the original document. If you need to authenticate a Bank Letter, you must provide the original Bank Letter.

3) One photocopy of the company legal representative's identification document.

This can be a valid ID, driver's license, green card, or passport. For passports, generally, only the page with the photo is required. However, if the passport has been renewed or contains annotations, please also copy the relevant pages.

4) One photocopy of a company document proving the identity of the legal representative.

For example, the Articles of Incorporation or other company registration documents that include the legal representative's name.

5) If an agent is applying on behalf of the company, the agent must provide a valid identification document.

Company Commercial Document Authentication Process

The following are the steps for the three-level authentication process. You may adjust the process based on your specific situation.

Step 1: Notarization of Documents (Can Be Handled by an Agent)

First, have the documents notarized by a local Notary Public or obtain a "Certified Copy" from the relevant authority. This step must be completed in person. Only documents notarized by a local Notary Public can proceed to the three-level authentication process, which may include local court authentication (some states may skip local court authentication and proceed directly to the Secretary of State authentication. If local court authentication is required, please call for consultation).

Step 2: Local Court Authentication (Can Be Handled by an Agent)

After completing the notarization in Step 1, you need to have the documents authenticated at the local court where the notary is registered. The local court will attach a separate authentication document to the first page of your authenticated file. Please ensure the integrity and validity of this authentication document. Do not detach or alter it.

The processing time for Secretary of State authentication varies by state, typically taking 2-3 weeks. Some states offer expedited services, while others do not. (For specific processing times corresponding to different states, please contact customer service for detailed inquiries.)

Step 3: Secretary of State Authentication (Can Be Handled by Proxy)

After completing the local court authentication, the next step is Secretary of State authentication. The primary purpose of this step is to verify the authenticity of the local court authentication.

Secretary of State authentication is divided into two types: Certificate and Apostille. Please note that for this step, the type of document authentication we need to process is Certificate. If the authentication type is Apostille, the embassy will not accept it.

The processing time for authentication by different Secretary of State offices varies. State government processing typically takes 1–3 weeks, with some states offering expedited services and others not. For more details, please contact us.

Step 4: U.S. Department of State Authentication (Can Be Handled by Proxy)

Currently, the processing time for Department of State authentication is relatively long, typically 3–4 months, which significantly increases the difficulty of the application. You can entrust us to handle this step on your behalf.

Step 5: Chinese Embassy/Consulate Authentication (Can Be Handled by Proxy)

Submit the company or commercial documents authenticated by the Secretary of State or the Department of State to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the United States to complete the final authentication step.