Important Update: U.S. Department of State to Resume Walk-In Services for Authentications on October 1, 2024

Exciting news for those navigating the federal apostille and authentication process! Beginning October 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of State will reopen its doors for walk-in services, a welcome change after over 4 years of being limited to mail-in options due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This information, directly sourced from a conversation with a clerk at the Authentication Office in Washington, D.C., and another business owner (present at the U.S. Department of State when the reopening was announced) specializing in authentications, confirms that walk-in services will soon be available again. The U.S. Department of State has been operating under mail-only submissions since March 2020, with processing times ranging from 3 to 14 weeks. However, the reopening of walk-in hours promises to significantly reduce turnaround times.

Here’s what to expect with the new process:

1. Daily Submission Limits: Apostille service companies and agents will be limited to submitting 15 documents per day.

2. New Operating Days and Times: The U. S. Department of State will only be open 8a - 9a Monday through Thursday, excluding federal holidays.

3. Faster Processing Times: Apostilled or authenticated documents will be ready for pick-up 7-9 business days after being hand-submitted.

For those considering mailing documents for authentication, waiting until after October 1, 2024 is recommended. This will help avoid the current extended processing time.

The Signature Pros remains ready to assist with all federal authentication and apostille needs, ensuring documents are processed as efficiently as possible.

For any questions or to get documents ready for submission under the new system, contact The Signature Pros today!