issa process

……..issa process…….. (long post- lots of information)

Monday, July 10, 2017

PROCESS: proc·ess

präˌses,ˈprōˌses/ — noun — a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

Dallas>Austin 189 Miles

Austin>Houston 165 miles

Total – about 305 miles – Give or take – lots of traffic. Im. Tired. Yall.

 

I really don’t know how many days I have left yall. I have been trying to complete this Degree Legalization process since March. I have spoken to some of you about it, and others of you may be wondering- ‘Degree Legalization’ – huh? What is that???

A Big Reason for legalization: (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/legal-matters/academic-credentials.html)

Bogus Credentials

It is important to note that the authentication procedures outlined above are not intended to verify the content of the underlying documents, but rather they authenticate the seal and signature of public officials, in this case notaries public. An authentication on a transcript does not certify that the person named on the transcript completed a particular course of study, rather it authenticates the signature and seal of the notary who witnessed the registrar’s affidavit. Persons relying on academic credentials should be aware that there are individuals and groups who issue fake academic credentials for a fee. While these documents may be attested to in a notarized affidavit and thus authenticated, persons with concerns about credentials emanating from these “Diploma Mills” should attempt to verify the accreditation status of the school where the documents originated.

 

Well… it is a 3 step process that I must complete in order to get my Z-Visa so that I can work in China.

Z-Visa- This is a work visa required for people who want to work in China for pay (clearly—me😊)

 

Step 1: Notarization (There is a fee: Free- $10 – $10 at the most) This step is rather inexpensive – I used UPS

Location: Any location or individual who notarized documents

You can get a document notarized in several ways:

A: Individual notary that you may know or that someone recommends

B: At your local bank

C: UPS Store – Very convenient with all of their locations

D: Notary office in your city/town

E: Funeral home (I found one in Duncanville, Texas that will notarize your documents for free- just ask nicely with a smile).

 

Step 2: Certification of your document(s) $15.00

Location: Secretary of State’s Office- Austin, Texas

This is to be done at the Secretary of State’s Office in Austin, Texas. You can mail this form in and wait about 5-14 days for it to be mailed back to you. I learned that Texas can only certify documents from Texas.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Georgia so they could not certify my diploma. Ugh. Sadness. Bummer.

I did try to certify this document, but after learning that I could not I waited until graduation, and for my Master’s diploma to arrive in the mail.

Repeat Step 1

Attempt Step 2

Step 3: Authentication ($25.00)

Location: Chinese Consulate- Houston, Texas

Your documents are “Authenticated”/” Legalized” at the Chinese Consulates office in Houston, Texas. This must be done in person. You can’t mail this document in.

To have your document “Authenticated” you have to HAVE COMPLETED steps 1 and 2. You will also need to have copies of your documents that are being authenticated, each page, a copy of your passport, and the Authentication application. If you have not completed steps 1 and 2 there is a chance that you won’t even be let in the building. I was stopped at the door and asked to see if I completed Step 2.

IF you are let in the building, you will proceed to your specific window for assistance. The employee will check all your documents. Hopefully you have everything you need. If you don’t there is a coin copy machine that you can use, and they have some blank applications. I was a little frustrated that the applications were behind the window. I had to wait in line to ask for the application, but they let me fill it out at a seat then come back to the front of the line, so that was nice.

 

This is my 3^rd time in Houston in the past 2 weeks.

7-01-17 – Althea and I drove to Austin and Houston in the same day. When we arrived in Houston the Consulates office was closed. Ugh!

7-08-17- I decided to take MEGABUS to Houston to complete the process I started with Althea. My family reunion would be the next day in East Texas and that is a lot of driving. So, I figured why not sit back and ride? I was told that my degree from Georgia wasn’t certified properly. Yes- after not being able to have it certified in Texas I ordered a certified diploma from Georgia State. It arrived. I was happy. Thought nothing of it. If you have never seen a certified document before how would you know if it wasn’t done properly or not? YOU WOULDN’T!!!! This was frustrating sigh

7-10-17- Again. Start Again. I drove to Austin and Texas today after arriving back to Dallas from my family reunion in East, Texas. I arrived with my notarized Masters diploma. I was told- NO! WRONG. The notary did it incorrectly. So, I drove to a close and got it notarized again – returned to the SOS office. Wrong- again! What is going on? Why don’t the notaries know how to notarize documents?!?! I am driving around downtown Austin- dealing with parking and meters – so that I can drive to Houston by 3:00!

O! Did I tell yall?? The Consulate makes it difficult to get anything done. They are open from 9:00-12:00 and then from 1:30-3:00 …. Who isn’t open during the lunch hour when people are off?!?! And why do they close so early!!?!?? That’s frustrating. I have also tried calling, but it is hard to get through. SO, you know – I called every single extension until someone answered… @any rate …  I made it. I got to the Consulates office at 2:34 …. Whew! So, close.

Today – they accepted all of my documents. Now I wait for them to be returned to me then I can apply for my Z-Visa!

I am one step closer. This Shanghai experience is gonna be something amazing. It just has to be. I am exhausted just getting ready for it.

 

SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY … the process is not complete yet. I felt quite defeated on Friday when I took the bus here after coming the week before, but it is looking a little better now.

I tried to muster up a little smile in today. But – the real smile will come when I have my Visa – because then I can get a plane ticket- then I go to Shanghai. MY new adventure awaits me in China. I don’t have a job here in Texas. I sold or gave away most of my belongings. I moved out of my apartment. I need to go to China yall … or start over here in Dallas! Maybe Kessler Park, finally!?!?

This post was focused on Degree Legalization. Hope that information was helpful or interesting. Thanks for reading …. holla!

She Believed She Could >>>So She Did …. this is me. I believe I can so I am

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I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE* 

…..until next time yall….

PAZ!