Authentication Process

Well, the authentication process is underway! I received the instructions from my school and to be quite honest, the process is not as easy as I thought it would be! When I was first told I would need to get my education documents authenticated, I thought that maybe I would have to have them notarized and would be good to go. Well.. that isn't even a quarter of the process! Now that I have received my new diploma, I'm ready to get everything authenticated! Here is the list of documents needing authentication:

- College Diploma
- Official College transcripts
- Experience Letters
- Teaching License

Now, onto the authentication steps...

1. Write an affidavit swearing that all of the documents are true and original.
2. Find a local notary of the public that has been certified in my county to notarize my signature on my affidavit.
3. Take affidavit and signed materials to the county clerk to certify that the previous notary is true and legal.
4. Take affidavit to the state capital to have the secretary of state certify that the county clerk was an actual and legal county clerk.
5. Take/mail all of that (with cover letter from both the county clerk and the secretary of state) to the US Department of State where the entire process will be checked.
6. Lastly, take/mail all of the documents to the UAE Embassy in DC to be authenticated.

Seems like they really want to make sure everything is legit? Good thing I can start working on this stuff now! I'll post again soon for an update... hopefully no more documents will be lost in the process :)

Love,
RLD

First Hiccup

So I hit my first snag in the process of providing all of the necessary documents for my Visa/authentication. You know how when you graduate college and get a diploma that you normally frame it (or at least keep it somewhere safe)? Well somehow I managed to misplace mine and it is no where to be found! Whoops! This week I was in a hurry to reorder my diploma, which was easier than I thought it would be. My university sent me a form that I had to fill out and send back with a check. The only issue is that I am in a time crunch and need my diploma ASAP - this calls for a more expensive rush order. Cross your fingers that I get it in time and don't misplace it again!!

This week I also sent off the things I needed for my FBI record check. I had to go to my local police department to get a set of fingerprints done. The good news is that it was all done electronically through a machine... so no inky hands! The bad news... different police departments take fingerprints for different reasons so I had to find the one that would take mine for work/travel abroad. Luckily that wasn't too hard. I just had to make a few calls and schedule an appointment! Once those were done and printed, I was able to send them and my Record Check Request form to the FBI. Now I wait...

See you soon!

Love, 

RLD

Baby Steps

The process of moving to the UAE is officially underway! Every week, I receive an email from my new school with the documents to provide them by the end of the week. One thing I'll have to get used to is a Sunday-Thursday work week! So far, everything I've had to do has been fairly easy. The school is fabulous and is really helping me through the entire process!

Here's what I've done so far...

- Signed my contract
- Scanned a color copy of my passport to email
- Had passport size photos taken and scanned them to email
- Filled out the information needed for my Visa
- Signed off for a CBC

Not too bad!

Here is what the next few steps look like...

- Obtain a Criminal Record Check from the FBI.
- Scan my education documents: diploma, transcript, and teaching license


Now the education documents are easy but the Criminal Record Check will be a more difficult process. If you ever need an FBI check, visit http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks to get the information right from the source. This will give you the information you need to obtain a background check. Since I need mine done directly through the FBI (not through a Channeler), I visited this link to get the detailed steps of the process: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/submitting-an-identification-record-request-to-the-fbi . An important thing to note when getting a record check like this done through the FBI is that it could take anywhere form 5-6 weeks to complete. Looks like I will be getting started right away!

I'm off to fill out my Applicant Information Form and find a time to get my fingerprints done!

More to come soon!

Love,

RLD