TECO's Document Authentication Service

TECO's Document Authentication Service
1. To request these services, you must submit a completed application form for document authentication stating (1) the nature of the document, (2) the purpose for its authentication, (3) the names and addresses of organizations or individuals requesting the authentication, (4) the name of a contact person and his or her phone and fax numbers, (5) and a copy of the applicant’s photo I.D. (e.g., drivers license, passport, or naturalization certificate; if submit on behalf of a company, please provide a copy of company’s license or certification issued by Secretary of State office )
2. In principle, we only authenticate documents that have been issued within our service area which includes Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. All documents (except diplomas, individual licenses or certificates) to be authenticated must also first be notarized by a notary public and then certified by the appropriate county or city clerk and Secretary of State. The notary public must certify that the signatory of the documents appeared before him or her and that the documents were signed on a free and voluntary basis. We will NOT authenticate any document for which the signatory did NOT appear before a notary public and for which the notary public only verifies that the signature on the document is valid.
3. We do accept documents that have been submitted to us via an agent but only if the documents are accompanied by (1) a notarized power of attorney prepared by the applicant and authorizing the agent, and (2) a photo I.D. (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or naturalization certificate) of the person delivering the documents.
4. The authentication fee is $15 per authenticated document and $30 per interpreted document. All application payments should be made in cash, money order or by cashier’s check made payable to TECO. No personal checks accepted.
5. All documents must be submitted with an additional photocopy of the documents in their entirety. This includes an additional photocopy of any cover letter from a local government or the Department of State. If several identical documents are submitted for authentication, we require only one photocopy of one of the documents.
6. Applications submitted by mail must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Applications delivered via Airborne Express, DHL, FedEx, UPS or any other similar service must come with an air bill form and account number.
7. The processing of all documents usually takes 2-3 working days.
8. The Consular Division is open Monday through Friday (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and closed on U.S. Federal holidays, Chinese Lunar New Year’s Day and October 10th.
9. Authentication Forms Download or visit www.boca.gov.tw
10. Please call (213) 389-1215 for further information.

Diploma and/or Transcript Authentication Service

1. Diploma and/or Transcript Authentication Service

To request for Diploma and/or Transcript Authentication Service (“Authentication Service”), please follow the steps below:

a. Complete the application (“Application”) for Authentication Service in its entirety. The Application is available through the link below. http://www.taiwanembassy.org/public/Data/681819293471.pdf

b. Bring to our office the original and a copy of your valid photo ID (e.g. driver license, passport, or naturalization certificate). We will return the original to you after verification. For Application by mail (see our address on the bottom), please attach a notarized copy of your photo ID as proof of identity. However, no notary is required if your identity is evidenced by a copy of your Republic of China Passport or Taiwan ID Card.

c. Submit the original and a copy of the Application.

d. Provide two (2) copies of the Diploma and/or Transcript (“Document”) that you wish to authenticate and one (1) letter of authorization to permit our office verifying your Document with the school. Please download the letter of authorization form through the link below. Your information such as student ID number, social security number, name and address of the school that issued the Document will be mandatory. Verification processing fee is also required by the school. Please see Note 1 for details regarding the use of letter of authorization and the verification processing fee. http://www.taiwanembassy.org/public/Data/83284582871.pdf

e. The authentication fee is Fifteen (15) United States Dollars per Document. If Document translation is necessary, it is applicants’ responsibility to prepare ahead of time. Authentication of each translated Document is Thirty (30) United States Dollars. We accept cash, money order, or cashier’s check made payable to TECO. NO PERSONAL CHECKS.

f. Applicant may assign an agent to deliver the required documents to our office. Agent must present his/her valid photo ID (e.g. driver license, passport, or naturalization certificate) along with an authorization letter from the applicant.

g. For Application by mail, please include a self-addressed return envelope with sufficient amount of postage (please go to http://www.usps.com for postage information).

Upon completion of the verification process, we will issue the authentication in two (2) business days.

Note 1: Schools named below have delegated the student records management to National Student Clearinghouse. It would be applicants’ responsibility to pay fees and request for verification through National Student Clearinghouse online. Please log onto www.studentclearinghouse.org. Please be sure to notify National Student Clearinghouse to forward the Degree Verify Certificate to our office via e-mail: verify@tecola.org. Please also provide our office with your user name, password, and Degree Verify Transaction ID. We will issue the authentication after the verification process is completed.

C.S.U. Fullerton, C.S.U.L.B., C.S.U. Northridge, National University, C.S.U. Polytechnic, C.S.U. Dominquez Hills, El Camino College, Citrus College, Grand Canyon University

For schools other than the ones stated above, our office will initiate the verification process instead. Applicants must submit a letter of authorization to our office, of which includes social security number, student ID number, and processing fee payable to the school. (See fees break-down below)

USC:$8.00 UCI:$10.00 CSUSB:$4.00 University of Arizona:$5.00**
UCLA:$6.00 UCSD:$6.00 UCSB:$15.00* see important note for UCSB and UA below

*UCSB does not accept verification request from our office. Applicant must make inquiry directly with UCSB and request result to be mailed to our office (see our address below). For UCSB’s application of verification and further information, please log onto www.registrar.ucsb.edu.

**University of Arizona requires applicants to fill out a separate application for the verification processing. Please inquire with the school.

Our address: TECO, 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

For your convenience, TECO forms are available through the link below.
http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/LAX/lp.asp?ctNode=2841&CtUnit=66&BaseDSD=7&mp=52&timer=23198.38