Based in the Washington, DC area. Submits federal apostille documents in person on behalf of clients nationwide.
Who runs Michael's Courier Service
Michael Snider (Owner / Courier). I run Michael Courier DC as a solo practice. Every email is answered by me and every document is hand-carried by me to the Office of Authentications in DC.
I am based in the Washington, DC area, which gives me direct, in-person access to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications. Submitting documents in person is the reason my federal turnaround (typically 2–3 weeks) beats the standard 6-week federal mail-in backlog.
What is the use of an apostille
An apostille is a standardized certificate attached to a U.S. document so that foreign governments recognize it as authentic. The apostille was set by the 1961 Hague Convention, which the United States later joined. Apostilles are commonly required for:
- FBI Identity History Summary Checks used for immigration, foreign employment, or adoption abroad
- U.S. birth, marriage, and death certificates used for dual citizenship or family-based immigration
- Court documents, including divorce decrees and name-change orders
- Federal agency correspondence such as a USCIS Certificate of Non-Existence or a NARA Negative Search
An apostille must be issued by the same level of government that issued the underlying document. That is why an FBI Background Check is apostilled by the federal Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, while a state-issued birth certificate is apostilled by that state's Secretary of State. See the apostille process page for a step-by-step walkthrough.
What I do differently
- Single point of contact.
- You email me; I handle every step. There is no queue, no ticket system, and no handoff between sales and operations.
- In-person federal submission.
- Federal documents are submitted in person at the Office of Authentications, which puts each request ahead of the 6-week federal mail-in queue.
- Transparent flat pricing.
- Federal apostilles are $75 per document, all-inclusive. State apostilles are $100 per 10 apostilles plus state government fees; the first state is included and each additional state is $20 (one mailing per state). Return shipping is included. See pricing.
- All document types handled.
- Federal documents (FBI Background Checks, NARA records, USCIS Certificate of Non-Existence) are submitted in person at the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC. State documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, divorce decrees, diplomas) are submitted by mail to the issuing state's Secretary of State.
- One contact for the whole run.
- Updates at every state change. Scanned apostille delivered the day your documents ship back. Priority return shipping with tracking.
Service area
Anywhere in the United States. Digital documents (FBI Background Checks, USCIS correspondence) are accepted by email; physical originals are accepted by mail at the address on the contact page. Return shipping to all U.S. states is included.